RAS Rovers vs Earley Gunners 1 - 6

Match Report

Gunners earned a comfortable win against RAS Rovers with their best performance of the season.

Gunners were well motivated for the game and started well looking a yard quicker to the ball than their opponents. The softer ground also helped Gunners play the ball on the ground and soon the team were dominating possession.

The opening goal came from a corner by Steve Tranter which was headed in by Marcus Randles.
Gunners made it two when Bill Maslin headed in a cross from Neil Oldcorn and then a third goal came before half time again through Marcus Randles.

Dave Owen playing in an unaccustomed goal keeping role had very little to do in the first half and wasn't required to make a save.

The half time score was 3-0 although it could easily have been 6-0 with Gunners missing three straightforward chances in front of goal.

In the second half, Paul Stout gave Gunners a further lead when he scored with a well struck volley from 20 yards out.

Despite RAS pulling a consolation goal back, Gunners killed of the game when Bill Maslin added a further two goals one of which came from a fine run and cross from Steve Tranter.

The final result was a 6-1 win to Gunners and easily their best performance of the season. The team battled well in all areas of the field and RAS had difficulty coping with Gunners counter-attacked quickly.

Bill Maslin was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a good three goal display.

Match Facts

MOM : B Maslin

Goals : B Maslin (3), M Randles (2), P Stout (1)

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Earley Gunners vs Chalfont 2 - 3

Match Report

Gunners narrowly lost out to league leaders Chalfont Park after a highly charged encounter.
Gunners started the better of the teams in the first half and Jide had an excellent chance to give Gunners the lead but his shot went straight to the keeper.

Gunners did have the slightly the better of the possession in the first half but could not turn this into clear cut chances.

However midway through the first half Chalfont hit Gunners on the break and took the lead with a very well worked goal.

Gunners had a few wayward shots on target and Julian was required to make one very good save in the first half although Chalfont seemed to rely heavily on the long ball to the forwards.
The half time score was 1-0.

In the second half Gunners raised their game and put Chalfont under even more pressure but again found it difficult to create clear cut chances.

Chalfont scored a second goal from a long ball forward to give them the edge.

Steve Tranter was then introduced and made an immediate impact by pulling a goal back. A little while later he added a second to level the game at 2-2.

Gunners were well on top of the game and nearly scored a third when the ball was cleared off the line twice.

At the other end of the field, Julian had to make two good saves to keep Chalfont at bay.
In the final minute Gunners conceded a corner and Chalfont scored a controversial winner when a ball which appeared to have been out of play was crossed back in and a Chalfont scored from the resultant shot to give them a 3-2 win in the final minute.

Despite the defeat it was a superb team effort all round.

Match Facts

MOM : Team Effort

Goals : S Tranter (2)

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Earley Gunners vs Loxwood Res 5 - 0

Match Summary

Gunners were convincing 5-0 winners against Loxwood Reserves thanks to a hat-trick from Bill Maslin and a goal each from Paul Stout and Lee Bonnici.

Match Facts

Goals: B Maslin (3), P Stout (1), L Bonnici (1)

Team

Woodley Saints vs Earley Gunners 2 - 2

Match Report

Gunners earned an away win against Woodley Saints Res with a good all round display.

Gunners changed to a 4-3-1-2 formation and the team looked comfortable with the minor switch in positions. Gunners started the game brightly and opened the scoring after Dave Owen played in Steve Tranter who danced his way through to goal and scored from close range.

Gunners then made it 2-0 when Phil Byrne took a throw in on the right to Paul Stout who turned his man and rifled the ball home from close range. Gunners nearly made it 3-0 when Paul Stout had a clear sight of goal but volleyed the ball over.

At the other end of the field, the Gunners defence were looking solid and Woodley Saints had no real chances of note in the first half. At the start of the second half, Woodley came back into the game and eventually pulled a goal back with a neat interchange and a powerful shot from inside the box.

Gunners were at a point in the game when it could have gone either way but the team responded well and soon added a third goal through Paul Stout after an assist by Bill Maslin. Woodley then managed to score a lucky second goal when a shot took a wicked deflection and spun over the keeper.

However, during the last ten minutes Gunners battled very well and were first to the ball each time which did not allow Woodley a chance to mount any serious pressure. It was a good all round display, with Steve and Bill looking very lively up front, the midfield battled very well and probably for the first time this season started to play some quick passing football to feet. Whilst the defence worked well as a unit and reacted well to any loose balls. Gunners still need to improve the communication more and should also look to convert their chances into more goals but it was one of the better performances this season.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Paul Stout closely followed by Lee Bonnici.

Match Facts

MOM : P Stout

Goals : P Stout (2), S Tranter (1)

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Earley Gunners vs West End 2 - 2

Match Report

Gunners were uninspiring after a 2 - 2 draw at Home to West End. A last minute keeper change saw Gunners start with 10 men with Dave Owen making a brief appearance in goal but Gunners were soon up to full strength after the first 10 minutes.

There were few chances early on with neither sides really dominating possession. However, Gunners took the lead when Bill Maslin pounced onto a long clearance by Paul Ali and opened the scoring for Gunners.

Gunners then had an opportunity to make it 2-0 when Richard Alderton put the ball over the bar from a corner. However, the last 15 minutes before half time West End come back into the game and dominated the period before half time. They equalised when a long ball was played to the right wing which was played across the front of the goal and finished from close range.
West End then were unlucky not to go into half time with a lead when a shot from the edge of the box hit a post. However, half time came for Gunners with the scores tied at 1-1.

In the second half, neither side got a grip of the game and played any decent passing football. West Ends long ball was less effective up hill and chances were few at either end. Gunners did take a 2-1 lead when Bill Maslin again took the initiative for a loose ball and scored his second of the game but West End came back into the game with 20 minutes to go when they scored from a powerful left foot shot from the outside the box which caught the keeper by surprise.

Gunners had to soak up some pressure for the last few minutes but held of for a 2-2 draw. It was another disappointing performance for Gunners in a game which they could have easily won. Gunners "Man of the Match" was Bill Maslin for a lively performance up front.

Match Facts

MOM : B Maslin

Goals : B Maslin (2)

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Chalfont vs Earley Gunners 2 - 2

Match Report

Gunners earned a 2-2 draw against Chalfont Park although it should have been a win. Gunners started the better of the teams playing down the slope and had a handful if half chances before Dave Owen played in Paul Stout who finished with his left foot to give Gunners as 1-0 lead.

Matt Rees then came close to making it two when he hit the side netting after a corner. At the other end of the field, Chalfont were restricted to very few chances although they came close when a header hit the bar. Gunners managed to work some positions up front but generally seemed reluctant to have a shot on goal leaving the half time score 1-0 to Gunners.

In the second half, Chalfont came into the game a bit more but relied on long balls forward down the slope. Things were looking even better when Gunners added a second after Paul Stout played Bill Maslin through who lobbed the oncoming keeper.

However, Chalfont struck back midway through the second half when a loose ball was not cleared in the Gunners box and Chalfont prodded the ball home from close range.

With about 10 minutes to go Chalfont scored an undeserved equaliser when a long throw was not challenged effectively and the Chalfont player won the header and flicked the ball in.

Gunners pushed forward but could not create any clear chances of note and the game ended in a draw. It was an improved display for Gunners after last week, but Gunners should have taken all three points. Gunners were guilty of not having enough shots on goals when they had the opportunities and again did not defend a long throw into the box effectively.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Paul Stout for a good display in midfield.

Match Facts

MOM : P Stout

Goals : P Stout (1), B Maslin (1)

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