League Play-Off

Norbury
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Basil Forrest kicked off to start the match. 6 minutes into the game, Basil Forrest cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Mark Leonard was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Toby Forster made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kyle Crtichell in the 14th minute of play. Barrie Newlyn hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. The corner went over the outstretched arms of Norbury City's goalie and right to Dean Avery. He fired away a shot at goal, but the shot had too much spin, and it went just outside the goal. Norbury City's manager breathed a sigh of relief on the sidelines as his team had managed to escape an almost certain goal. Mark Leonard showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Basil Forrest, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Simeon Culverhouse recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 22nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Toby Forster was out of position in the 25 minute of play, and Kyle Crtichell capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Kyle Crtichell really showed his touch with that goal: 1-1. When Eric Cartwright fell near the penalty area in the 29th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Coventry's protests and gave Eric Cartwright a yellow card for diving instead. Derek Beresford, 30 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Norbury City's Pat Weston got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 41 minutes into the match, Coventry's goalkeeper Toby Forster had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Pat Weston. In the 42nd match minute, Norbury City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Barrie Newlyn to maneuver through the defense. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

Basil Forrest received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Mark Leonard came out and tried to block the shot, but Basil Forrest slotted it home off the left post making it 1-2 in the 52nd minute. Mark Leonard showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Simeon Culverhouse in the 58th minute of the match. Coventry's Simeon Culverhouse got a good chance for a goal in the 59th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 61st minute, Kyle Crtichell 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. Vance Blake charged in rather forcefully in the 65th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Vance Blake the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 64 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Coventry! If Basil Forrest had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 70th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Norbury City's Mark Leonard played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Basil Forrest in the 72nd minute of play. After 73 minutes, Kurt Wilkinson mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Norbury City and the Coventry players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Coventry booed when Norbury City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 73 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kurt Wilkinson didn't get a good kick on the ball. Norbury City's Mark Leonard proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 79th minute of the match, managed to save Norbury City from getting a goal against them. Simeon Culverhouse received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Mark Leonard tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 96 minutes into the match, Norbury City's Pat Weston sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Toby Forster narrowly saved just below the crossbar. A hard shot by Ivan Thorn from long distance, 99 minutes into the match, got Mark Leonard's attention. Through a fast twist with his body, he could stop the ball from going in on his right side. The Norbury City supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Coventry's performance. The match ended with a win for Coventry.