League Play-Off

NER
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Pat Burrows took the kick off in the first half of the match. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Woodrow Flynn during the 2nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 2 played minutes NPL got a freekick which was hit by Woodrow Flynn. In the 5th minute, Boyce Rosado 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. Brendan Gilbert made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pat Burrows in the 8th minute of play. NPL's Brendan Gilbert played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Danny Herndon in the 9th minute of play. With a little luck, Bowling Green FC's Ezra Diaz got control of the ball when Stanford Crockett tried to sneak it across the goal line. In the 16th match minute, Bowling Green FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Keenan Stapleton to maneuver through the defense. NPL's Ben Fernandez shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 17th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Ezra Diaz but with some difficulty. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Keenan Stapleton during the 22nd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 22 played minutes Bowling Green FC got a freekick which was hit by Keenan Stapleton. 23 minutes into the match, NPL's Boyce Rosado sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Ezra Diaz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. A hard shot 26 in the game by Stanford Crockett from a close distance when the talented Ezra Diaz managed to make a qualified save. Bowling Green FC's players were relieved. Bowling Green FC's Pat Burrows got a good chance for a goal in the 33rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Danny Herndon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Brendan Gilbert tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 40th minute, Woodrow Flynn 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. After 41 played minutes Bowling Green FC got a freekick which was hit by Keenan Stapleton. Brendan Gilbert took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Pat Burrows, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side.

The wind increased when Boyce Rosado made the kick off in the second half. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Dillon Kelley in the 56th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Ezra Diaz prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After having played for 62 minutes, Stanford Crockett managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. NPL's supporters crossed their fingers, but Stanford Crockett was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Ezra Diaz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Stanford Crockett went, in the 64th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-0 was the resulting score. If Stanford Crockett had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 67th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 73rd minute, Pat Burrows managed to get in a good position for a shot. Bowling Green FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Pat Burrows was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Brendan Gilbert breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 77 minutes into the match, NPL's goalkeeper Brendan Gilbert had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Danny Herndon. When Keenan Stapleton came up free with the goalie in the 83rd minute, the Bowling Green FC 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 Keenan Stapleton couldn't finish the play. Danny Herndon received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 86th minute. Brendan Gilbert tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ezra Diaz showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Dillon Kelley, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute.