Ruscombe Res vs Earley Gunners 0 - 2

Match Report

Earley Gunners made further progress in the league and earned some degree of revenge over Ruscombe Res with a 2 - 0 win.. A tight first half in windy conditions made it difficult to get the ball out of our own half and Ruscombe Res had some early pressure by forcing a string of corners.

Gunners created few chances and this led to a 0 - 0 half time score although Paul Clark missed a good opportunity to take the lead when he shot wide from close range and Fraser made a good foray into the opponents penalty box but failed to get a shot in.

The second half saw Gunners have more of the possession and more favourable weather conditions and most of the play took place in the Ruscombe half.

Gunners took the lead through Kevin Rapley as he raced onto a loose ball and fired home and then Gunners added a second through Dave Owen who continued his goal scoring run. Gunners were then handed an advantage when a Ruscombe player was sent off for arguing with the referee.

Ruscombe had very few opportunities in the second half and a tigerish defence kept the play away from the Gunners goal with some good tackling and quick closing down of opponents.
Gunners had a couple of opportunities to extend the lead through Paul Ali and Nick Burrows who had a glorious opportunity to score when the ball was chipped over the defence to him from the right and he made a diagonal run towards the goal, he nearly stumbled when faced with a one on one with thekeeper and then sent his shot wide. (Kev looked a little upset then)

Ruscombe created very little and the only other moment of the game was Frasers fantastic volleyed clearance when he was under no pressure at all. The final score was a 2—0 win to Gunners.

Match Facts

Goals: K Rapley (1), D Owen (1)

Team

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Earley Gunners vs Fourth Shift 4 - 3

Match Report

Earley Gunners beat Fourth Shift Res to earn a place in the semi-finals of the Eddie Titchener Cup.Gunners made the brighter of the start in the first few minutes and had a couple of chances to take the lead most notably through Paul Ali before Kevin Rapley scored the first.

Fourth Shift then had the better of possession and had a couple of chances to score and Gunners were only saved through the efforts of keeper Julian Willis. Fourth Shift Res scored through a dubious looking penalty but Gunners took the lead again through Dave Owen after he finished of a move involving several players.

Fourth Shift then levelled the score again when they played a ball over their left which was struck home sweetly from inside the box.

The half time score was 2-2. The second half saw a number of changes with Nick Burrows and Nick Robey introduced into midfield. Unfortunately the football played was no better than in the first half and Gunners continued to struggle.

Gunners managed to take the lead when Dave Owen fired home a penalty after Ian Thornhill was brought down in the box unfortunately Ian could no longer continue the match. Gunners then held on until the last ten minutes when Kevin Rapley who fired home neatly from close range to give Gunners some breathing space.

But the game was not over and Fourth Shift managed a late goal when the opposing forward was not closed down at the edge of the box and his shot hit the post and this made the score 4-3.

Match Facts

Goals : K Rapley (2), D Owen (2)

Team

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Cable & Wireless vs Earley Gunners 2 - 6

Match Report

Earley Gunners made a winning start to the new year with a 6-2 win over Cable & Wireless.
Gunners made a sloppy start to the game and the opposition gave Gunners a few problems, their pressure told when Fraser McNaughtons attempted clearance was sliced over his own keeper to give the opposition a 1-0 lead.

There was also an early casualty as Darren Fry was injured after a bad tackle and could not continue.Ian Thornhill had a great chance to level after some good work from Kevin Rapley but he blazed the ball over the bar but Gunners soon made amends when Rob Warwick added a goal to leave an even first half 1-1.

Gunners dominated the second half and looked a better team. The defence were more focused and didn't give the opposition so much time and space and even played the offside trap successfully on a couple of occasions whilst the midfield started to play some short passing football which was much more effective.

Paul Clark gave Gunners the lead with a well driven shot whilst further goals came from Dave Owen (2) and Ian Thornhill (2). Tony Poacher had a great chance to score his first goal of the season when he rose unchallenged but managed to head the ball over the bar.

Cable & Wireless did score a late consolation goal to leave the final score 6-2 to Gunners.

Match Facts

Goals : I Thornhill (2), D Owen (2), P Clark (1), R Warwick (1)

Team

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Purley Park vs Earley Gunners 0 - 8

Match Report

Earley Gunners met Purley Park in the first round of the Eddie Titchener Cup and were convincing winners.

Earley Gunners had a great start when they scored within 30 seconds of the start, some good work from Rob Warwick allowed Ian Thornhill to score from close range.

Gunners went through a poor ten minute spell when the opposition had several chances to score and the team had difficulty in clearing the ball from defence.

The poor pitch conditions and small size of the pitch made it hard for much decent football to be played although Gunners seemed to benefit more when the ball was played wide to Dave Owen and Darren Fry. Further goals were added in the first half from Dave Owen, Darren Fry and Rob Warwick to give the team a convincing (but perhaps a little flattering) lead.

The second half saw Gunners finish the job with further goals. Dave Owen ended up with a hat-trick, Rob Warwick scored a brace on his debut and the other goals had come from Darren Fry, Ian Thornhill, Phil Byrne and an own goal.

The most notable moment of the match was when Paul Ali was brought down in the box and Fraser McNaughton stepped up to take the penalty. Unfortunately he hit this straight at the keeper and seemed to be in a state of shock for the rest of the game.

The final result was a 8-0 win and Gunners march through to the second round of the Eddie Titchener Cup where we will meet Fourth Shift Res.

Match Facts

Goals : D Owen (3), R Warwick (2), D Fry (1), I Thornhill (1), P Byrne (1)

Team

Good Companions vs Earley Gunners 2 - 2

Match Report

Earley Gunners earned a 2 - 2 draw with current league leaders Good Companions. Julian Willis made a welcome return in goal after an injury lay off.

It was Gunners who had the better of the chances in the first half but they could not find the back of the net. Good Companions were fast on the break and played some neat one-two's which caused Gunners some problems.

Good Companions took the lead when they managed to ride a tackle on the edge of the box and take a shot which came off the post and they scored from the rebound.
They doubled their lead a few minutes later when they again caught Gunners on the break and scored with a shot from just inside the box.

The half time score was a 2-0 to Good Companions.

Paul Ali had an early chance to add a goal when his mazy run took him into the box but his shot which went wide. However continued to fight back and added a goal through Ian Thornhill after a ball had been played through the midfield.

The rest of the game saw a few chances created at both ends but Gunners failed to play much neat flowing football and were reduced to looking for a long ball to chase on most occasions.
Dave Owen was unlucky not to level the score after he volleyed a Paul Clark cross just wide but he made amends with five minutes to go when he rifled home a ferocious shot from the edge of the box to make the final score 2-2.

Match Facts

Goals : I Thornhill (1), D Owen (1)

Team

Earley Gunners vs CS Taxes 3 - 5

Match Report

Earley Gunners suffered their first league defeat at the hands of CS Taxes who got their revenge for their earlier defeat in the season to throw theleague title race wide open.

The windy conditions made it difficult for both teams to play football although Gunners had the benefit of the wind in the first half and got off to a goodstart with a goal from Nick Burrows who headed in from close range.

Nick was again involved in the action a short while later when his long range effort hit the cross bar and fell into the path of Ian Thornhill who scored from close range.

Dave Owen was unlucky not to make it 3—0 when he was judged to have fouled an opposing player after he had put the ball into the back of the net.At half time Gunners were 2—0 up.

In the second half, Gunners were dreadful and conceded five goals through defensive errors and not being able to cope with high balls into the box. The team were also unable to create any meaningful chances up front.

Dave Owen did give the team some hope when he scored to make it 3-2 to the Gunners but CS Taxes threw men forward and got their reward when theyadded the goals they needed to win the game including a late penalty.

The final result was a 3—5 defeat and a poor performance all round.

Match Facts

Goals : I Thornhill (1), D Owen (1), N Burrows (1)

Team

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