Match Report
Gunners met top of Division 1 Chemical Academicals in the first round of the Jack Taylor Cup. Gunners soon got on the score sheet in the first few minutes when Paul Clark played a through ball to Ian Thornhill who slipped the ball past the keeper.
The Gunners midfield were clearly dominant and were always in control of the game and further goals soon followed. Dave Owen added a second with a close range shot and Kevin Rapley added a third when the keeper failed to clear the ball.
Darren Fry managed to score his first goal for the club when he poked the ball home after a through ball from Paul Clark. Gunners were rarely under any defensive pressure but could have cleared the ball away quicker on a couple of occasions. However, the opposition did not manage to create many scoring opportunities.
The second half was a little tougher against the slope but chances still came and Sean Kearns was unlucky when a couple of his efforts from corners were cleared off the line.
Chemicals had a little more possession this half but the Gunners team worked hard to limit their opportunities.
A final goal was added when Kevin Rapley crossed the ball into the box which was headed over the keeper by Paul Ali, however the ball bounced off the underside of the cross bar and was bundled in by Nick Burrows.
The final score was a comfortable 5-0 win and this result will worry other teams left in the cup competition with the previous favourites being knocked out so convincingly. Man of the Match went to Ian Thornhill for a tireless display up front which included plenty of tracking back when required.
Match Facts
MOM : I Thornhill
Goals : K Rapley (1), P Clark (1), D Owen (1), D Fry (1), N Burrows (1)
Team : (GK) J Willis, (RB) C Price, (CB) Pa Ali, (CB) S Kearns, (LB) T Poacher, (RM) L Holdway, (CM) D Owen, (CM) P Clark, (LM) D Fry, (F) K Rapley, (F) I Thornhill, (Subs) P Byrne, N Burrows, J Weller
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