League Play-Off

Stamford Stadium
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Salvador Galeas got the match started through his kick off. Stamford City's Roberto Osorio played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Manuel Henriquez in the 3rd minute of play. Oscar Zapata lost his temper 5 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. 4 minutes into the game, one of Stamford City:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. 10 minutes into the match, Stamford City's goal looked a bit too open when Manuel Henriquez came free, but Roberto Osorio reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The audience was convinced that Salvador Galeas's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Roberto Osorio was relentless in the 11th minute of the game. After 16 minutes of play, Shipley United's Salvador Galeas made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Roberto Osorio was left in no man's land by his defense there! Manuel Henriquez sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 37 played minutes Shipley United got a freekick which was hit by Mauricio Bustamante. 41 minutes into the game, Francisco Serrano was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Shipley United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Stamford City the free kick. Francisco Serrano kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. Victorino Zepeda received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. Will Díaz tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-1 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Victorino Zepeda to make the kick off. In the 55th minute of the match Stamford City got a corner. Shipley United's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Rafael Portillo ran over to the corner to take the kick. The corner led Stamford City's Rafael Portillo to fire away a dangerous shot which Will Díaz despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. In the 57th match minute, Stamford City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Salvador Barraza to maneuver through the defense. If Manuel Henriquez had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 64th minute, Mauro Moreira hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Stamford City's Victorino Zepeda got a good chance for a goal in the 72nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After 73 played minutes Shipley United got a freekick which was hit by Mauricio Bustamante. After a defensive mix-up in Stamford City's zone, Manuel Henriquez stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Roberto Osorio came out of the goal and Manuel Henriquez tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Will Díaz took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Victorino Zepeda, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Shipley United's zone, Victorino Zepeda stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Will Díaz came out of the goal and Victorino Zepeda tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 96th minute, Stamford City's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Manuel Henriquez fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. The Shipley United players were relieved to hear the final whistle blow to end the match. The away crowd was happy to see their team win after a very tight game.