League Play-Off

Hoddesdon
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Ricardo Costas took the kick off in the first half of the match. The Longwell Green fans' excitement grew in the 5th match minute when Longwell Green's Gilberto Villanueva looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-1 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. Gilberto Villanueva received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Josue Paz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ismael Mayen in the 18thth minute had a little luck and got a chance for a shot in front of the goal. Without hesitation aimed to the right of David Villalobos, who managed to lunge to the right direction and made a save. The audience was convinced that Gilberto Villanueva's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Josue Paz was relentless in the 21st minute of the game. Josue Paz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Gilberto Villanueva, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Patricio Brizuela fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 30th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Josue Paz having to interfere. Josue Paz didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Patricio Brizuela went, in the 34th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. After 38 played minutes Hoddesdon City got a freekick which was hit by Deris Menjivar. After the first half Longwell Green were leading 0-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Gilberto Villanueva to make the kick off. David Villalobos showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ricardo Costas in the 57th minute of the match. The audience thought a goal was coming when Patricio Brizuela got free with Josue Paz in the 58th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 62 played minutes, Hoddesdon City's Patricio Velis shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper David Villalobos 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 Hoddesdon City reached it. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Isaac Baptista during the 66th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 66 played minutes Hoddesdon City got a freekick which was hit by Isaac Baptista. When Deris Menjivar fell near the penalty area in the 69th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Hoddesdon City's protests and gave Deris Menjivar a yellow card for diving instead. In the 70th minute, Deris Menjivar hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marvin Braun, 70 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. If Patricio Brizuela had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 73rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 77 minutes into the match, Longwell Green's Gilberto Villanueva sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Josue Paz narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Deris Menjivar kicked well hit freekick during the 79th minute of the match. Diego Orellana kicked well hit freekick during the 85th minute of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 91st minute, Gilberto Villanueva managed to get in a good position for a shot. Longwell Green's supporters rose to their feet, but Gilberto Villanueva was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Josue Paz breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 94th minute Gilberto Villanueva shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Josue Paz saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Patricio Brizuela struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Josue Paz didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Longwell Green. Longwell Green's players went to the stands to thank the travelling support. The fan's backing had helped spurr the team on to a fine performance that won them the match.