League Play-Off

Birmingham Selly Oak
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Birmingham Selly Oak FC's Chaouki Jawachi started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. In the 5th minute Hassen Gasmi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Haykel Abdelkader saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Haykel Abdelkader showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Hassen Gasmi in the 9th minute of the match. The audience was convinced that Hassen Gasmi's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Haykel Abdelkader was relentless in the 10th minute of the game. The audience thought a goal was coming when Mehdi Melliti got free with Ali Ghodhbane in the 18th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Ali Ghodhbane was a little too slow when Chaouki Jawachi got a fine hit on the ball which went right into the goal in the 19th minute. The score was now 1-0. After some careless play in the Birmingham Selly Oak FC defense, Ali Salem kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Haykel Abdelkader. The Birmingham Selly Oak FC fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Haykel Abdelkader should have stopped the shot. Ali Salem might have been able to make a better finish in the 27th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Haykel Abdelkader. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ali Salem ran back to his position shaking his head. If Mehdi Melliti had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mehdi Melliti's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ali Ghodhbane read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 33rd minute of play. Ali Ghodhbane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Chaouki Jawachi, who was totally free with the ball in the 35th minute. Birmingham Selly Oak FC's Haykel Abdelkader played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ali Salem in the 37th minute of play. After 39 played minutes Birmingham Selly Oak FC got a freekick which was hit by Chaouki Jawachi. Chaouki Jawachi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ali Ghodhbane having to interfere. Ali Ghodhbane made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bahi Aouichaoui in the 47th minute of play. After 47 played minutes Whitwell got a freekick which was hit by Chedly Bourguiba. The first half was very even, with the score at 1-1 when the whistle went for half-time. The players welcomed the break and quickly retired to the dressing rooms.

Birmingham Selly Oak FC's Chaouki Jawachi got a good chance for a goal in the 54th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Mehdi Melliti received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 57th minute. Ali Ghodhbane tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Haykel Abdelkader showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Hassen Gasmi in the 61st minute of the match. Birmingham Selly Oak FC's Mehdi Melliti got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ali Ghodhbane came out of the goal in the 66th minute to try and stop a shot by Birmingham Selly Oak FC's Mehdi Melliti. But to his dismay, Mehdi Melliti quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-1. Ali Ghodhbane showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mehdi Melliti, who was totally free with the ball in the 70th minute. Haykel Abdelkader made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Hassen Gasmi in the 74th minute of play. After a rather tough play, Birmingham Selly Oak FC's Bahi Aouichaoui got a free kick in the 76th minute. If Ali Salem had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Birmingham Selly Oak FC's zone, Ali Salem stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Haykel Abdelkader came out of the goal and Ali Salem tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Haykel Abdelkader made an important save on a dangerous shot by Ali Salem in the 89th minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mehdi Melliti in the 91st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Ali Ghodhbane saved Whitwell from getting behind. Ali Ghodhbane didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Mehdi Melliti went, in the 92nd minute, to the upper right corner, 3-1 was the resulting score. Chaouki Jawachi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance.