Earley Gunners vs JMT Installations 3 - 3

Match Report

Gunners earned a 3 - 3 draw against JMT thanks to a last minute equaliser.

Gunners took the lead in the first half with a contender for goal of the season from Richard Alderton who volleyed the opposing keepers goal kick back to him from 35 yards out.

Matt Rees had a good chance to extend the lead when he headed over the bar from a corner.
JMT equalised a few minutes later and then took a 2-1 lead before half time.

Gunners could have made it 2-2 when Lee Bonnici was through clear on goal but this shot went wide.

In the second half JMT extended the lead midway through the second half to give them a 3-1 lead.

Three Gunners players were booked in the second half, Steve Tranter was booked for informing the referee that the opposition appeared to be time wasting and Paul Stout and Paul Ali were booked for fouls.

Gunners were pressing for an equaliser but were not playing particularly well and were not putting the opposing keeper under much pressure.

The team did have a chance to equalise from a Paul Ali header which went over the bar and Steve Tranters powerful shot looked to be going in but was blocked by Bill Maslin (who felt the affect of the shot).

However, Bill Maslin gave Gunners a lifeline when he finished off a Paul Stout corner (although there was a suspicion of an own goal). Bill then nearly made it two when he hooked a shot in from the sideline which bounced over the keeper and came back off the cross bar.

Gunners pressed for an equaliser and Bill had a great chance to score when he was 1 on 1 with the keeper but he didn't connect properly with his shot which went tamely wide.
Then in the dying minutes, Paul Stout rescued the team when he scored direct from a free kick after Neil Oldcorn had been fouled. The final result was a 3-3 draw.

Match Facts

Goals : B Maslin (1), R Alderton (1), P Stout (1)

Team

RBC vs Earley Gunners 0 - 6

Match Report

Gunners avenged last seasons embarrassing defeats with a thumping 6-0 win over lowly RBC Unison.

Phil Norton gave Gunners a good start when he opened the scoring after a pass from Jide and he came close on another occasion when he hit the post.Gunners were guilty of missing several chances and should have put the RBC keeper (who was in shaky form) under more pressure.

However, Stephen Tranter then made it two with a superb shot from outside the box before Bill Maslin added a further goal to give Gunners a comfortable lead. (assists from Matt & Carlton)
At the other end of the field, RBC created very little pressure and Andy hardly had a shot to save in the first half. Gunners made it four before half time when Paul Ali played Steve Tranter in who scored from a shot at the near post which the keeper allowed to squirm into the net. At half time Gunners had dominated and held a 4 - 0 lead.

In the second half it was again one way traffic although Gunners failed to score in the first twenty minutes of this half.

However, Gunners increased the pressure and had a couple of chances cleared off the line.
Eventually, Gunners scored a fifth when Paul Ali turned his opponent in this box and crossed the ball with the outside of his right foot to Bill Maslin who headed home from close range.

A few minutes later Gunners added a sixth when Carlton Dickson played a perfect ball to Marcus Randles who slotted the ball home from close range.

Gunners had a few other chances to score when Paul Stout clipped the cross bar and Lee Bonnici and Carlton both came close but no further goals were added and the final score was a handsome 6 - 0 win.

Match Facts

MOM : R Alderton

Goals : S Tranter (2), B Maslin (2), M Randles (1), P Norton (1)

Team

Earley Gunners vs AFC Twyford 3 - 1

Match Report

Gunners earned three points after a strong second half performance against AFC Twyford.

It was even first half with very few chances being created by either team and the teams went in at the break at 0 - 0.

Gunners did feel they should have had a first half penalty when Phil Norton was brought down in the box, but the referee was not convinced.

In the second half, AFC Twyford made the brighter start and Gunners looked asleep for the first ten minutes. AFC Twyford took full advantage by scoring in the first few minutes to give them a slender lead.

However, Gunners seemed to get more involved in the game and were unlucky when Steve hit the bar and then Jide's shot was blocked. Gunners did level the score after Steve Tranter received the ball 25 yards out and hit a sweet shot into the top right hand corner of the goal.
A short while later Gunners made it 2-1 when they were awarded a penalty which Bill Maslin converted.

AFC Twyford went all out for an equaliser and their keeper made at least three appearances in the Gunners box.

However, Gunners managed to hit them on the break with the keeper exposed and Jide Alafaitayo made the game safe with a third goal in the dying minutes.

The final score was a good 3-1 win, Jide was Gunners "Man of the Match

Match Facts

MOM : J Alaifayato

Goals : J Alaifayato (1), S Tranter (1), B Maslin (1)

Team

Woodley Hammers Res vs Earley Gunners 1 - 1

Match Report

Gunners earned a 1 - 1 draw against Woodley Hammers Res.

The first half was a fairly even affair with both sides having few opportunities to open the scoring. However, towards the end of the first half Gunners took the lead when Paul Stout flicked the ball onto Dave Owen who headed home from close range.

Gunners were put under some pressure for the rest of the first half although Paul Stout was vital in clearing some headers from long throws or corner.

Towards the end of the first half, Woodley nearly equalised when some neat passes by Woodley opened up the Gunners defence and put the Woodley forward through to the six yard box. Paul Ali made a last ditch tackle which sent the ball towards the corner of the goal but Andy Birch made a fine save to push the ball away for the corner.

The half time score was 1-1.

In the second half Woodley put Gunners under pressure for most of the game and relied on the long throws or corners to put Gunners under pressure.

Gunners found it more difficult to keep possession of the ball and offered little up front in the second half.

Woodley eventually found an equaliser with about 10 minutes to go after a short range header from a right wing cross. However Gunners held out for the remaining few minutes to earn a battling draw.

Marcus Randles was Gunners "Man of the Match".

Match Facts

MOM : M Randles

Goal : D Owen (1)

Team