Chalfont Park vs Earley Gunners 3 - 4

Match Report

Gunners won their first game of the season after a close game with Chalfont Park.

Gunners started the game well and took a lead through Mike Olivier who drilled the ball home from a wide angle after a pass from Marcus Randles.

Gunners then made it 2-0 when Matt Rees latched onto another Marcus Randles pass and took it pass the last defender with a neat flick before lifting the ball over the keeper.

Chalfont pulled a goal back before half time when they played the ball forward to an attacker who appeared to be in an offside position, Gunners recovered and cleared again only for Chalfont to head the ball forward to another player who was clearly off-side and Gunners stopped assuming the free kick would have been given. However, the referee waved play on and Chalfont scored from close range.

The half time score was 2-1 to Gunners who had played a good first half and deservedly held the lead.

In the second half, Gunners failed to get started and played on the back foot for most of the half inviting Chalfont to come forward. Chalfont obliged and equalised when they were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. Their shot hit the post and Gunners failed to react to the loose ball and the forward slotted home from close range.

Gunners then made it 3-2 when Marcus Randles put a guest player through on goal who slipped the ball past the keeper. However, Chalfont came back again when they had another free kick which was crossed to the far post and Gunners did not track their man allowing them to score from inside the box.

Both sides had a couple of chances to win the game. Gunners were guilty of giving away too many free kicks and were under pressure from these shots or crosses. At the other end of the field, Paul Ali headed over the bar and Matt Rees had a chance to score when he beat a man but pulled his shot wide. Gunners also had a couple of chances blocked from Mike Olivier.

Gunners also had a few threatening positions but failed to release the ball to a man in space and wasted a couple of good opportunities. However with about 15 minutes to go, Gunners took the lead when they were awarded an indirect free kick inside the box for the keeper picking the ball up twice. Paul Ali touched the ball to a guest player who drilled a shot low into the corner.

For the final few minutes Gunners held out although Paul Marten was required to make a last ditch clearance off the six yard line to prevent a goal scoring opportunity. Gunners held out for the final few minutes to earn a 4-3 win. "Man of the Match" was a team award for a spirited performance particularly in the first half.

Match Facts

MOM : Team Award

Goals : A Guest (2), M Olivier (1), M Rees (1)

Team

Pictures

Earley Gunners vs Purple Turtle 1 - 4

Match Report

Gunners played their 200th ever competitive game but could not get their first win of the season losing 4-1 to league leaders Purple Turtle.

It was an even start to the game with both teams failing to have real possession of the ball. Purple Turtle took the lead when they were awarded a free kick outside the box and they scored direct from this kick.

However, Gunners pulled a goal back when a long ball was thrown into the box and Paul Ali reacted quickest to prod the ball home from close range.

Purple Turtle then added two goals in as many minutes just before half time to give them a commanding lead. The first came from a shot outside the box when the attacker was not closed down and the second came from their left wing when a cross was deflected into the Gunners goal.

Gunners could have made it 3-2 when Richard Alderton played Paul Ali through on goal. Paul layed the ball off to a free player who scored but the goal was controversially ruled out for off-side.

The half time score was 3-1. In the second half, Purple Turtle were the better of the teams and had the majority of possession. They added a fourth goal which Gunners felt should have been off-side and then looked comfortable for the rest of the game.

Gunners pushed an extra man up front and created a few half chances but failed to really trouble the keeper.

At the other end of the field, some desperate defending was required to prevent Purple Turtle from scoring on a couple of occasions. Chris Fielding was required to make a number of saves.
The final score was a 4-1 defeat. Gunners "Man of the Match" was Chris Fielding in goal.

Match Facts

MOM : C Fielding

Goals : Pa Ali (1)

Team

Earley Gunners vs Trentonians 1 - 3

Match Report

Gunners went out of the Berks & Bucks Cup losing 3-1 to Division 1 West side Trentonians. It was a much improved performance for Gunners who reverted to a 4-5-1 with Paul Marten relishing the opportunity of playing up front.

The first twenty minutes were fairly tight with neither keeper really troubled. Trentonians looked the more dangerous team and started to look more menacing down their left (Gunners right) and started to play a few dangerous crosses in during the latter period of the first half.
At the other end of the field, despite some hard work from Paul Marten the Trentonian keeper had very few shots to save. Gunners had a few potential opportunities to score when Mike Olivier broke free on a couple of occasions down the right.

With about 2 minutes to go before half time, Trentonians scored two quick goals. The first was a cross into the box which was chested down by the Trentonians player who layed it off for a colleague to score from close range.

The second saw a ball played through the defence to put the Trentonian winger who had cut in from the left a clear shot on goal. Paul Ali made a last ditch tackle to block the shot as the Gunners keeper also came out but the ball was then played to a free player who tapped the ball inside the box.

At half time Gunners were 2-0 down due to 2 goals in a matter of minutes. The second half saw Gunners under pressure for the first twenty minutes with a series of crosses and corners but Iain in goal managed claimed these well. Ross Nelson then had to depart the field of play with a groin strain which saw Gunners reshuffle the team slightly.

Trentonians then added a third goal to make it 3-0 before Paul Marten scored his first of the season when he chased a lost cause won the ball in a tussle with the Trentonians keeper and scored with a shot into an empty net from outside the box. Paul Marten then had a chance to make it a two but couldn't convert.

Matt Rees won some important flick on's which gave Gunners a couple of breaks although Gunners best chance came when Paul Clark wove his way into the box but fired wide. Matt Coggins and Nigel Hinkson also had further chances to score. At the other end of the field, Trentonians were also creating a few chances and should have made it safe when the opposing attacker missed a 1 on 1. Peter Ali was then forced to make a goal line clearance to prevent Trentonians from adding to the lead.

Richard Alderton made a few runs from left back but couldn't force an opportunity and as time ran out Gunners could not find a goal they needed to put Trentonians under pressure for the last few minutes.

Time ran out leaving Gunners losing 3-1 but it was a better performance than previous weeks.

Match Facts:

Goal : P Marten (1)

Team

Pictures

Good Companions vs Earley Gunners 4 - 0

Match Report

Gunners poor form continued with a 4-0 defeat to Good Companions.

Gunners once again started brightly in the first few minutes but went 1-0 down when they were caught napping at a corner and allowed an opponent a free header on goal. Julian Willis made his return in goal and was called into action with a couple of reflex saves. However Goodies then made it 2-0 when they scored with a well hit shot from outside the box.

Nigel Hinkson had a chance from kick off when he dribbled past a couple of players but his shot went well wide. Gunners failed to fashion many chances but had chances from left midfield and Marcus Randles. The best effort came when the ball was played across the Goodies box but Gunners just failed to touch it into the net.

Paul Marten had a good first half after making some good tackles to prevent Goodies from scoring on a couple of occasions. The half time score was 2-0 to Goodies.

The first twenty minutes of the second saw Gunners play a bit better but the team failed to pass the ball around the field of play. Gunners had a couple of half chances to score but really failed to put the Goodies keeper under pressure. The best effort came when Paul Ali's shot from outside the box went just wide of the goal.

Goodies then continued to play it down each wing and started to over run Gunners quite easily. Only some abysmal finishing from Goodies kept the score down although they added two more goals firstly through a defensive mix up which allowed the attacker a free shot on goal and secondly through an own goal from Paul Marten who deflected a shot into the goal.

Mike Olivier had to make a couple of saving tackles to prevent Goodies from having some clear shots on goal. The final score was a 4-0 defeat and Gunners are still searching for their first three points of the season. Gunners "Men of the Match" were Mike Olivier and Marcus Randles for a tireless effort.

Match Facts

MOM : M Olivier/M Randles

Team