Tuesday, May 11th. 7:45 PM. The Laithwaite Community Stadium, Woking.
National League Eliminator Round.
Woking (4th) vs. Crestwood United (7th).
The "First Round" of the playoffs was brutal. One game. Ninety minutes. No replays. No second chances.
If you lose, the 46-game season vanishes.
Crestwood were the underdogs. They were the "party crashers," sneaking in on the final day. Woking had finished 10 points ahead.
The stadium was compact and hostile. The Woking fans were loud, expecting an easy win against the part-timers.
Mason Turner stood in the tunnel. He adjusted the captain's armband. His nose was still sore, with purple bruises spreading under his eyes.
"They think we're just happy to be here," Mason said to the others behind him. "They think the story ended on Saturday. We write a new chapter tonight."
Callum Reid, standing behind him, popped his neck. "Let's ruin their Tuesday."
Kickoff.
Woking started fast. They were big and athletic. They bypassed the midfield, launching balls into the channels, trying to break through the Crestwood defense.
Mason was solid.
He won the first header. He won the second.
But Woking kept attacking.
22nd Minute.
Woking won a corner.
The delivery was flat and quick.
Mason was blocked off. The Woking striker got to the near post and flicked it on.
The ball zipped past the keeper.
GOAL.
Woking 1 - 0 Crestwood.
The home crowd cheered. "Going up! We are going up!"
Callum looked at Mason. Mason stayed upright. He just clapped his hands.
"It's fine! We've been behind before! Play football!"
Halftime.
Woking 1 - 0 Crestwood.
The dressing room was cramped. The Gaffer was pacing.
"We are too deep!" he shouted. "We are inviting pressure! Push up!"
Mason stood up.
"Give me the ball," he said calmly. "Stop clearing it. Give me the ball."
65th Minute.
Crestwood pushed higher.
Mason Turner stepped out of defense with the ball. A "Libero" run.
The Woking midfield backed off, expecting a long pass.
Mason kept going. He drove into the midfield.
He saw Callum Reid slipping past the last defender.
Mason didn't chip it. He sent a precise ground pass through the lines.
Callum didn't take a touch. He let the ball run across his body and struck it first time with his left foot.
The ball hit the post and went in.
GOAL.
1-1.
Callum ran to the away fans—the 400 Crestwood supporters who had made the trip. He pointed to the badge.
90th Minute.
The game was tied. Extra time lurked.
Woking looked tired. Crestwood looked determined.
90+4.
Crestwood had a throw-in deep in Woking territory.
"Long throw!" Mason shouted, sprinting forward from the back.
The ball was launched into the mix.
It was cleared, but only to the edge of the box.
It fell to Deano.
Deano scuffed his shot. It bobbled through the crowd.
It fell to Mason Turner, six yards out.
He was onside.
He had one second.
He didn't smash it. He passed it into the net.
GOAL.
Crestwood 2 - 1 Woking.
The away fans erupted. Mason was buried under a pile of bodies.
The whistle blew moments later.
Full Time.
Crestwood United Advance to the Semi-Finals.
They would play Chesterfield on Sunday. One game from Wembley.
Saturday, May 15th. 12:30 PM. The Hawthorns.
Championship Playoff Semi-Final (First Leg).
West Bromwich Albion (6th) vs. Luton Town (3rd).
While Crestwood recovered from their Tuesday night battle, West Brom prepared for their Saturday afternoon clash.
Luton Town were tough opponents. They were physical, direct, and very organized. They had finished 3rd for a reason.
Ethan Matthews sat in his spot in the dressing room.
Julian Vance was giving the team talk.
"Luton want a fight," Vance said. "They want stoppages. They want throw-ins. Don't fight them. Play football."
He looked at Ethan.
"Ethan. You are in charge. If the game turns into a brawl, we lose. Keep the tempo up. Make them chase."
Kickoff.
The Hawthorns was buzzing. 27,000 flags waved in the stands.
West Brom started with purpose.
Ethan demanded the ball. He dropped between the center backs. He drifted wide.
Every time Luton pressed, Ethan played a one-touch pass around them.
15th Minute.
Ethan received the ball from Liam Thorne.
He was quickly closed down by Luton's midfielder, Marvelous Nakamba.
Ethan used his body to shield the ball. He felt the contact and spun.
The Riverton Turn. It was becoming his signature move.
He looked up.
He saw Jaden Kalu isolated on the wing.
Ethan sent a 40-yard diagonal pass. It landed right on Kalu's foot.
The crowd gasped.
Kalu drove at his man, cut inside, and took a shot.
The keeper saved it, but the rebound fell to Mitch Evans.
Evans tapped it in.
GOAL.
West Brom 1 - 0 Luton.
Ethan pumped his fist. The first blow was struck.
60th Minute.
Luton were frustrated. They began leaving their feet in tackles.
Ethan took a heavy hit on his ankle. He stayed down for a moment, grimacing.
"Get up!" shouted a Luton defender. "Soft!"
Ethan stood up. He adjusted his socks.
He looked at the defender.
"I played on ice in December," Ethan said calmly. "This is a beach."
Ethan took the free kick quickly.
He caught Luton off guard.
He slid a pass down the line to Volkan Demir.
Volkan crossed it.
Remi Cole leapt and powered a header home.
GOAL.
West Brom 2 - 0 Luton.
Full Time.
West Bromwich Albion 2 - 0 Luton Town.
It was a strong performance. A clean sheet. Two goals ahead.
Ethan walked off the pitch to a standing ovation.
"One foot at Wembley," the commentator said.
But Ethan knew better.
Leg 2 was at Kenilworth Road.
And Kenilworth Road was known for upsetting complacency.
Sunday, May 16th. 15:00 PM. The SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield.
National League Playoff Semi-Final.
Chesterfield (3rd) vs. Crestwood United (7th).
This was it. The final step.
Chesterfield were heavy favorites. They had a big budget, a Football League stadium, and had rested for a week while Crestwood battled Woking.
Mason Turner and Callum Reid walked out. They looked exhausted. Their legs felt heavy.
But in the stands, Ethan Matthews was watching, wearing a baseball cap to blend in.
He had driven up after his game. The pact was real.
Kickoff.
Chesterfield dominated. They were faster and sharper.
10th Minute. Chesterfield Goal. 1-0.
35th Minute. Chesterfield Goal. 2-0.
Crestwood were struggling. Mason was shouting, trying to organize the defense, but the fatigue was overwhelming.
Halftime.
Chesterfield 2 - 0 Crestwood.
In the dressing room, silence fell. The dream was fading.
Then, Callum Reid stood up.
"We scored two goals in two minutes against Wrexham," Callum said. "We're not dead yet."
The Miracle.
55th Minute.
Mason Turner won a tackle. A crunching, desperate tackle.
He passed to Callum.
Callum ran. He didn't have any speed left, but he had cleverness.
He won a penalty.
Mason stepped up. The captain.
He slammed it down the middle.
2-1.
88th Minute.
Chesterfield were nervous. They were trying to waste time.
Crestwood had a corner.
Ethan, in the stands, stood up. "Do it, Mase. Do it."
The corner came in.
Mason didn't win the header.
But the ball fell to Deano.
Deano, the crowd favorite, swung a leg.
It went through a sea of legs.
It trickled in.
GOAL.
2-2.
Extra Time.
No goals. Both teams were running on empty.
Penalties.
It came down to this.
A shootout for a spot at Wembley.
Chesterfield missed their fourth penalty.
Callum Reid stepped up to take the fifth for Crestwood.
If he scored, they would go to Wembley.
Callum placed the ball. He looked at the keeper.
He thought about the garage. He thought about the "First Round" exit last year.
He ran up.
He didn't drive it. He placed it into the bottom right corner.
The keeper went left.
GOAL.
Callum turned around, arms wide.
Mason sprinted from the halfway line, tackling him before he could reach the fans.
CRESTWOOD WERE GOING TO WEMBLEY.
Tuesday, May 18th. 19:45 PM. Kenilworth Road.
Championship Playoff Semi-Final (Second Leg).
Luton Town vs. West Bromwich Albion.
(Agg: 0-2)
Ethan walked into Kenilworth Road. The entrance was famously narrow, squeezed between terraced houses. The atmosphere felt suffocating.
"They will throw everything at us," Vance warned. "Survive the first 20 minutes."
Kickoff.
Luton scored in the 4th minute.
A long throw. A flick on. A goal.
1-0 (Agg: 1-2).
The stadium shook. The belief was reinstated.
For 85 minutes, West Brom defended hard.
Ethan cleared a ball off the line.
Liam Thorne made three blocks in a row.
Mitch Evans (subbed on) ran 5km in 30 minutes.
90th Minute.
Luton had a corner. Their keeper came up.
The ball came in.
Ethan Matthews jumped. He wasn't the tallest. But he wanted it more.
He headed it clear.
The referee checked his watch.
He blew the whistle.
Full Time.
Luton 1 - 0 West Brom.
Aggregate: West Brom win 2-1.
Ethan collapsed.
West Brom were going to Wembley.
Wednesday, May 19th. 09:00 AM. The Group Chat.
Ethan: We did it.
Mason: We actually did it.
Callum: Double Header Weekend.