League Play-Off

Kearny Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Laurence Merchant got the match started through his kick off. Brandon Yeager made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Titus Sargent in the 4th minute of play. Brandon Yeager took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Denver House, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Josh Witherspoon made an important save on a dangerous shot by Eusebio Crain in the 8th minute. Eusebio Crain recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 10th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After having played for 13 minutes, Laurence Merchant managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Kearny's supporters crossed their fingers, but Laurence Merchant was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Titus Sargent sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Titus Sargent had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 17th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 22nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Kearny's goalkeeper Brandon Yeager, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. When Kent Manley fell near the penalty area in the 23rd minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored West Elmira's protests and gave Kent Manley a yellow card for diving instead. Josh Witherspoon made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Laurence Merchant in the 34th minute of play. In the 38th minute, Denver House 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. Alfredo Crain hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. Brandon Yeager took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Denver House, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 46 minutes into the game, Kearny's Eusebio Crain nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Josh Witherspoon made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0.

Brandon Yeager acted impressively in front of the goal and made a superb save when he, in the 53rd minute, took the ball on the long shot from Cruz Bannister. Denver Houses short, quick shot in the 62ndth minute got Brandon Yeager to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Eusebio Crain took the ball and in the 63 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Josh Witherspoon. Josh Witherspoon dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 2-0. 67 minutes into the game, Kearny's Alfredo Braswell nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Josh Witherspoon made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-0. Denver House received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 73rd minute. Brandon Yeager tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Kearny booed when West Elmira was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 82 match minutes in a wonderful position. Kent Manley didn't get a good kick on the ball. Will Engle, 83 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. After some fancy dribbling in the 86th minute, Eusebio Crain managed to get in a good position for a shot. Kearny's supporters rose to their feet, but Eusebio Crain was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Josh Witherspoon breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 91 played minutes Kearny got a freekick which was hit by Eusebio Crain. In the 93rd minute Titus Sargent shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brandon Yeager saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Brandon Yeager didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Denver House went, in the 96th minute, to the upper right corner, 3-1 was the resulting score. Kearny's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.