League Play-Off

Sherborne Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Stan Gardner got the match started through his kick off. In the 9th minute, Tod Letheren made a precise shot to the right of Fraser Beckett. Handsworth's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-0. In the 13th minute, Tod Letheren fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. The audience was convinced that Tod Letheren's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Fraser Beckett was relentless in the 15th minute of the game. Tod Letheren's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Fraser Beckett read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 18th minute of play. Barrie Ashworth received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 28th minute. Keith Leeson tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Stan Gardner's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Keith Leeson read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 36th minute of play. A collision led to Handsworth getting a freekick after 37 minutes play. Stan Gardner hit a great ball. When Henry Woods fell near the penalty area in the 47th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sherborne's protests and gave Henry Woods a yellow card for diving instead. In the 47th minute, Henry Woods hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When the referee blew for the end of the half the home team players were clearly happier, as they went in to the break leading 1-0.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Tod Letheren to make the kick off. Keith Leeson made an important save on a dangerous shot by Barrie Ashworth in the 53rd minute. 56 minutes into the game, Sammy Neville was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Handsworth's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Sherborne the free kick. Sherborne's Keith Leeson played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Sammy Neville in the 60th minute of play. Brad Rutherford hit a great freekick 67 minutes into the match. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Tod Letheren in the 73rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Fraser Beckett prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Keith Leeson showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stan Gardner in the 78th minute of the match. Keith Leeson stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Sammy Neville's shot from short distance in the 80th minute. A collision led to Sherborne getting a freekick after 81 minutes play. Henry Woods hit a great ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Barrie Ashworth got free with Keith Leeson in the 84th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Stan Gardner sent away a hard shot on goal in the 86th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Tod Stobbs fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Fraser Beckett having to interfere. Tod Letheren received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Fraser Beckett tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Tod Stobbs had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 98th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Sherborne were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Handsworth for a fine match.