League Play-Off

Hockley
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Ralf Knightley started the match with the kick off. Vern Weedon showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Austen Coogan in the 3rd minute of the match. In the 6th minute Bill Watson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Vern Weedon saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Ralf Knightley sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ralf Knightley in the 14th minute of play forced East Tilbury City's goalkeeper Karl Bibby to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Grant Steadman hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. Bill Watson recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 24th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Vern Weedon stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Bill Watson's shot from short distance in the 27th minute. Vern Weedon stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Austen Coogan's shot from short distance in the 28th minute. After 31 played minutes burton united got a freekick which was hit by Olly Thurman. Phillip Beard took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 32nd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Vern Weedon. burton united's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. burton united's Olly Thurman got a good chance for a goal in the 35th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Austen Coogan might have been able to make a better finish in the 38th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Vern Weedon. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Austen Coogan ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 40th minute, Bill Watson got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Bill Watson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Vern Weedon having to interfere. Austen Coogan received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 49th minute. Vern Weedon tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half East Tilbury City were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Bill Watson to strike the kick off in the second half. Austen Coogan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. burton united's Ralf Knightley got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 70th minute, Ralf Knightley managed to get in a good position for a shot. burton united's supporters rose to their feet, but Ralf Knightley was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Karl Bibby breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Vern Weedon was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 73rd minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Dylon Summerfield. Through an outstanding action, after 77 minutes, Vern Weedon successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Austen Coogan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Karl Bibby showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dylon Sykes, who was totally free with the ball in the 81st minute. The supporters of East Tilbury City booed when burton united was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jerome Patterson didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 83rd minute, Phillip Beard fired a really elegant long shot, but Vern Weedon threw himself and managed to get hold of the ball just in front of the right post. In the 88th match minute, burton united was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jerome Patterson to maneuver through the defense. When Bill Watson came up free with the goalie in the 89th minute, the East Tilbury City fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Bill Watson couldn't finish the play. 90 minutes into the game, Rick Llyod was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. East Tilbury City's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave burton united the free kick. Dylon Sykes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 92nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The away crowd were delighted with the way their team had played and cheered loudly when the final whistle sounded. East Tilbury City walked away with the win, even though the match was close until the end.