League Play-Off

Luigi Ferraris
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Bradley Bolton started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. Royce Hawthorne took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bradley Bolton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Leon Ruff didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Bryan Arnold went, in the 7th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. In the 10th minute, Shelby McConnell hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Irmo FC's Royce Hawthorne proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 11th minute of the match, managed to save Irmo FC from getting a goal against them. When Anthony Reynolds fell near the penalty area in the 15th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Irmo FC's protests and gave Anthony Reynolds a yellow card for diving instead. Thaddeus Crocker's long shot made the audience stand up and applaude when it rumbled by Royce Hawthorne on his right side and into the goal. 16 minutes into the game it was 1-1. In the 20th minute Bradley Bolton shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Royce Hawthorne saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 21st minute, one of Irmo FC:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Irmo FC. In the 23rd minute, the referee gave Genoa CFC a penalty. Thaddeus Crocker looked confident and blasted the ball into goal by the left post, totally unstoppable for Royce Hawthorne. After a defensive mix-up in Genoa CFC's zone, Bryan Arnold stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Leon Ruff came out of the goal and Bryan Arnold tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 30 minutes into the game, Irmo FC's Bryan Arnold nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Leon Ruff made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-2. The audience was convinced that Bryan Arnold's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Leon Ruff was relentless in the 35th minute of the game. In a very dangerous position, a player in Genoa CFC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 41st minute. Penalty!

51 minutes into the match, Irmo FC's goal looked a bit too open when Quinn Lowry came free, but Royce Hawthorne reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Royce Hawthorne made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Benito Bartlett in the 53rd minute of play. If Bradley Bolton had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Rudolph Park kicked well hit freekick during the 61st minute of the match. 70 minutes into the game, Benito Bartlett was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Genoa CFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Irmo FC the free kick. In the 70th match minute, Genoa CFC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Benito Bartlett to maneuver through the defense. Leon Ruff acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 71st minute, took the ball on the long shot from Abraham Sito. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Bryan Arnold in the 73rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Leon Ruff saved Genoa CFC from getting behind. Bryan Arnold fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Leon Ruff having to interfere. Leon Ruff made a fantastic save in the 85th minute, when Gilbert Kent sent off a good shot on target. Glenn Tobin charged in rather forcefully in the 85th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Glenn Tobin the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After a rather tough play, Genoa CFC's Glenn Tobin got a free kick in the 86th minute. In the 88th minute, Gilbert Kent fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Leon Ruff, passed just outside the right post. Leon Ruff took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Bryan Arnold, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The Irmo FC players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.