League Play-Off

Newcastle-under-Lyme
Spectators: 45 (Terracing: 35, Seating: 10, VIP seats: 0) When Alfredo Lundy fell near the penalty area in the 3rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Garstang AFC's protests and gave Alfredo Lundy a yellow card for diving instead. Joey Adams sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 8 minutes into the match, Newcastle-under-Lyme's goal looked a bit too open when Anselmo Spione came free, but Andrew Rea reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Joey Adams took the ball and in the 10 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Rick Kessler. Rick Kessler dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. 14 minutes into the match, Ali Vedat Kabataş had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Andrew Rea. Newcastle-under-Lyme's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ali Vedat Kabataş was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-1. In the 17th minute Joey Adams shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rick Kessler saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. 18 minutes into the match, Garstang AFC's goalkeeper Rick Kessler had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Joey Adams. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ali Vedat Kabataş in the 22nd minute of play forced Newcastle-under-Lyme's goalkeeper Andrew Rea to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The crowd rose to their feet as Andy Baird kicked a wonderful shot that went in to the left of a diving Rick Kessler. That made the score 3-1 in the 25 minute of play. Alastair Nash's late challenge caught a Garstang AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Alastair Nash helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Newcastle-under-Lyme getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Alastair Nash hit a great ball. Rick Kessler was a little too slow when Rob Nicholson got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 31st minute. The score was now 4-1. If Tim Beck had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 34th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Anselmo Spione hit a great freekick 37 minutes into the match. Andrew Rea made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ali Vedat Kabataş in the 41st minute of play. 43 minutes had been played when some careless play by Newcastle-under-Lyme's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Florencio Maureo was slow to take the kick. During this time Garstang AFC's players had a chance to rest. The corner led Garstang AFC's Florencio Maureo to fire away a dangerous shot which Andrew Rea despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 46th minute, Ali Vedat Kabataş managed to get in a good position for a shot. Garstang AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Ali Vedat Kabataş was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Andrew Rea breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Gordon Locking hit a great freekick 47 minutes into the match. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 4-1 at half-time.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Andy Baird to strike the kick off in the second half. Rick Kessler made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sam Neville in the 52nd minute of play. In the 55th minute, Garstang AFC's Florencio Maureo seemed to kick out at an opponent. The referee saw this and, surprisingly, showed Florencio Maureo the red card, dismissing him from the pitch. The coaching staff of Garstang AFC protested bitterly, but the referee would have none of it, and Florencio Maureo had no choice but to slowly walk off the pitch. After 54 minutes of play, the referee blew the whistle. It was a penalty for Garstang AFC! Andrew Rea took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anselmo Spione, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 66th minute, Milosz Literski hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of Newcastle-under-Lyme booed when Garstang AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 67 match minutes in a wonderful position. Milosz Literski didn't get a good kick on the ball. Anselmo Spione recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 71st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Andrew Rea made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ali Vedat Kabataş in the 72nd minute of play. Garstang AFC's Ali Vedat Kabataş got a good chance for a goal in the 80th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Newcastle-under-Lyme's Tod Alderdice was substituted for Joey Adams. Newcastle-under-Lyme made a substitution. Tod Whitford replaced Sam Neville. Andrew Rea stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ali Vedat Kabataş's shot from short distance in the 88th minute. Garstang AFC's Rick Kessler played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Tod Whitford in the 93rd minute of play. Newcastle-under-Lyme's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.