League Play-Off

Gateshead Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Mohamed Karoui hit a great freekick 3 minutes into the match. Hedi Gammoudi struck a weak shot in the 4th minute. Mohieddine Lahmar didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Gateshead FC. After a rather tough play, Hemel Hempstead City's Chaker Ghannouchi got a free kick in the 9th minute. Alaeddine Sellami showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Khaled Salem in the 11th minute of the match. When Chaker Ghannouchi fell near the penalty area in the 13th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hemel Hempstead City's protests and gave Chaker Ghannouchi a yellow card for diving instead. Khaled Salem sent away a hard shot on goal in the 16th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Raouf Sellimi's late challenge caught a Hemel Hempstead City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Raouf Sellimi helped the player get up and apologised. Raouf Sellimi hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 19th minute, Mohamed Karoui managed to get in a good position for a shot. Hemel Hempstead City's supporters rose to their feet, but Mohamed Karoui was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Alaeddine Sellami breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ben Ben Younes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 29th minute. Mohieddine Lahmar tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Hedi Gammoudi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 32nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 34th minute of the match, Ben Ben Younes tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Mohieddine Lahmar saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. Alaeddine Sellami showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Khaled Salem in the 43rd minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mohamed Karoui in the 44th minute of play forced Gateshead FC's goalkeeper Alaeddine Sellami to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Alaeddine Sellami showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Khaled Salem in the 46th minute of the match.

After 52 minutes, Hedi Gammoudi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Gateshead FC and the Hemel Hempstead City players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 52nd match minute, Gateshead FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Hedi Gammoudi to maneuver through the defense. After 56 played minutes Gateshead FC got a freekick which was hit by Abdelkarim Sfar. Khaled Salem who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 57thth minute tested the skills of Alaeddine Sellami when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Mohamed Karoui received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Alaeddine Sellami came out and tried to block the shot, but Mohamed Karoui slotted it home off the left post making it 2-1 in the 61st minute. In the 69th minute Hedi Gammoudi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mohieddine Lahmar saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Alaeddine Sellami made a fantastic save in the 72nd minute, when Khaled Salem sent off a good shot on target. Abdelkarim Sfar charged in rather forcefully in the 73rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Abdelkarim Sfar the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Abdelkarim Sfar hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. The supporters of Hemel Hempstead City booed when Gateshead FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 75 match minutes in a wonderful position. Raouf Sellimi didn't get a good kick on the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Mohamed Karoui in the 77th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Alaeddine Sellami prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Mohieddine Lahmar took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ben Ben Younes , even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Hedi Gammoudi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 84th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mohieddine Lahmar having to interfere. Alaeddine Sellami didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 86th minute, which inside left pole to 2-3. If Ben Ben Younes had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Hemel Hempstead City were delighted with the way they had won the match. They had held their defensive line well and made the most of their chances, to claim a victory over Gateshead FC's much stronger midfield.