Earley Gunners vs Reading Pirhanas 6 - 1

Match Report

Gunners overcame lowly Reading Piranhas with a comfortable 6 - 1 victory. It was an eventful start for Reading Piranhas when a disgruntled (ex)girlfriend turned up and dumped one of their players possessions on the pitch a moment before the game started. To be fair to the player concerned, did stay and play football!

Gunners took an early lead when Bill Maslin was fouled in the box and he just managed to squeeze the penalty home past the keeper.

Gunners then added a second through Marcus Randles who made up from last weeks own goal with a close range shot. He was heard to say "that puts me back to neutral" as he celebrated his goal.
It was mostly one way traffic with Gunners dominating possession. Gunners had many chances to score but were not clinical enough in front of goal.

Reading Piranhas were limited to a long ball from their keepers long kick and this only really caused Gunners a problem when we did not attack the ball.

Paul Marten nearly added his name to the score sheet when he made a charge for goal and was one on one with the keeper but he failed to lift the ball over the keeper.

Gunners also had numerous other chances and half chances before Paul Stout added a third goal with a great worked moved which saw Lee Gallaghers fine pass played up the line, the ball was then played across the face of the goal by Iain Peer to Paul Stout who hammered the ball home from close range. The half time score was 3-0 to Gunners.

In the second half Gunners made a very sloppy start which saw Reading Piranhas score an early goal after a defensive mix up gave the opponent a tap in from close range.

Bill Maslin made the game comfortable when he was alert enough to pick up a pass from Paul Stout and finish from inside the box. Paul Stout then picked up a booking for a foul on the opponent (it didnt help that he made some comment about the players girlfriend dumping his clothes on the pitch either!)

Towards the end of the game Paul Ali made a late burst and added a couple of goals. Paul Stout set him up on the first when the played him through on goal and Paul finished from close range after rounding the keeper. He then added his second when the ball was played back to him from a corner kick, he dribbled past an opponent to the edge of the box and sent a curling shot in over the keeper.

The final result was a comfortable 6 - 1 win despite an average performance. Paul Marten was "Man of the Match" for a good game closely followed by Richard Alderton for a tireless performance.

Match Facts

MOM : P Marten

Goals : B Maslin (2), Pa Ali (2), M Randles (1), P Stout (1)

Team

Pictures

Good Companions vs Earley Gunners 1 - 2

Match Report

It was a double celebration this week as Gunners played their 150th ever competitive game with Paul Ali was making his 150th appearance and Paul Marten was also making his 100th appearance.

This weeks opposition were perennial opponents Good Companions who had not been beaten this season. Gunners employed the 5-4-1 formation which had worked against Shinfield. The pitch conditions made it more difficult to play much passing football and neither side dominated the first half.

The first half saw a few half chances at either end, most notably Marcus had a chance at the far post from a long throw and Gunners had a couple of blocked shots. However, Good Companions probably edged the first half with their greater aerial threat giving them a few half chances from corners and long throws. Gunners were slow to offer Bill support up front and were sometimes second best to the loose balls and played very few passes. At half time, Gunners changed their tactics by pushing a further man into midfield.

However it was Good Companions who came closest to scoring when a foul in the box by Marcus gave Good Companions a penalty. However, the penalty was drilled wide and Gunners were still in the game. Marcus then had the misfortune to score an own goal although he had little option but to attempt to clear a dangerous ball in the box as Good Companions would have followed the ball in. Gunners had a chance to equalise when Matt Rees screwed the ball wide from outside the box. Marcus Randles also blasted a shot just over the bar from a corner.

Despite going a goal down Gunners were having a little more success up front. Lee Gallagher was a constant outlet on the right and Bills tireless running always kept the opposition under pressure. Gunners equalised thanks to Paul Ali. A quick free kick was played by Paul Stout on goal, Paul Ali flicked the ball over the keeper chested it down and volleyed home from close range under pressure from two defenders.

Gunners then broke forward on two further occasions, Matt Rees's shot from a tight angle was parried out for a corner and Bill Maslin had a shot blocked when the broke the off side trap. However Gunners did steal the win when Paul Stout broke forward and lobbed the keeper with his left foot to score the second goal.

"Man of the Match" for Gunners was Lee Gallagher for a solid game in midfield.

Match Facts

MOM : L Gallagher

Goals : Pa Ali (1), P Stout (1)

Team
Pictures