Earley Gunners vs Woodley Hammers 3 - 4

Match Report

Gunners early season slump continued with a 4-3 defeat against Woodley Hammers. The game was very nearly cancelled with no goal posts in sight on arrival but these were located in the surrounding trees near the pitch.

Gunners were slightly under strength missing a few regulars but did welcome back last seasons top scorer Bill Maslin.

Despite less of the play in the first half, Gunners took the lead were they were fortunate to be awarded a penalty when Carl Littlechild was fouled by the opposing keeper. Bill Maslin netted the resulting penalty.

However, Woodley equalised when a defensive slip allowed the opposing forward a shot on goal.
Woodley also had a couple of chances from corners one of which was headed off the line by Paul Ali.

However at the other end of the field Gunners took a 2-1 lead when Bill Maslin reacted to a loose ball and slotted him from inside the box. The half time score was 2-1 to Gunners.

In the second half Gunners failed to get into the game and Woodley struck early on to level the scores when the ball was crossed from the by line and ran into the path of their player who tapped home from close range.

Gunners should have been awarded a penalty when a Gunners player was blatantly fouled in the box, however the referee did not award the kick.

Woodley then took the lead for the first time in the game when a long range effort was deflected into the goal and Woodley then nearly put the game beyond doubt when they scored from a free kick.

Steve was then introduced into the game and was booked for retaliating to a challenge in less than five minutes.

In the dying minutes, Bill gave the team some hope when the flicked the ball over the keeper to score.

Gunners tried to force the last couple of minutes but Woodley kept the ball well away from their goal and earned the win. Gunners "Man of the Match" was Bill Maslin.

Overall, Gunners did not play well enough to earn a win. It was good to welcome Bill back and he definitely made a difference with his well taken opportunities but Gunners were guilty of giving away a couple of soft goals.

Match Facts

MOM : B Maslin

Goals : B Maslin (3)

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DC Steamers vs Earley Gunners 0 - 0

Match Report

Gunners were unlucky not to earn all three points after a 0 - 0 draw with DC Steamers.

The game was fairly even in the first half although Gunners created the better of the chances with the keeper tipping a Paul Ali header over the bar early on and also saving a Matt Rees header.

At the other end of the field, DC Steamers had some possession and played some neat passing football on one or two occasions but did not really penetrate the Gunners defence and Andy Birch had little to do in goal.

DC Steamers had a number of corners but Andy Birch claimed these well. The half time score was 0 - 0.

In the second half, it was another even start with few teams creating many chances. The only early moment of interest was when the referee fell over!

However, Gunners then began to get more into the game and started to create a number of chances. The team had a good 20 minute spell where several chances were created.

Paul Stout broke through from midfield and played the ball across the face of the goal only for the DC Steamers keeper to just reach the ball ahead of the Gunners attacker.

Steve Tranter was unlucky when he hit the bar and the DC Steamers keeper also made a couple of close range savings. Paul Stout also saw a free kick from the edge of the hit the underside of the bar.

DC Steamers best chance came from a free kick outside the box which was saved. As the game moved towards the end Gunners had a late scare when the ball was not cleared from defence properly and the team were guilty of not clearing the ball quickly enough but this did not result in any shots on goal just a few nervous moments.

The final score was a 0 - 0 draw which was slightly disappointing as the team had created chances. Fraser McNaugthon was Gunners "Man of the Match".

Match Facts

MOM : F McNaughton

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Chalfont vs Earley Gunners 4 - 1

Match Report

A weakened Gunners team lost 4 - 1 to Chalfont Park. Gunners who could only field the bare 11 players started slowly and gave Chalfont the initiative. Chalfont took advantage and went 1-0 when Gunners really failed to clear the ball from defence.

Gunners looked particularly nervous and failed to close down the opposition when defending or put their foot on the ball and pass it around when in possession.

Chalfont then added a second when they scored with a well struck a free kick from the edge box.
At the other end of the field Gunners were limited to a few long range efforts from Paul Stout whilst Marcus Randles had an effort tipped over the bar.

Chalfont again displayed their usual temperamental attitude consistently through the game and Gunners did well not to react.

The half time score was 2-0 to Chalfont.

In the second half, Chalfont made it 3-0 when the Chalfont player dribbled his way through the defence from close range (although there was a suspicion that the ball had gone out of play) before Gunners pulled a goal back from Matt Rees, a corner was flicked on by Richard Alderton to Matt Rees who nodded home from close range.

However, Chalfont killed off any distant hopes of a comeback when they added a fourth from a soft shot which crept in.

A number of minor knocks meant one or two players were struggling towards the end and Chalfont took their foot of the peddle which saw Gunners get more into the game and have a couple of chances to score through Marcus Randles and Carl Littlechild. The final score was a 4-1 defeat

Match Facts

MOM : P Stout

Goal : M Rees (1)

Team

West End vs Earley Gunners 0 - 0

Match Report

Gunners started the season with one point after a 0 - 0 draw with West End on a hot September day. The game was fairly even at first with neither side creating any clear chances early on.
The defence look comfortable with Peter Ali attacking the long ball well and with new debutant Ross Nelson looking assured in the middle. Towards the end of the first half Gunners had a little more possession and created a couple of chances.

Dave Owen was unlucky not to open the scoring when his low drive cannoned off the post. He also saw a free kick go wide from outside the box. The half time score was 0 - 0.
In the second half, Paul Ali should have given Gunners the lead when he missed from close range.

West End also had a period of pressure and Neil Oldcorn recovered well and brought the ball out of defence on a couple of occasions.

Peter Ali was unfortunately injured when he tried to clear a loose ball (Jackal!) and he was replaced by Paul Marten. Paul Stout also had a good header on goal which was saved.
At the other end of the field Andy Birch was required to make a couple of saves including one he tipped over the cross bar to keep the score at 0-0.

Gunners also had a scare when West End looked through on goal but a last ditch clearance from Neil Oldcorn saved the day.

When the West End number 4 was injured, their defence looked a little more susceptible to the long ball and Gunners forced a couple of half chances with the West End keeper clearing the ball out.

As the game entered the later stages neither side looked like they were going to force the issue and the final result was a 0 - 0 draw which overall was a fair result with neither team dominating the game.

It was a solid performance from the team with the defence looking solid. Gunners did lack a edge when attacking and failed to really pass the ball around the pitch generally and did not take advantage of a wide pitch.

However, the players did give a good level of effort and worked well together despite the hot weather and should not be too disappointed with a point.

Neil Oldcorn was Gunners "Man of the Match".

Match Facts

MOM : N Oldcorn

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