League Play-Off

Romeoville Park
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. Francesco Albright started the match with the kick off. A collision led to Romeoville AFC getting a freekick after 3 minutes play. Ken Caldwell hit a great ball. Alberto Samuels might have been able to make a better finish in the 6th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Quincy Looney. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Alberto Samuels ran back to his position shaking his head. Quincy Looney came out of the goal in the 6th minute to try and stop a shot by Romeoville AFC's Brendan Ashby. But to his dismay, Brendan Ashby quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-0. An unexpectedly hard shot by Francesco Albright in the 11th minute of play forced Romeoville AFC's goalkeeper Doug Stein to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 12th minute Francesco Albright shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Doug Stein saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 17 minutes of play, Betla National Park's Francesco Albright made it 1-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Doug Stein was left in no man's land by his defense there! Doug Stein showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Francesco Albright, who was totally free with the ball in the 20th minute. Doug Stein took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Filiberto Lockwood, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. When Brendan Ashby came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the Romeoville AFC 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 Brendan Ashby couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Genaro Ramsey in the 34th minute of play forced Betla National Park's goalkeeper Quincy Looney to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Francesco Albright received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 38th minute. Doug Stein tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 41st minute, Betla National Park's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Genaro Ramsey fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. Genaro Ramsey recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 43rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 45 minutes into the game, Ken Caldwell was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Romeoville AFC's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Betla National Park the free kick. The supporters of Betla National Park booed when Romeoville AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ken Caldwell didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Genaro Ramsey stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Doug Stein took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Francesco Albright, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Betla National Park's zone, Brendan Ashby stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Quincy Looney came out of the goal and Brendan Ashby tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Genaro Ramsey received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 58th minute. Quincy Looney tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 60th match minute, Betla National Park was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Spencer Sexton to maneuver through the defense. In the 62nd minute, Brendan Ashby ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Quincy Looney was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. Genaro Ramsey sent away a hard shot on goal in the 67th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Eddy West kicked well hit freekick during the 68th minute of the match. Marcus Davidson took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 76th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Quincy Looney. Betla National Park's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Genaro Ramsey in the 85th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Quincy Looney prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Brendan Ashby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 88th match minute, Betla National Park was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Jarrett Reaves to maneuver through the defense. Romeoville AFC's Genaro Ramsey got a good chance for a goal in the 91st minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 93rd minute, Genaro Ramsey managed to get in a good position for a shot. Romeoville AFC's supporters rose to their feet, but Genaro Ramsey was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Quincy Looney breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Brendan Ashby sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.