League Play-Off

Thorne
Spectators: 37 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Carl Titmuss got the match started through his kick off. Geoff Forrester might have been able to make a better finish in the 3rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Patrick Bird. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Geoff Forrester ran back to his position shaking his head. 4 minutes into the match, Thorne's goal looked a bit too open when Geoff Forrester came free, but Patrick Bird reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Caversham's Mattias Simms got a good chance for a goal in the 7th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 13th minute the ball was on its way in behind Caversham's goalkeeper Jonathan Bailey, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Carl Kent fell near the penalty area in the 17th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Thorne's protests and gave Carl Kent a yellow card for diving instead. After 17 played minutes Thorne got a freekick which was hit by Carl Kent. Jonathan Bailey showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carl Titmuss, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. In the 22nd match minute, Caversham was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felix Darnbrooke to maneuver through the defense. After some fancy dribbling in the 23rd minute, Garry Alsford managed to get in a good position for a shot. Thorne's supporters rose to their feet, but Garry Alsford was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Jonathan Bailey breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Felix Darnbrooke during the 26th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 26th match minute, Caversham was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Felix Darnbrooke to maneuver through the defense. In the 27th minute, Samuel Blakewell sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Caversham's Jonathan Bailey didn't even have to move. When Geoff Forrester came up free with the goalie in the 30th minute, the Caversham 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 Geoff Forrester couldn't finish the play. Carl Kent hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Brian Topham in the 33rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Patrick Bird saved Thorne from getting behind. Carl Titmuss fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 44th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Bailey having to interfere. Geoff Forrester's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Patrick Bird read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 49th minute of play. The score stood at 0-0 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

Caversham's Jonathan Bailey played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Garry Alsford in the 55th minute of play. If Brian Topham had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Brian Topham received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Patrick Bird tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Garry Alsford in the 61st minute of play forced Caversham's goalkeeper Jonathan Bailey to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Brian Topham had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. An unexpectedly hard shot by Garry Alsford in the 69th minute of play forced Caversham's goalkeeper Jonathan Bailey to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Garry Alsford fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jonathan Bailey having to interfere. Jonathan Bailey took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Carl Kent, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Caversham getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Kenny Colman hit a great ball. Patrick Bird made a fantastic save in the 82nd minute, when Geoff Forrester sent off a good shot on target. 95 minutes into the match, Caversham's goal looked a bit too open when Garry Alsford came free, but Jonathan Bailey reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.