League Play-Off

Rushden Park
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Abdallah Ben Saada started the match with the kick off. In the 3rd minute of the match Dhaker Jaziri sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ben Ayari skillfully saved the ball. The supporters of Dawlish booed when Rushden United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 6 match minutes in a wonderful position. Youssef Chiki didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a rather tough play, Rushden United's Youssef Chiki got a free kick in the 9th minute. Abdallah Ben Saada received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 12th minute. Mustafa Ben Braham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Wissem Badra hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. In the 14th match minute, Dawlish was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Wissem Badra to maneuver through the defense. Adel Mzali could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 16th minute of the match, but Mustafa Ben Braham made a huge save. Adel Mzali in the 18thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Mustafa Ben Braham, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Mounir Ghannouchi hit a great freekick 21 minutes into the match. José Melliti struck a weak shot in the 22nd minute. Ben Ayari didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Dawlish. Adel Mzali in the 24thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of Mustafa Ben Braham, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. Rushden United's Ben Ayari played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by José Melliti in the 26th minute of play. In the 27th minute of the match Abdelkarim Dhiab shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Ben Ayari showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 31st minute, Wissem Nafti hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Adel Mzali had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for José Melliti to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 56th minute, José Melliti 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 Dawlish booed when Rushden United was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 57 match minutes in a wonderful position. Youssef Chiki didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 58thth minute of the game José Melliti who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Rushden United's Ben Ayari was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Abdallah Ben Saada received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 60th minute. Mustafa Ben Braham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Dawlish getting a freekick after 61 minutes play. Najeh Meriah hit a great ball. After a defensive mix-up in Dawlish's zone, Adel Mzali stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mustafa Ben Braham came out of the goal and Adel Mzali tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Adel Mzali in the 67th minute of play forced Dawlish's goalkeeper Mustafa Ben Braham to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 69 minutes into the match, Rushden United's goal looked a bit too open when José Melliti came free, but Ben Ayari reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ben Ayari didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Dali Baccouche went, in the 71st minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. In the 77th minute Adel Mzali shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mustafa Ben Braham saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Abdallah Ben Saada in the 79th minute of play forced Dawlish's goalkeeper Mustafa Ben Braham to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Adel Mzali in the 83rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Mustafa Ben Braham saved Dawlish from getting behind. Mustafa Ben Braham didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Adel Mzali went, in the 85th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. With a little luck, Rushden United's Ben Ayari got control of the ball when Dali Baccouche tried to sneak it across the goal line. When Sabri Khelil fell near the penalty area in the 96th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Rushden United's protests and gave Sabri Khelil a yellow card for diving instead. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 96th minute of the game. One of Rushden United:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Dawlish:s goal. Dawlish 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 Rushden United's much stronger midfield.