Whitley Tavern vs Earley Gunners 2 - 0

Match Report

Gunners lost out to title contenders Whitley Tavern Res after a closer game than the first encounter.

Bill Maslin made a welcome return to the team for his first appearance of the season.
Whitley started the better of the teams and had a couple of chances to score including a shot which came out from under the bar.

However, they eventually took the lead when they made a break from their right and layed the ball across the goal for someone to finish from close range.

At the other end of the field, Gunners had a few chances the most notable of when Peter Ali flicked the ball onto Bill who had a chance to score which was saved. Paul Stout also had a good chance when he picked up the ball in midfield, dribbled past two players but the keeper came out and made a good save.

Gunners should have been level when a cross was put into the goal but the keeper palmed the ball out. The ball was clearly over the line but the Whitley referee waved play on.
Paul Clark also had a small altercation with a Whitley player in the first half.

In the second half, Gunners started by having a few long range shots at goal but none of these troubled the keeper.

The game became a little flat with both sides losing some interest in the game which became very open.

Gunners had another couple of chances to score when Dave Owen shaved the post from a free kick, Matt Rees had a header cleared off the line and Bill Maslin also went close.

At the other end of the field Whitley had a few chances on the break and Julian was called into action on a few occasions.

Whitley eventually scored a second goal to seal the game and neither side seemed really interested in the last few minutes as the heat seemed to sap the strength out of the players. The final score was a 2-0 defeat.

Peter Ali was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a good effort up front with little reward.

Match Facts:

MOM : Pe Ali

Team

Kennet Valley vs Earley Gunners 2 - 3

Match Report

Gunners earned all three points after a magnificent effort against Kennet Valley.

The team was reduced to a bare 11 due to a couple of last minute drop outs which meant Peter Ali making his first start for the season.

Gunners started well and took the lead when Paul Ali slipped the ball through to Iain Peer who shot from the edge of the box and curled the ball past the keeper.

Gunners were in control of the game and played some neat and tidy football across one of the larger pitches at Burghfield which benefited the teams game.

Gunners then added a second when Paul Clark scored from a near post flick on from Matt Walkers corner.

One of the Kennet players was also booked in the first half for a late tackle on Paul Ali.

Julian Willis kept Gunners in control when he made a good close range save against the opposing forward who broke clear through on goal.

At half time, the team were in control of the game with a 2-0 lead.

However, early into the second half Iain Peer had a chance on goal when he pulled up with a hamstring injury and was forced to go off reducing the team to ten men.

Gunners were put under more pressure and were reduced to defending for most of the half. The team were then dealt with another blow when Matt Walker hobbled of injured leaving the team down to 9 men with 30 minutes of the game to go.

Gunners were under severe pressure for the last twenty minutes and despite some magnificent defending by the entire defence the team conceded a goal.

Kennet Valley then nearly made it level but Phil Byrne managed to head the ball off the line. Gunners then employed a tactic of trying to kick the ball as far up the field or off the pitch in a desperate attempt to waste time which naturally infuriated the opposition (but we make no apology for it as most teams would have done the same)

However, Kennets pressure soon resulted in an equalising goal with about two minutes to go and Kennet quickly retrieved the ball in order to go for the win.

From kick off, Paul Ali ran the ball down the left wing into the corner (to waste time) and Kennet gained a throw, from this the ball was won back and Paul Clark picked up the ball on the edge of the box, he turned a man and then sent a left footed cross-shot which ran past the keeper into the corner of the goal, Gunners had stolen the points in the last minute! The referee then ended the game mere moments later.

It was a magnificent effort from every player on the field that kept the team in the game and credit was due all round.

Match Facts

MOM : P Clark

Goals : P Clark (2), I Peer (1)

Team

Earley Gunners vs Woodley Saints 1 - 3

Match Report

Gunners lost their second game in a row, this time to Woodley Saints who secured automatic promotion with this win.

Gunners started the better of the two teams and looked the better side in the first half. Gunners created several opportunities but failed to really attack the opponents goal.

However, Gunners did take the lead before half time when Iain Peer was hauled down in the box and he converted the penalty to rectify his miss from last week. At half time Gunners held a 1-0 lead and had rarely been troubled in defence.

However, Woodley Saints came out and attacked the second half and immediately hit back when a near post flick on was finished from close range to level the scores. Gunners failed to maintain the momentum of the first half and were constantly on the back foot throughout the second half.
Gunners looked uncertain playing the offside trap and this allowed the opposition to break through with clear opportunities on a couple of occasions and a good save from Julian and some last ditch defending did enough to keep the ball away.

Finally, Woodley Saints broke through when a throw from the left was headed in.

Gunners tried to get back into the game and came close through Iain Peer who headed wide from a good looking cross. However in the last few minutes, Woodley Saints finished Gunners off when they rifled in a shot from close range.

The final score was a 3-1 defeat. Gunners performance in the first half had been good but the second half performance was below par.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Iain Peer.

Match Facts

MOM : I Peer

Goal : I Peer (1)

Team

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