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
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