League Play-Off

Bury
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Birkenhead's Ahmed Souayati 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 3rd minute Ahmed Souayati shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Abdelhamid Saidi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Rashid Jaziri in the 6th minute of play forced Birkenhead's goalkeeper Mehdi Slim to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 10thth minute of the game Rashid Jaziri who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Birkenhead's Mehdi Slim was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Rashid Jaziri received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Mehdi Slim tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mehdi Abdi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 17th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abdelhamid Saidi having to interfere. A collision led to Bury City getting a freekick after 18 minutes play. Ghazi Omrani hit a great ball. In the 19th minute Mehdi Abdi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Abdelhamid Saidi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Mehdi Abdi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Abdelhamid Saidi stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Ahmed Souayati 's shot from short distance in the 23rd minute. After 26 minutes, Ahmed Souayati mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Birkenhead and the Bury City players grew even worse after the yellow card. Ahmed Souayati hit a great freekick 26 minutes into the match. If Ahmed Souayati had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 28th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 34 minutes into the match, Ahmed Souayati had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Abdelhamid Saidi. Bury City's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Ahmed Souayati was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. If Mehdi Abdi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 48th minute Ahmed Souayati shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Abdelhamid Saidi saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The Bury City players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Birkenhead were winning 0-1.

Ahmed Souayati fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Abdelhamid Saidi having to interfere. If Rashid Jaziri had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ismail M'Hedhbi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mehdi Slim having to interfere. If Mehdi Abdi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mehdi Abdi who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 74thth minute tested the skills of Abdelhamid Saidi when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Abdelhamid Saidi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ahmed Souayati in the 77th minute of the match. Ahmed Souayati struck a weak shot in the 86th minute. Abdelhamid Saidi didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Birkenhead. Abdelhamid Saidi didn't succeed in stopping the ball in the 88th minute, which inside left pole to 0-2. After having played for 93 minutes, Ismail M'Hedhbi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Bury City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Ismail M'Hedhbi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The Bury City fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Birkenhead were clearly better and deserved to take the win.