League Play-Off

Cullman Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nicky Manley took the kick off in the first half of the match. Randall Britt might have been able to make a better finish in the 8th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Lane Nguyen. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Randall Britt ran back to his position shaking his head. Alex Craig could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 9th minute of the match, but Ernie Engel made a huge save. Lane Nguyen came out of the goal in the 12th minute to try and stop a shot by Vandergrift's Simon Coleman. But to his dismay, Simon Coleman quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After a rather tough play, Vandergrift's Adam Cochran got a free kick in the 14th minute. Alex Craig struck a weak shot in the 19th minute. Ernie Engel didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Cullman. In the 20th match minute, Vandergrift was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kevin Kilgore to maneuver through the defense. Lane Nguyen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Randall Britt in the 24th minute of play. Lane Nguyen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Randall Britt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 30th minute, Alex Craig made a precise shot to the right of Ernie Engel. Vandergrift's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. 36 minutes into the match, Cullman's goal looked a bit too open when Randall Britt came free, but Lane Nguyen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 44th minute, Adam Cochran hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. With his leg Ernie Engel managed to avoid a goal in the 46thth minute, when Cullman's Alex Craig fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. The score stood at 1-1 when the half time whistle went. Both sets of players seemed reasonably pleased with how the match was going.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Randall Britt made a kick off. In the 52nd minute, Nicky Manley 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. 55 minutes into the game, Gregg Heller was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Cullman's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Vandergrift the free kick. The supporters of Vandergrift booed when Cullman was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 55 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gregg Heller didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Adam Cochran had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 58th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Simon Coleman struck a weak shot in the 62nd minute. Lane Nguyen didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Vandergrift. Simon Coleman received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 64th minute. Lane Nguyen tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. A collision led to Cullman getting a freekick after 65 minutes play. Gregg Heller hit a great ball. Ernie Engel took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alex Craig, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. With a little luck, Cullman's Lane Nguyen got control of the ball when Simon Coleman tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Nicky Manley had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 72nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 79 minutes into the match, Alex Craig had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ernie Engel. Vandergrift's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Alex Craig was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-1. If Simon Coleman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 86th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some careless play in the Cullman defense, Adam Cochran kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Lane Nguyen. The Cullman fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Lane Nguyen should have stopped the shot. A hard shot 92 in the game by Simon Coleman from a close distance when the talented Lane Nguyen managed to make a qualified save. Cullman's players were relieved. After a rather tough play, Cullman's Nicky Manley got a free kick in the 94th minute. If Simon Coleman had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead.