League Play-Off

Rawtenstall
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Ike Abiakam started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 10 minutes into the match, Bucknell's goal looked a bit too open when Osita Amu came free, but Jibril Anzigah reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Onoriode Okorowanta kicked well hit freekick during the 11th minute of the match. Solomon Ajatta charged in rather forcefully in the 32nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Solomon Ajatta the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Solomon Ajatta hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. 36 minutes into the game, Osita Amu cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Jibril Anzigah was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 45th minute Tolulope Peter shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Otitodilichukwu Echiegu saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Osita Amu in the 47th minute of play forced Bucknell's goalkeeper Jibril Anzigah to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 48th match minute, Bucknell was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Abazu Osiro to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rapuokwu Ijemere got free with Jibril Anzigah in the 49th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

Rawtenstall's Rapuokwu Ijemere got a good chance for a goal in the 53rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Osita Amu came up free with the goalie in the 55th minute, the Rawtenstall 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 Osita Amu couldn't finish the play. In the 57th minute, Osita Amu made a precise shot to the right of Jibril Anzigah. Bucknell's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-0. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tolulope Peter got free with Otitodilichukwu Echiegu in the 61st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. A collision led to Rawtenstall getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Dammy Okunowo hit a great ball. In the 71st minute, Osita Amu left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Rawtenstall fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 3-0. An unexpected shot in the 76th minute by Ike Abiakam got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Tolulope Peter who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 78thth minute tested the skills of Otitodilichukwu Echiegu when he managed to save the team from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Rapuokwu Ijemere's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jibril Anzigah was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. In the 87thth minute of the game Rapuokwu Ijemere who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Bucknell's Jibril Anzigah was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Bucknell's zone, Osita Amu stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Jibril Anzigah came out of the goal and Osita Amu tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Onoriode Okorowanta's late challenge caught a Rawtenstall's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Onoriode Okorowanta helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Bucknell getting a freekick after 90 minutes play. Onoriode Okorowanta hit a great ball. 91 minutes into the match, Osita Amu notched a goal, 4-0, to the right of Bucknell's Jibril Anzigah. Jibril Anzigah was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. After a defensive mix-up in Rawtenstall's zone, Tolulope Peter stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Otitodilichukwu Echiegu came out of the goal and Tolulope Peter tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The audience thought a goal was coming when Tolulope Peter got free with Otitodilichukwu Echiegu in the 95th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the last second Otitodilichukwu Echiegu throw himself and got hold of the ball when Ike Abiakam in the 98thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The Rawtenstall fans cheered their team off the field, for while Bucknell had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.