League Play-Off

Whitwell Park
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. Vinnie West started the match with the kick off. Verne Abbotts made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Steve Weatherhead in the 2nd minute of play. Whitwell's Verne Abbotts played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Byron Hurdle in the 6th minute of play. If Steve Weatherhead had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 9th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Steve Weatherhead in the 12th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Verne Abbotts prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Verne Abbotts stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Steve Weatherhead's shot from short distance in the 13th minute. When Byron Hurdle came up free with the goalie in the 14th minute, the Levenshulme 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 Byron Hurdle couldn't finish the play. Ken Phelps's late challenge caught a Whitwell's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Ken Phelps helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Whitwell booed when Levenshulme City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 17 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ken Phelps didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 18th minute of the match Jon Croft shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Billy Wildman showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 23rd minute Levenshulme City were awarded a corner. Mattias Blake went to the cornerflag to take it. After a defensive mix-up in Whitwell's zone, Byron Hurdle stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Verne Abbotts came out of the goal and Byron Hurdle tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Vinnie West received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Billy Wildman came out and tried to block the shot, but Vinnie West slotted it home off the left post making it 1-1 in the 30th minute. If Steve Weatherhead had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 33rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 35th match minute, Whitwell was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kris Gough to maneuver through the defense. The supporters of Levenshulme City booed when Whitwell was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 36 match minutes in a wonderful position. Jon Croft didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Steve Weatherhead in the 37th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Verne Abbotts prevented the ball from getting in the gole. In the 39th minute Mattias Blake shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Verne Abbotts saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Steve Weatherhead sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 43rd minute, Johnnie Culverhouse hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 48th minute Ashley Higson shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Verne Abbotts saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Steve Weatherhead made a kick off. Frankie Pyrah sent away a hard shot on goal in the 53rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Byron Hurdle sent away a hard shot on goal in the 54th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Mattias Blake received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Verne Abbotts tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Whitwell's Verne Abbotts played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mattias Blake in the 58th minute of play. Verne Abbotts showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mattias Blake in the 61st minute of the match. In the 63rd minute, Mattias Blake 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. After 65 played minutes Levenshulme City got a freekick which was hit by Byron Hurdle. After a defensive mix-up in Whitwell's zone, Steve Weatherhead stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Verne Abbotts came out of the goal and Steve Weatherhead tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Levenshulme City's Steve Weatherhead got a good chance for a goal in the 72nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Mattias Blake had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 74th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. A collision led to Whitwell getting a freekick after 78 minutes play. Kris Gough hit a great ball. Verne Abbotts took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Steve Weatherhead, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Frankie Pyrah had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Verne Abbotts showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mattias Blake in the 87th minute of the match. Ashley Higson fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 88th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Verne Abbotts having to interfere. 90 minutes into the match, Levenshulme City's Steve Weatherhead sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Verne Abbotts narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Byron Hurdle received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 92nd minute. Verne Abbotts tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 96 minutes into the match, Levenshulme City's Ashley Higson sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Verne Abbotts narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Despite being the better team, Levenshulme City failed to find the winning goal and were forced to settle for a single point.