Earley Gunners vs Woodley Saints 3 - 1

Match Report

Gunners finished the season in style with their third win a row over Woodley Saints who had ex-Gunner Iain Peer playing for them.

Gunners had the better of the first half and created a few openings.

Gunners offered some neat passing play in some stages. Steve Tranter went close with a free kick and Paul Ali headed over the bar but it was not until the last 5 minutes of the first half that Steve gave Gunners the lead.

The Gunners defence gave away several needless free kicks outside the box but none of them failed to trouble Andy in goal. The half time score was a close 1-0.

However, in the second half Gunners looked more dominant and added two quick goals early on from Carlton Dickson and another from Steve Tranter to give the team a 3-0 lead. Phil Byrne then made an appearance (possibly his last before retirement?) for the club when he was introduced in the second half.

Saints pulled a goal back about ten minutes from the end. However they were unable to put Gunners under any consistent pressure from then on and the result was never in doubt.
In the last few minutes Richard Alderton had a great opportunity to score form close range and Andy Birch made a last ditch foray into the box to score but neither were able to convert their chances.

The defence final result was a 3-1 win. Paul "Jaap Stam" Marten was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a solid display at centre-half.

Match Facts:

MOM : P Marten

Goals : S Tranter (2), C Dickson (1)

Team

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The Bull vs Earley Gunners 5 - 3

Match Report

Gunners went from the their best performance of the season to their worst this week when the team went crashing out of the Cup to The Bull who were bottom of their league.

Gunners made a sluggish start to the game and were punished early on when a headed clearance was volleyed in from 20 yards out. Gunners nearly equalised when Paul Ali headed just over from a corner but Gunners were than caught on the break with a cross from the Gunners right was finished from close range.

The Bull then made it three with a header from a corner to complete a dream start to the game.
Gunners did pull a goal back when Steve Tranter robbed the defender and finished from close range to give Gunners some hope.

Matt Rees then headed a goal in from a Paul Stout corner to get Gunners right back in the game.
Gunners thought they had scored another when the ball was adjudged to have been cleared off the line after a close range scramble.

However an ill disciplined moment from Paul Stout saw Gunners concede a penalty when he kicked out at an opponent in the box and The Bull subsequently converted the penalty to make it 4-2 at half time.

In the second half Gunners made a poor start when The Bull scored direct from a free kick outside the box after but Gunners then began to come back into the game and created numerous opportunities to score.

Steve Tranter had a great chance to score when he blasted his shot over the bar and Jide also had a clear chance but failed to really connect with the shot.
Gunners did pull a goal back when Steve Tranter finished from close range after a scuffle in the box to make it 5-3.

Gunners did create another couple of chances and had an effort cleared off the line but despite persistent pressure could not find the net to leave the final score a 5-3 defeat.

It was an extremely poor first half performance which cost Gunners the game and despite some attempt at a fight back the team were unable to convert their chances.

A Bull player was injured in a tackle during the second half and had to be carried from the field of play. This involved the unusual sight of an air ambulance landing on the pitch at the end of the game to collect the injured player.

Match Facts:

Goals: S Tranter (2), M Rees (1)

Team

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Earley Gunners vs Henley YMCA 3 - 0

Match Report

Gunners earned a 3 - 0 win against Henley YMCA to progress to the next round of the John Lusted Cup Competition.

After the recent heavy rain, the pitch was more playable than had been previously but this did not assist Gunners in the first half who made hard work of the game.

Gunners were the more lively of the teams and dominated possession but were unable to really create some clear cut chances. At the other end of the field, Gunners prevented any sort of service to Henleys forwards and whilst the defending was a little scrappy at times it was enough to restrict the opposition who came closest to scoring through a set piece play when they shot wide from a cross into the box.

Matt Rees made a name for himself in the first half when he was booked for a foul on an opposing player.

After half time the score was 0 - 0.

Gunners were much better in the second half and started to pass the ball about. As soon as Gunners did this, they created more chances and soon scored through Matt Rees after a ball from Carlton.

A second goal was added through a long range cross/shot from Stephen Tranter and a third was added with about 20 minutes to go when Bill Maslin flicked a long free kick on to Carlton who duly scored.

Henley YMCA, were unable to cope with some of Gunners passing play and they caused the Gunners defence very little problems. In the second half they were restricted to a shot on goal from kick off and one good chance when the ball was cleared off the line from a corner.
At the other end of the field, Gunners could have made it 4 when Bill Maslin was fouled in the box but Phil Nortons penalty was saved.

Matt Rees was also fortunate not to be cautioned again for another tackle although this did enrage an opponent who sought immediate revenge and was booked for a tackle on Matt!
The final result was a 3 - 0 win after a better second half performance. Bill Maslin was Gunners "Man of the Match" although Phil Norton also played very well in left midfield, especially in the first half.

Match Facts:

MOM : P Norton

Goals : C Dickson (1), M Rees (1), S Tranter (1)

Team

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