Earley Gunners continued their good start to the season with a 4-0 home win over Warwick Arms. The game was played in difficult windy conditions. Gunners had the advantage of the slope and the wind in the first half and dominated possession although they failed to create too many clear cut chances. However, Kevin Rapley managed to score to give Gunners a slender 1-0 half time lead.Unfortunately, the crosses into the box were of poor quality in the first half.
Despite, tougher conditions in the second half, Gunners managed to improve and played some better football and created a few more chances in front of goal. Phil Byrne scored his first goal of the season when the opposing keeper fumbled the ball leaving Phil with an easy tap in to give Gunners a 2-0 lead.Warwick Arms did make the occasional break forward but were kept at bay thanks to a well organised defence with Sean Kearns dominant in the air and Paul Ali ably sweeping behind him.Tony Poacher’s long goal kicks ensured the team were not put under any immediate pressure from the opposition from goal kicks into the wind.
Gunners continued to press in the second half and had more success when the ball was played to their wide players with Chris Price and Darren Fry looking dangerous on the wings.Jon Weller was introduced in right midfield for his first club appearance and looked lively on the right hand side of midfield.Kevin Rapley was unlucky not to add his second when his overhead kick came back off the bar.Gunners killed the game when Paul Clark struck a crisp volley to make it 3-0 and Phil Byrne scored his second goal after some great footwork by Leigh Holdway. Julian Willis had another untroubled game in goal.Paul Ali was Gunners "Man of the Match" with a great performance as sweeper although the rest of the Gunners defence also played well.
Match Facts
MOM : Pa Ali
Goals : P Byrne (2), K Rapley (1), P Clark (1)
Team: (GK) J Willis, (RB), C Price, (CD) S Kearns, (CD) Pa Ali, (LB) T Poacher, (RM) R Keyse, (CM) P Clark, (CM) L Holdway, (LM) D Fry, (F) K Rapley, (F) P Byrne, (Subs) J Weller, I Thornhill, K Bunce
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