Saturday, May 8th. 12:30 PM. Kickoff.
The whistles blew at the exact same moment, five miles apart.
At The Hawthorns, 26,000 fans roared as Ethan Matthews touched the ball for the first time. At Crestwood Park, 3,000 fans packed into the small ground as Mason Turner won the first header against Wrexham's giants.
12:45 PM. 15 Minutes In.
The Hawthorns:
It was tense. Swansea controlled possession (68%). Ethan chased shadows, trying to disrupt their passing rhythm.
"Press!" Vance yelled from the sideline. "Don't let them breathe!"
Crestwood Park:
Wrexham needed a win for the title and were attacking the Crestwood goal.
Paul Mullin had already hit the post.
Mason played with a desperation that bordered on madness, throwing his body in front of shots.
1:00 PM. 30 Minutes In.
Preston 0 - 1 Sunderland.
The news rippled through The Hawthorns like a shockwave. Sunderland had scored.
As it stood:
6. Sunderland (75 pts)
7. West Brom (73 pts)
West Brom were out.
Ethan noticed the change in the crowd's energy. The anxiety. The silence.
He grabbed Mitch Evans. "They scored, didn't they?"
"Looks like it," Evans grimaced.
"Then we have to score," Ethan said.
Crestwood 0 - 0 Wrexham.
Bromley 1 - 0 Oldham.
Disaster. Bromley were winning.
As it stood:
7. Bromley (73 pts)
8. Crestwood (72 pts)
Crestwood were out.
Callum Reid glanced at the scoreboard. He saw the Bromley score update.
He looked at Mason. Mason nodded. We know.
1:10 PM. 40 Minutes In.
The Hawthorns:
Ethan intercepted a lazy pass from the Swansea midfielder.
He didn't look sideways. He drove forward.
He went past one, past two.
He was 25 yards out.
"Hit it!" the crowd urged.
Ethan wound up for the 'Riverton Thump'.
He struck it cleanly.
The ball flew toward the bottom corner.
The Swansea keeper, fingertips stretching, tipped it onto the post.
The rebound fell to Jaden Kalu.
Kalu tapped it in.
GOAL.
West Brom 1 - 0 Swansea.
The Hawthorns erupted.
As it stood:
6. West Brom (75 pts)
7. Sunderland (75 pts)
West Brom ahead on Goal Difference (+9 vs +7).
Crestwood Park:
Wrexham won a corner.
The delivery was deep. Mason was blocked off.
The Wrexham center-back rose highest.
Power header.
GOAL.
Crestwood 0 - 1 Wrexham.
The small stadium went silent.
Crestwood were losing. Bromley were winning.
It looked over.
1:30 PM. Halftime.
West Brom 1 - 0 Swansea. (In the Playoffs)
Crestwood 0 - 1 Wrexham. (Out of the Playoffs)
Ethan sat in the dressing room. He checked his phone.
He saw the Crestwood score.
Dammit.
Mason sat in the Crestwood dressing room. He was bleeding from his nose again.
"We need two goals," The Gaffer said, his voice cracking. "Against the best team in the league. With 45 minutes left in our season."
Mason stood up. He kicked a bin.
"We didn't come this far to die on the final day," Mason growled. "Get the ball to Callum. Just get the ball to Callum."
1:45 PM. The Second Half.
The Hawthorns:
Swansea came out angry. They pinned West Brom back.
Ethan was forced to defend deep, acting as an extra center-back.
Crestwood Park:
Crestwood threw caution to the wind. They switched to 3-4-3.
Callum Reid was playing as a false nine.
2:00 PM. 60 Minutes In.
Preston 1 - 1 Sunderland.
A roar at The Hawthorns. Preston had equalized!
West Brom now had a buffer. Even if Swansea scored, West Brom would be ahead by a point.
Ethan felt the tension lift slightly. He began to dictate play, slowing it down.
Crestwood Park:
Callum Reid received the ball with his back to goal.
He felt the Wrexham defender close in.
He rolled him with the Riverton Spin (he had been watching Ethan).
He was through.
He slotted it past the keeper.
GOAL.
Crestwood 1 - 1 Wrexham.
Hope.
But Bromley were still winning. A draw wasn't enough. Crestwood needed to win.
2:15 PM. 75 Minutes In.
The Hawthorns:
Disaster struck.
A defensive mix-up. Liam Thorne slipped.
The Swansea striker pounced.
GOAL.
West Brom 1 - 1 Swansea.
The tension returned instantly.
If Sunderland scored again, West Brom were out.
Ethan looked at the clock. 15 minutes left.
"Hold!" Ethan shouted. "No more mistakes!"
Crestwood Park:
Wrexham were pressing for the title winner. They were leaving gaps.
Mason Turner won the ball in his own box.
He didn't clear it. He ran.
The center-back carried the ball. He crossed the halfway line.
"Go on, Mase!" the crowd shouted.
He passed to Deano on the wing.
Mason kept running. He entered the box.
Deano crossed it.
Mason launched himself with a diving header.
He connected.
The ball crashed against the crossbar and bounced down.
Did it cross the line?
The referee waved play on. No goal.
Mason slammed the turf in frustration.
2:25 PM. 85 Minutes In.
The Hawthorns:
News from Preston.
SUNDERLAND GOAL.
Sunderland 2 - 1 Preston.
West Brom were out.
As it stood:
6. Sunderland (78 pts)
7. West Brom (73 pts)
Ethan spotted Vance on the sideline. Vance held up two fingers. Two goals needed? No.
Vance signaled Attack.
A draw was useless. West Brom needed to win.
Ethan grabbed the ball.
"Forward!" he yelled. "Everyone forward!"
Crestwood Park:
88th minute.
Still 1-1.
Crestwood needed a miracle.
Wrexham had a free kick. They packed the box.
The ball came in. Mason headed it clear.
It fell to Callum Reid near his own box.
Callum looked up.
90 yards of open pitch. The Wrexham keeper was up for the free kick.
Callum ran.
His legs burned. His lungs screamed.
A Wrexham defender chased him.
Callum crossed the halfway line.
The defender was gaining ground.
Callum reached the opposing box.
The defender slid.
Callum took a touch inside.
He was 10 yards out. Open goal.
He tapped it in.
GOAL.
Crestwood 2 - 1 Wrexham.
Pandemonium. Fans rushed onto the pitch.
Mason was lifted onto shoulders.
They were in the playoffs.
2:30 PM. Injury Time.
The Hawthorns:
90+4.
West Brom 1 - 1 Swansea.
They needed a goal to save their season.
Ethan had the ball 40 yards out.
The Swansea defense was crowded.
There was no pass available.
He saw Liam Thorne—the captain—had stayed up from a corner.
Ethan chipped a ball over the defense. A delicate, floated pass.
Thorne chested it down.
He was 6 yards out.
He volleyed it.
The net bulged.
GOAL.
West Brom 2 - 1 Swansea.
The stadium shook. Ethan fell to his knees.
They were back in 6th.
Crestwood Park:
The referee blew the whistle.
Full Time: Crestwood 2 - 1 Wrexham.
Fans flooded the pitch. Mason was lifted onto shoulders.
They were in the playoffs.
2:32 PM. Full Time.
The Hawthorns:
The whistle blew.
West Brom 2 - 1 Swansea.
Ethan lay on the center circle, staring at the sky.
He felt a buzz in his sock. His phone was tucked in his shin pad (against the rules, but he didn't care).
He pulled it out.
A text from Mason.
WEMBLEY IS ON.
Ethan closed his eyes and let the tears flow.
West Brom were in.
Crestwood were in.