League Play-Off

Shrewsbury Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Anis Laabidi took the kick off in the first half of the match. 5 minutes into the game, Hassib Bourchada was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Shrewsbury City's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Thornbury the free kick. After 5 played minutes Shrewsbury City got a freekick which was hit by Hassib Bourchada. Ben Saidi made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Adel Saidi in the 9th minute of play. Khaled Mosrati sent away a hard shot on goal in the 14th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Slaheddine Jebali took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Anis Laabidi, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Anis Laabidi was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 21st minute. Shrewsbury City's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. 31 minutes into the match, Shrewsbury City's goal looked a bit too open when Adel Saidi came free, but Ben Saidi reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Adel Saidi in the 34th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ben Saidi prevented the ball from getting in the gole. If Adel Saidi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 37th minute the ball was on its way in behind Thornbury's goalkeeper Slaheddine Jebali, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Abdallah Souayati struck a weak shot in the 40th minute. Ben Saidi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Thornbury. In the 44th minute of the match Mohamed Salah Ben Koissy sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ben Saidi skillfully saved the ball. In the 45th minute, Adel Saidi left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Thornbury fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-1. After the first half Thornbury were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Khaled Mosrati in the 53rd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Slaheddine Jebali prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After 55 minutes, Adel Sellimi mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Shrewsbury City and the Thornbury players grew even worse after the yellow card. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 55th minute of the game. One of Shrewsbury City:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Thornbury:s goal. Ben Saidi went to the wrong direction when Muhammad Chérif was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. Abdallah Souayati fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 58th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ben Saidi having to interfere. Slaheddine Jebali made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Anis Laabidi in the 64th minute of play. Habib Jouili received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Ben Saidi came out and tried to block the shot, but Habib Jouili slotted it home off the left post making it 0-2 in the 71st minute. Slaheddine Jebali showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Anis Laabidi in the 75th minute of the match. A collision led to Thornbury getting a freekick after 76 minutes play. Hédi Bargougui hit a great ball. When Adel Saidi came up free with the goalie in the 79th minute, the Thornbury 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 Adel Saidi couldn't finish the play. In the 79th minute, Ahmad Nefzi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Khaled Mosrati sent away a hard shot on goal in the 83rd minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. In the 84th minute, Khaled Mosrati got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. The supporters of Thornbury booed when Shrewsbury City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 89 match minutes in a wonderful position. Habib Mechemeche didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 91st minute the ball was on its way in behind Shrewsbury City's goalkeeper Ben Saidi, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Adel Saidi's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Ben Saidi read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 92nd minute of play. After a defensive mix-up in Thornbury's zone, Anis Laabidi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Slaheddine Jebali came out of the goal and Anis Laabidi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 98th minute Adel Saidi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ben Saidi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Thornbury eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.