GWRSA vs Earley Gunners 0 - 9

Match Report

Earley Gunners earned a very comfortable victory against GWRSA with a 9-0 win. The record for the shortest appearance ever was set when Paul Ali retired after 5 minutes through injury and he was replaced by Paul Carvana.

It took Gunners twenty minutes to open the scoring but the GWRSA keeper had to pull off a few good saves to keep them in the game until this point.

Paul Marten also had an early chance to score when he made a run from the back. The first goal came from Dave Owen who latched onto a ball from Paul Clark and lobbed the keeper. Gunners then made it two in two minutes when Iain Peer cut the ball back to Danny Deeks who scored from close range.

The third goal came ten minutes later when Paul Stout hit a sweet shot from 25 yards which the keeper got his fingertips to but could not hold. Carl Littlechild then scored his debut goal for Gunners with the best move of the game which involved some neat interplay down the left wing before Dave Owen played Carl through to score from close range.

The half time score was 4-0 to Gunners. In the second half it was more of the same . Danny scored his second of the game and then scored his hat-trick when Iain Peer set him up again. GWRSA were dealt another blow when they had to swap keepers through injury. Iain then scored his first goal of the game after receiving a pass from Paul Carvana he cut across the box and finished from close range.

Dave Owen then replaced Julian Willis in goal who went up front in search of a goal but unfortunately could not convert the couple of half chances he had.

Iain then added another goal himself when a hopeful lobbed ball towards goal was let in by the keeper and Kenny Bunce rounded off the game with a thunderous toe-punt from 20 yards.
Gunners were a little disorganised towards the end with players pushing towards goal and Matt Rees did a good professional job at the back sweeping up any loose balls. The final whistle went with Gunners being comfortable victors and credit to GWRSA for keeping going towards the end.

Match Facts:

MOM : D Deeks

Goals: D Deeks (3), I Peer (2), K Bunce (1), D Owen (1), C Littlechilld (1), P Stout (1)

Team

Arborfield vs Earley Gunners 3 - 1

Match Report

Earley Gunners lost out to Arborfield in Gunners first league game for a few weeks.

Gunners made their typical start when they conceded an early goal. Phil Byrne unfortunately misjudged a header and this allowed Arborfield to break and score.

Arborfield dominated the first twenty minutes and Gunners were rarely in the game at this point. Arborfield then scored a second to put them in the driving seat.

Midway through the second half, Gunners began to get some possession and broke away down the left hand side a couple of times and created a couple of half chances.

Paul Ali came close to scoring when he was played through but the keeper made a good close range save.

Gunners began to offer a bit more fight in the middle particularly through Paul Stout who began to win a few headers and loose balls.

The half time score was 2-0 to Arborfield who were the better team in the first half.

Gunners started the second half much more brightly and had a couple of half chances before they managed to open the scoring when Paul Clark headed the ball onto Paul Ali who lobbed the keeper.

However, just as Gunners were getting back in the game, Arborfield broke and scored with a soft shot which rolled under the keepers legs.

Gunners did maintain the pressure and did have a number of chances to equalise the closest of which came from Paul Clark who hit the cross bar but it just wasn't going to be Gunners day and the team ended up losing 3-1.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Paul Stout for a good battling midfield display.

MOM : P Stout

Goal : Pa Ali (1)

Team

Christchuch vs Earley Gunners 0 - 1

Match Report

Earley Gunners battle through to the next round of the John Lusted Cup with a narrow win over Christchurch.

Gunners started the game very poorly and were put under enormous pressure in the first ten minutes when Christchurch opening up the Gunners right hand side.

However, Gunners managed to hold out and slowly began to get back into the game.
Chances were few and far between although Mark Firmager was required to make a good close range save to keep Gunners in the game.

Gunners were unlucky not to take the lead when Paul Ali charged down the keeper and tapped the ball into the net but a dubious off side decision was made.

Iain Peer also made a name for himself when he was involved in a slight altercation with an opponent. The half time score was 0 - 0.

The second half was a fairly even affair with Gunners creating some early pressure with a string of corners. Unfortunately, the team could not force a goal.

However, midway through the second half Iain Peer opened the scoring after chasing a long ball from the keeper and finishing from just inside the box.

At the other end of the field, the defence played well enough to keep the opposition from creating too many clear shots although their was a late scare when they had a one on one but the opposing forward put the ball wide of the post.

Gunners held out for the last few minutes to earn a tight win. Paul Ali was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a hard working display up front.

MOM : Pa Ali

Goal : I Peer (1)

Team

Shottesbrooke vs Earley Gunners 3 - 2

Match Report

Earley Gunners slumped to defeat against Shottesbrooke in the Berks & Bucks Cup.

Gunners made the worst possible start when Shottesbrooke broke down their left wing and sent a cross into the box which was deflected into their attackers path who scored from close range.
Gunners then dominated the majority of the first half and created numerous openings.

Leigh Holdway had plenty of space down the right wing and most of our attacking opportunities seem to come from this area.

The Shottesbrooke keeper made a couple of fine saves to keep Gunners at bay. Danny Deeks was particularly unlucky when he hit a right foot volley which the keeper tipped over the bar. Gunners also had a couple of chances cleared off the line. The half time score was 1-0 to the opposition.

In the second half Gunners scored twice both of which were close range headers by Iain Peer to give the team the lead to put Gunners in the driving seat at 2-1.

Gunners were also unlucky when the ball was cleared off the line again when it appeared to be over.

For the next few minutes it looked as if Gunners were going to put the game beyond doubt. However Shottesbrook started to get back into the game and they equalised when Gunners failed to clear a ball into the box and they scored at the far post.

Gunners had a nervous moment when Phil Byrne appeared to use his arm to knock the ball off the line but the referee waved play on. With five minutes to go, Shottesbrooke took the lead when they crossed the ball into the box and the attacking player scored from the near post.
Gunners tried to get the equaliser but failed to create a decent chance as the time ran out. The final score was a poor 3-2 defeat when Gunners really failed to get a grip of the game in the second half after they had put themselves into a winning position.

"Man of the Match" was Leigh Holdway for a good game in right midfield.

Match Facts:

MOM : L Holdway

Goals : I Peer (2)

Team