League Play-Off

Hurstbourne Park
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) When Allan Emery came up free with the goalie in the 3rd minute, the Hurstbourne 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 Allan Emery couldn't finish the play. Jacob Darby fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 9th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Clint Holbrook having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 11th minute, Cary Davies managed to get in a good position for a shot. Welsh's supporters rose to their feet, but Cary Davies was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Elliot Merchant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Clint Holbrook made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jacob Darby in the 15th minute. Stephen Harvey charged in rather forcefully in the 16th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Stephen Harvey the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. After 16 played minutes Welsh got a freekick which was hit by Stephen Harvey. Cary Davies's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Elliot Merchant read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 19th minute of play. Hurstbourne's Elliot Merchant played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Cary Davies in the 20th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 22nd minute, Gerard Walsh managed to get in a good position for a shot. Welsh's supporters rose to their feet, but Gerard Walsh was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Elliot Merchant breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 28 minutes, Louis Grier mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Welsh and the Hurstbourne players grew even worse after the yellow card. Louis Grier kicked well hit freekick during the 28th minute of the match. Hurstbourne's Adalberto Sherrill shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 29th minute of play. The shot was stopped by Clint Holbrook but with some difficulty. With a little luck, Welsh's Clint Holbrook got control of the ball when Jacob Darby tried to sneak it across the goal line. A collision led to Hurstbourne getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Simon Mobley hit a great ball. Gerard Walsh received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Elliot Merchant tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gerard Walsh in the 37th minute of play forced Hurstbourne's goalkeeper Elliot Merchant to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 38th minute, Desmond McDonough hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Welsh's attacker deliberately struck the ball against an opponent to win a corner for his team. The corner was taken by Matt Driscoll in the 41st minute. The corner led Welsh's Matt Driscoll to fire away a dangerous shot which Elliot Merchant despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. The audience was convinced that Gerard Walsh's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Elliot Merchant was relentless in the 47th minute of the game. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Allan Emery made the kick off in the second half. 55 minutes into the match, Welsh's goal looked a bit too open when Todd Knapp came free, but Clint Holbrook reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Jacob Darby had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 57th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 60th minute, Hurstbourne's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Cary Davies fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Cary Davies scored 0-1 in the 62nd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Elliot Merchant, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. If Allan Emery had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Allan Emery received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Clint Holbrook tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 73 minutes into the match, Welsh's goal looked a bit too open when Allan Emery came free, but Clint Holbrook reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Matt Driscoll hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. Todd Knapp hit a great freekick 88 minutes into the match. Gerard Walsh struck a weak shot in the 90th minute. Elliot Merchant didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Welsh. The Welsh 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.