League Play-Off

Irwin Stadium
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Hal Slater got the match started through his kick off. In the 2nd minute of the match Arnold Nielsen sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Leif Beckman skillfully saved the ball. When Ferdinand Hickman fell near the penalty area in the 5th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Irwin AFC's protests and gave Ferdinand Hickman a yellow card for diving instead. Spencer Bower took the ball and in the 10 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Bill Cassidy. Bill Cassidy dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-0. Bill Cassidy made an important save on a dangerous shot by Spencer Bower in the 13th minute. Fernando Manning received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Leif Beckman tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Ridgefield FC's Bill Cassidy got control of the ball when Spencer Bower tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Ridgefield FC getting a freekick after 28 minutes play. Willard Glover hit a great ball. In the 41st minute Eliseo Talbot shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Leif Beckman saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 47th minute, Gerald Hare hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Eliseo Talbot stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Clay Nieves charged in rather forcefully in the 53rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Clay Nieves the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Ridgefield FC's Fernando Manning got a good chance for a goal in the 55th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Fernando Manning had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Spencer Bower had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 63rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 68 played minutes, Ridgefield FC's Solomon Putnam shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Leif Beckman came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Ridgefield FC reached it. 70 minutes into the match, Hal Slater notched a goal, 2-1, to the right of Ridgefield FC's Bill Cassidy. Bill Cassidy was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. In the 74th minute, Spencer Bower 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. Fernando Manning sent away a hard shot on goal in the 79th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Leif Beckman showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eliseo Talbot, who was totally free with the ball in the 80th minute. In the 82nd minute, Fernando Manning left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ridgefield FC fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 2-2. Alberto Dill charged in rather forcefully in the 89th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Alberto Dill the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Alberto Dill hit a great freekick 89 minutes into the match. 92 minutes into the game, Fernando Manning cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-3. Leif Beckman was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Eliseo Talbot had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 97th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Ridgefield FC had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.