League Play-Off

Keswick
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Ilford FC's Amilcar Arango started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Ilford FC's Amilcar Arango got a good chance for a goal in the 2nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. 6 minutes had been played when some careless play by Keswick AFC's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Efren Zepeda was slow to take the kick. During this time Ilford FC's players had a chance to rest. A nice corner shot did that Efren Zepeda got away a dangerous shot. Despite this Andrés Castro quite easily got ahold of the ball to make the save. Alejandro Mejia fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 11th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alberto Escalante having to interfere. 12 minutes into the match, Alejandro Mejia dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Alberto Escalante, 1-0. Allan Ventura recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Everyone was convinced a goal was close when Keswick AFC's Alejandro Mejia in the 20th minute lifted the ball towards the upper right corner, but Alberto Escalante was perfectly placed and prevented a goal for Ilford FC through an amazing save. The audience thought a goal was coming when Januario Salguero got free with Alberto Escalante in the 26th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Alberto Escalante showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Alejandro Mejia in the 32nd minute of the match. Alejandro Mejia fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 35th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alberto Escalante having to interfere. Ilford FC's Alberto Escalante proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 36th minute of the match, managed to save Ilford FC from getting a goal against them. 38 minutes into the match, Ilford FC's goalkeeper Alberto Escalante had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Januario Salguero. After 39 minutes, Enrique Ancheta mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Ilford FC and the Keswick AFC players grew even worse after the yellow card. If Allan Ventura had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 44th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Keswick AFC's Andrés Castro played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Allan Ventura in the 46th minute of play. After 47 minutes, Amilcar Arango made it 1-1 with a short kick to the right side. Keswick AFC's Andrés Castro tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. 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 Alejandro Mejia made the kick off in the second half. Januario Salguero fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alberto Escalante having to interfere. Pedro Reyes's late challenge caught a Keswick AFC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Pedro Reyes helped the player get up and apologised. After a rather tough play, Ilford FC's Pedro Reyes got a free kick in the 56th minute. 58 minutes into the match, Ilford FC's goal looked a bit too open when Alejandro Mejia came free, but Alberto Escalante reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Januario Salguero received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 69th minute. Alberto Escalante tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 70th match minute, Ilford FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Enrique Ancheta to maneuver through the defense. A collision led to Ilford FC getting a freekick after 72 minutes play. Alvaro Guerra hit a great ball. In the 73rd minute, Victor Alvarenga sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Ilford FC's Alberto Escalante didn't even have to move. Januario Salguero fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Alberto Escalante having to interfere. In the 79th minute Alejandro Mejia shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Alberto Escalante saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a rather tough play, Ilford FC's Enrique Ancheta got a free kick in the 82nd minute. Victor Alvarenga, 82 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. Allan Ventura's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Andrés Castro read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 90th minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Alejandro Mejia in the 91st minute of play forced Ilford FC's goalkeeper Alberto Escalante to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ilford FC were furious when Gabriel Guerrero was red carded, 93 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. 93 minutes into the game, one of Ilford FC:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Victor Alvarenga placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out!