League Play-Off

Plumstead Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Heckmondwike AFC's John Paul Foster started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. If Denis Fitzgerald had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 2nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Grant Rathmell hit a great freekick 4 minutes into the match. In the 7th minute Charlie Morris shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Austen Findley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 10 minutes into the match, Heckmondwike AFC's John Paul Foster sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Austen Findley narrowly saved just below the crossbar. John Paul Foster 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. Plumstead's Austen Findley played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Charlie Morris in the 14th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 15th minute, John Paul Foster managed to get in a good position for a shot. Heckmondwike AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but John Paul Foster was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Austen Findley breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 18th minute the ball was on its way in behind Plumstead's goalkeeper Austen Findley, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. John Paul Foster scored 0-1 in the 20th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Austen Findley, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. With his leg Russ Ruddock managed to avoid a goal in the 24thth minute, when Plumstead's Grant Rathmell fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. After 25 played minutes Heckmondwike AFC got a freekick which was hit by Dom Hunt. When Ethan Wilberforce fell near the penalty area in the 27th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Heckmondwike AFC's protests and gave Ethan Wilberforce a yellow card for diving instead. In the 27th minute, Ethan Wilberforce hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Denis Fitzgerald had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Barney Crowell sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 32nd minute Charlie Morris shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Austen Findley saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Denis Fitzgerald had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Grant Rathmell's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Russ Ruddock read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 35th minute of play. If Grant Rathmell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 37th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Russ Ruddock made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Denis Fitzgerald in the 40th minute of play. 41 minutes into the game, Heckmondwike AFC's Charlie Morris nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Austen Findley made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-2. Louie Commons charged in rather forcefully in the 46th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Louie Commons the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 46th minute, Louie Commons hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Charlie Morris had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Denis Fitzgerald to strike the kick off in the second half. Grant Rathmell struck a weak shot in the 53rd minute. Russ Ruddock didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Plumstead. When Plumstead's Denis Fitzgerald in the 60th minute got a chance for a shot 60th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Heckmondwike AFC's goalie prevented a goal. 64 minutes into the match, Denis Fitzgerald notched a goal, 1-2, to the right of Heckmondwike AFC's Russ Ruddock. Russ Ruddock was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 68th minute of the match Joe Rowett shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Russ Ruddock showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 70th minute, John Paul Foster reached a very good position and smashed the ball with a huge effort into the net, just to the left of Austen Findley. The goal made the score 1-3. After a defensive mix-up in Plumstead's zone, John Paul Foster stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Austen Findley came out of the goal and John Paul Foster tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. When the match had gone on for 77 minutes, John Paul Foster took a quick shot and it went in 1-4 without a chance for Austen Findley to make any attempt to save it. After some fancy dribbling in the 84th minute, Grant Rathmell managed to get in a good position for a shot. Plumstead's supporters rose to their feet, but Grant Rathmell was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Russ Ruddock breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 87 minutes into the match, Grant Rathmell had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Russ Ruddock. Heckmondwike AFC's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Grant Rathmell was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-4. Charlie Morris received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 93rd minute. Austen Findley tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Charlie Morriss short, quick shot in the 96thth minute got Austen Findley to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in.