League Play-Off

Philippi Stadium
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. Warren Gabriel started the match with the kick off. In the 8th minute, Philippi's Warren Gabriel ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Cristopher Thorne. Cristopher Thorne yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-0. Roman Cobb showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Kenneth Willingham in the 11th minute of the match. Thurman Stringer scored 1-1 in the 13th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Roman Cobb, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Roman Cobb showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Thurman Stringer, who was totally free with the ball in the 16th minute. Warren Gabriel struck a weak shot in the 17th minute. Cristopher Thorne didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Philippi. Plains's Cristopher Thorne proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 20th minute of the match, managed to save Plains from getting a goal against them. After 27 played minutes Plains got a freekick which was hit by Travis Duff. 28 minutes into the match, Philippi's Darnell Estes broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. Philippi's Warren Gabriel was standing unmarked in front of the goal when he, in the 29th play minute, got the ball and easily drilled it into the goal. The supporters of Philippi booed when Plains was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 32 match minutes in a wonderful position. Will Whittaker didn't get a good kick on the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Will Whittaker during the 35th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Plains's Will Whittaker got a free kick in the 35th minute. 40 minutes into the game, Bronson Meza was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Philippi's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Plains the free kick. In the 42nd minute of the match Rhett Whitten shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Roman Cobb showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 45th minute Warren Gabriel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristopher Thorne saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Af the end of the first half the score was 2-1. The first half had gone as expected for the home team.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Thurman Stringer to strike the kick off in the second half. Franklin Reilly fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Cristopher Thorne having to interfere. Cristopher Thorne stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Warren Gabriel's shot from short distance in the 57th minute. 65 minutes into the match, Plains's Thurman Stringer sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Roman Cobb narrowly saved just below the crossbar. If Warren Gabriel had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 67th minute, Rene Henley hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Cristopher Thorne showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ted Spencer in the 71st minute of the match. Ray Sutton sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 76th minute Warren Gabriel shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Cristopher Thorne saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The audience was convinced that Warren Gabriel's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Cristopher Thorne was relentless in the 80th minute of the game. When Philippi's Warren Gabriel in the 85th minute got a chance for a shot 85th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Plains's goalie prevented a goal. Cristopher Thorne took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ray Sutton, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Plains's Cristopher Thorne played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Warren Gabriel in the 90th minute of play. In the 91st minute, Will Whittaker hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 97th minute, Ray Sutton ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Cristopher Thorne was frozen by the shot and now it was 3-1. Philippi's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.