League Play-Off

St Johns Wood
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) 5 minutes into the match, St Johns Wood's goal looked a bit too open when Alejandro Leiva came free, but Carmelo Batres reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 6 played minutes Birkdale AFC got a freekick which was hit by Emiliano Larios. Carmelo Batres took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Alejandro Leiva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Birkdale AFC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 10th minute, when Ladislao Ventura scored to the left of an out of position Primitivo Corpeño, making the score, 1-0. 15 minutes into the match, St Johns Wood's goal looked a bit too open when Alejandro Leiva came free, but Carmelo Batres reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 18th minute, Rafael Botello managed to get in a good position for a shot. St Johns Wood's supporters rose to their feet, but Rafael Botello was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Primitivo Corpeño breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. The audience was convinced that Alejandro Leiva's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Carmelo Batres was relentless in the 20th minute of the game. After some careless play in the St Johns Wood defense, Elias Castro kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Carmelo Batres. The St Johns Wood fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Carmelo Batres should have stopped the shot. St Johns Wood's Carmelo Batres played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alejandro Leiva in the 28th minute of play. St Johns Wood's Rafael Botello got a good chance for a goal in the 34th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 35 played minutes Birkdale AFC got a freekick which was hit by Gilberto Guardado. Ladislao Ventura sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. If Rafael Botello had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 38th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ladislao Ventura sent away a hard shot on goal in the 40th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gilberto Guardado hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. In the last second Primitivo Corpeño throw himself and got hold of the ball when Ladislao Ventura in the 44thth minute from his position got away a shot towards the right post. Primitivo Corpeño made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ladislao Ventura in the 47th minute of play. In the 47th minute, Emiliano Larios hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The audience thought a goal was coming when Rafael Botello got free with Primitivo Corpeño in the 49th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 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.

If Elias Castro had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Alejandro Leiva sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, Birkdale AFC's Diego Pacheco got a free kick in the 58th minute. Carmelo Batres showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alejandro Leiva in the 64th minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Birkdale AFC's Gilberto Guardado got a free kick in the 75th minute. A collision led to St Johns Wood getting a freekick after 79 minutes play. Alexander García hit a great ball. After having played for 80 minutes, Elias Castro managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Birkdale AFC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Elias Castro was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Birkdale AFC's Primitivo Corpeño played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ladislao Ventura in the 85th minute of play. The supporters of St Johns Wood booed when Birkdale AFC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 87 match minutes in a wonderful position. Gilberto Guardado didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Rafael Botello had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 88th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 93rd minute, Rafael Botello made a precise shot to the right of Primitivo Corpeño. Birkdale AFC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 2-1. After 98 minutes, Edgar Jimenez mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Birkdale AFC and the St Johns Wood players grew even worse after the yellow card. Edgar Jimenez kicked well hit freekick during the 98th minute of the match. St Johns Wood's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.