Earley Gunners vs Good Companions 3 - 0

Match Report

Gunners reached a landmark today with their 100th ever competitive game and they were also looking for revenge against Good Companions who beat Gunners twice in the league last year.
Goodies started the better of the two teams and Gunners were required to soak up some early pressure before they managed to get a foothold in the game. The closest Goodies came is when Julian Willis was required to tip a long range effort over the bar.

Gunners looked more lively on the break and took the lead when Paul Clarks cross fell invitingly to Dave Owen who volleyed the ball home with a good left foot shot.

In defence Gunners found a little difficulty with a bouncing ball on the hard surface but did enough to keep the opposition at bay.

After a scrappy first half, Gunners were 1-0 up at half time.

In the second half Goodies had more possession in the first ten minutes before Gunners began to have more say in the game.

Paul Stout earned the team a penalty after he was brought down in the box which Dave Owen subsequently converted.

Matt Rees had a good chance to add to the lead when a close range header went over the bar.
However, Gunners secured the victory when Paul Clark crossed the ball to Paul Ali who tapped the ball in from close range to score on his 100th appearance for the club.

The final score was a 3-0 win to Gunners.

Gunners "Man of the Match" went to Richard Alderton for a good game at full back

Match Facts

MOM : R Alderton

Goals : D Owen (2), Pa Ali (1)

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Ruscombe vs Earley Gunners 0 - 3

Match Report

Gunners earned three points with a convincing win against Ruscombe Reserves. Gunners made a slow start and Ruscombe had some early pressure and had one good chance to score which Andy Birch parried wide.

However, Gunners began to improve and played better in the last twenty minutes of the first half and started to create a couple of chances. Gunners opened the scoring after Dave Owen played a ball to Daniel Stargatt who neatly chipped the keeper to give Gunners the lead.
At half time the score was 1– 0 to Gunners.

In the second half Gunners dominated the play, the opposition were restricted to very few half chances and Andy Birch was relatively untroubled with Ruscombes long range efforts.
At the other end of the field, Gunners created numerous chances. The team added a second through Paul Stout who ran onto Dave Owens flick and finished with his left foot from close range.

Paul Clark then made the game safe when he latched onto Paul Stouts throw on and drifted past a couple of defenders before slotting the ball home past the keeper.
Gunners had numerous other chances to score but found their shooting was a little wayward on the day.

Ruscombe had a good call for a penalty late on when the Ruscombe right winger looked to have been brought down in the box by a chasing Daniel Stargatt but the referee awarded a goal kick, which was probably a let off for Gunners.

The final score was a 3—0 win. Gunners "Man of the Match" was Matt Rees for a solid midfield display

Match Facts

MOM : M Rees

Goals : P Clark (1), P Stout (1), D Stargatt (1)

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Earley Gunners vs RAS Rovers 3 - 2

Match Report

Gunners earned all three points against RAS Rovers in a fiery encounter at Chalfont Park. Gunners dominated the first half and took the lead after Paul Ali crossed the ball to Paul Clark who neatly controlled the ball and scored from close range.

Gunners then made it two when Neil Rumbold headed in another Paul Ali cross.

The team were playing well and did have several other opportunities to add a third before Dave Owen eventually scored when he received a pass from Paul Clark and ran at a couple of defenders and then scored from inside the box.

At the other end of the field, the Gunners defence were fairly resolute although RAS Rovers did add one goal before the break when Gunners failed to clear a corner and RAS scored from close range.

The half time score was 3-1 to Gunners. In the second half, Gunners did not dominate the game as much as the first half.

Thing become tight when RAS were awarded a penalty against Phil Byrne for handball, although Phil was a little unlucky as the ball had been kicked straight at him and there was little he could do to avoid the ball. The penalty was converted to make it 3-2.

Paul Stout was also booked for an altercation with an opponent as tempers flared on both sides.
Gunners had a couple of further opportunities to score but could not take their chances in front of goal.

It was all set up for a tense finish but RAS really failed to create many good scoring opportunities and Gunners held out for the win even after an extra four minutes of injury time.

Match Facts

Goals: D Owen (1), N Rumbold (1), P Clark (1)

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Earley Gunners vs Stevie B's 2 - 3

Match Report

Gunners lost their first game of the season going down 3-2 to new entrants Stevie B’s.
Unfortunately, Gunners were guilty of giving the opposition too much respect and space and they were punished by the opposition made a good start to the game and played some neat and tidy football and opened Gunners up on a couple of occasions to go into an early 2-0 lead.
Gunners best effort in the first half came from Dave Owen whose shot from a free kick hit the top of the bar.

Towards the end of the first half Stevie B’s put themselves in a dominant position when they headed in a third goal from a corner to give them a 3-0 lead at half time.

Gunners improved in the second half and created one or two more openings, Gunners eventually pulled a goal back when Paul Clark was fouled in the box and Dave Owen converted the penalty.
Matt Rees came close to opening his Gunners account when his close range header was tipped over the bar by the opposing keeper in acrobatic fashion.

However, Gunners did make things close when Peter Ali popped up at the far post from a corner and scored from close range to make it 3-2.

Peter did have a chance to level the score a few minutes later but his shot hit the side netting.
Unfortunately, the game was spoilt by a sending off when a substitute for Stevie B’s elbowed Peter Ali in the head and was immediately red carded which led to a confrontation with the referee.

Gunners could not find that final goal and eventually time ran out leaving Stevie B the winners.

Match Facts:

MOM : Pe Ali

Goals : D Owen (1), Pe Ali (1)

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