League Play-Off

Carrboro
Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Rufus Beatty started the match with the kick off. Winston McKinney received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 3rd minute. Stan Rodriguez tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Benny Valencia sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Winston McKinney fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stan Rodriguez having to interfere. Benny Valencia struck a weak shot in the 11th minute. Stan Rodriguez didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Holden Heights FC. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Winston McKinney in the 15th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Stan Rodriguez prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Bryan Eddy hit a great freekick 18 minutes into the match. After 19 played minutes, Holden Heights FC's Ramiro Stockton shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Stan Rodriguez 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 Holden Heights FC reached it. Holden Heights FC's Jordan Drew played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Rufus Beatty in the 21st minute of play. Stan Rodriguez stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Winston McKinney's shot from short distance in the 23rd minute. 26 minutes into the game, Winston McKinney cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Stan Rodriguez was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 30th minute Winston McKinney shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Stan Rodriguez saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marquis Goldberg's late challenge caught a Holden Heights FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Marquis Goldberg helped the player get up and apologised. A collision led to Carrboro AFC getting a freekick after 34 minutes play. Marquis Goldberg hit a great ball. A collision led to Holden Heights FC getting a freekick after 35 minutes play. Winston McKinney hit a great ball. 37 minutes into the game, Rufus Beatty recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of Jordan Drew. Rufus Beatty showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. In the 48thth minute of the game Winston McKinney who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Carrboro AFC's Stan Rodriguez was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Winston McKinney to make the kick off. 53 minutes into the game, Carrboro AFC's Reggie Ciccaglione nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Jordan Drew made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 2-1. Glenn Elkins hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. The audience was convinced that Winston McKinney's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Stan Rodriguez was relentless in the 59th minute of the game. Benny Valencia fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stan Rodriguez having to interfere. Tyler Cotton hit a great freekick 67 minutes into the match. Rufus Beatty fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 68th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Jordan Drew having to interfere. In the 70th minute Rufus Beatty shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Jordan Drew saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Samuel Chin hit a great freekick 76 minutes into the match. Jordan Drew showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Reggie Ciccaglione, who was totally free with the ball in the 81st minute. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Winston McKinney in the 83rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Stan Rodriguez saved Carrboro AFC from getting behind. The audience was convinced that Reggie Ciccaglione's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Jordan Drew was relentless in the 85th minute of the game. With a little luck, Carrboro AFC's Stan Rodriguez got control of the ball when Benny Valencia tried to sneak it across the goal line. Benny Valencia struck a weak shot in the 88th minute. Stan Rodriguez didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Holden Heights FC. When Abe Estrada fell near the penalty area in the 90th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Holden Heights FC's protests and gave Abe Estrada a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Carrboro AFC booed when Holden Heights FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 93 match minutes in a wonderful position. Abe Estrada didn't get a good kick on the ball. When the match clock showed 96 minutes, the score became 3-2 when Benny Valencia sped through Carrboro AFC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Stan Rodriguez. Holden Heights FC's supporters were dissatisfied at the end of the match because Carrboro AFC had won, even though Holden Heights FC had held more of the ball.