League Play-Off

Leighton Buzzard
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Albert Bouzayène kicked off to start the match. After a defensive mix-up in Newark's zone, Issam Namouchi stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Mourad Selliti came out of the goal and Issam Namouchi tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Newark:s Mourad Selliti showed great skill when he stopped Belgacem Nafti:s penalty. 11 minutes into the match, Leighton Buzzard United's goal looked a bit too open when Ziad Amor came free, but Mokhtar Ben Saada reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Caid Melki's late challenge caught a Newark's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Caid Melki helped the player get up and apologised. In the 12th match minute, Leighton Buzzard United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Caid Melki to maneuver through the defense. Marouane Mrabet blasted a shot towards the goal in the 15th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Mokhtar Ben Saada having to make a save. When the match had gone on for 16 minutes, Ziad Amor put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Mokhtar Ben Saada. If Marouane Mrabet had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Albert Bouzayène's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Mourad Selliti read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 22nd minute of play. 23 minutes into the game, Zoubeir Bouzaiene was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Newark's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Leighton Buzzard United the free kick. Mourad Selliti made a fantastic save in the 27th minute, when Issam Namouchi sent off a good shot on target. In the 31st minute, Mehdi Ghannouchi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Mokhtar Ben Saada took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Marouane Mrabet, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Marouane Mrabet stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. In the 54th minute Albert Bouzayène shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Mourad Selliti saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Issam Namouchi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 57thth minute of the game Albert Bouzayène who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Newark's Mourad Selliti was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. If Marouane Mrabet had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 62nd minute, Mohamed Bouzayène hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 63 minutes into the game, Albert Bouzayène cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-1. Mourad Selliti was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ziad Amor got free with Mokhtar Ben Saada in the 71st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 71st match minute, Leighton Buzzard United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Fakhreddine Jomaa to maneuver through the defense. Ziad Amor received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Mokhtar Ben Saada tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Issam Namouchi blasted a shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Mourad Selliti having to make a save. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ammar Nafti during the 80th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Albert Bouzayène struck a weak shot in the 82nd minute. Mourad Selliti didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Leighton Buzzard United. Marouane Mrabet fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Mokhtar Ben Saada having to interfere. Marouane Mrabet received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 91st minute. Mokhtar Ben Saada tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ahmed Gammoudi kicked well hit freekick during the 92nd minute of the match. Jeers came from both ends of the stadium when the final whistle went. Neither team had looked impressive and the draw seeemd a fair result.