Earley Gunners vs Ascot Utd 5 - 2

Match Report

Earley Gunners went through to the next round of the Cup after a tough game against Ascot Utd who had previously been unbeaten in their league.

The Ascot Utd team were a young skillful side who played neat football and they began to cause Gunners some trouble especially down their left hand side.

However, Gunners managed to open the scoring when a neat back heel from Sean Kearns set Paul Clark up for the opener. Kevin Rapley then added two more goals in the first half, one was a great shot into the corner after a run at goal and the second a close range finish. The Gunners defence were in good form, making solid tackles when necessary and Roger Bungay playing in goal was called into action with a couple of brave dives at the defenders feet to rescue the ball.
Gunners were then disrupted when a player went of injured and Ascot managed to score direct from a corner whilst Gunners were reorganising themselves.

In the second half Ascot started well and made a couple of runs through the midfield to put pressure on the Gunners goal, this also resulted in a couple of close range free kicks being awarded against us when the defenders began to stop the Ascot players rather than the ball! However, the teams nerves were settled when Paul Clark added his second of the game to give the team a 4 - 1 lead.

Ascot piled on the pressure and despite a couple of close shaves, hitting the post and causing Roger to make a couple of fine saves, they could not add to their tally. This was until they were gifted a goal! Leigh Holdway made a short throw to Roger in goal whose attempted volley clear was mis-kicked to the opposing forward who slotted the ball home past before Gunners could react.

However moments later Gunners assumed control when Kevin Rapley charged through the middle and slotted the ball past the keeper.

The final result was a good 5-2 win over a good up and coming Bracknell League side and this was another solid performance by the Gunners team who now seem to be hitting a good run of form.

It was a good defensive performance by the whole team and the midfield and forwards also made sure that they scored most of their chances which helped the teams performance by having a couple of goals lead.

Match Facts

Goals : K Rapley (3), P Clark (20

Team

Pictures

Earley Gunners vs Cable & Wireless 8 - 1

Match Report

Earley Gunners cruised to a comfortable victory over Cable & Wireless with an 8 - 1 win.
Gunners made a bright start to the game and Nick Burrows got the team off the mark with a great header from a Kevin Rapley cross. Gunners then added three more goals in the first half through Kevin Rapley (2) and Paul Clark.

The team did have plenty of other opportunities to score most notably with Darren Fry failing to convert a driven cross from inside the six yard box and Ian Thornhill squandering a couple of chances.

Cable & Wireless did manage to score a goal before half time after a poor call from the Gunners keeper which he failed to collect allowed their forward to sneak a goal in. The half time score was 4 - 1 to Gunners.

The second half went the same was as the first with Gunners having more possession with Cable & Wireless restricted to odd attacks on the break.Dave Owen added a goal shortly in the first half when Paul Clark after holding the ball up in the opponents box then played a short ball to Dave who banged this home from close range.

Ian Thornhill then got onto the score sheet with a cooly placed shot before Dave Owen added a second with a left foot volley from inside the box.

Paul Clark completed the rout with a right foot volley from long range. Cable & Wireless were restricted to a couple of chances, the closest of which was a lob which just cleared the bar. The last few minutes were a little untidy with Gunners all looking to go forward and the team lost their shape in the defence but the game was all over at this point.

The final result was an 8 - 1 win and a much improved performance than last week.

Match Facts

Goals: K Rapley (2), D Owen (2), P Clark (2), I Thornhill (1), N Burrows (1)

Team

Pictures

Earley Gunners vs Woodley Roofing 1 - 3

Match Report

Earley Gunners overcame Woodley Roofing with 3 - 1 victory.

Gunners had the better of the play in the first half and soon scored through Kevin Rapley.
Ian Thornhill then added a second goal. Jon Allen made a long kick which Ian began to chase. The ball landed and hit Ian's heel putting the ball past the keeper and into the net.

Gunners dominated the rest of the half but could not add to the lead, partly due to a couple of great close range saves by the Woodley Roofing keeper and partly due to poor finishing.

The second half was a little closer with Woodley Roofing leaving more men in attack. Gunners again had more of the play but could not find a final good ball or create an opening for a shot and found difficulty turning possession into scoring chances. Dave Owen relaxed the teams nerves when he added a great individual goal after running past (and bundling the ball past) several opponents he finished with a driven shot between the keepers legs.

Woodley Roofing hit a late goal when their centre back marched through the midfield and struck a low shot into the corner of the goal.

There was some late pressure when Woodley forced a couple of corners but some good keeping by Jon Allen including one great save kept Gunners ahead.

The final score was a 3 - 1 win but the teams performance overall was average. Nick Burrows was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a great battling display.

Match Facts:

MOM : Nick Burrows

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

Team

Pictures

Earley Gunners vs Crown Royals 4 - 4 (10 - 9 AET & Pens)

Match Report

Earley Gunners were victors in this action packed game. Crown Royals started the better of the teams and took a 2-0 lead after the first twenty minutes.However, Ian Thornhill scored a goal to give Gunners some hope before Crown Royals added a third from a header. Kevin Rapley then added a goal to make it 3-2 to the opposition at half time.

The second half saw a determined effort from Gunners and they totally dominated the second half and were well rewarded when Kevin Rapley added his second to level the tie at 3-3.

Unfortunately, Kevin was sent off a short while later for his second bookable offence reducing Gunners to ten men. Gunners battled bravely and had a number of chances to win the game and had the majority of possession despite Crown Royals numerical advantage. The goalkeeper from Crown Royals was also in good form.

The final score after 90 minutes was 3-3 and extra time loomed. Gunners made the worst possible start after conceding an early corner, Crown Royals scored from a near post header to make the score 4-3 to Crown Royals. Gunners battled bravely and had a number of scoring opportunities but could not convert these whilst Gunners were occasionally being stretched at the back when they committed men forward.

With two minutes left on the clock, Gunners won a corner and threw most of their players forward. The ball came into the box and Ian Thornhill flicked it to Nick Burrows to head the ball into the net...... ……only for the referee to disallow the goal for offside!But all was not lost as in the very last minute Sean Kearns stepped up to score a goal to level the tie at 4-4. The final few seconds ran out and penalties were now required to settle this tie.

Paul Ali took the first penalty for the Gunners and coolly placed this into the corner of the goal to give Gunners a lead. Crown Royals then missed their first penalty.

Nick Burrows then stepped up and placed his shot high and wide of the goal. Crown Royals scored their penalty to level the score at 5-5. Sean Kearns took the next penalty and placed this high and wide of the goal. Crown Royals again converted to take the lead at 6-5.

Dave Owen blasted his next penalty to level the score at 6-6 and then Fraser McNaughton in goal pulled off a brilliant save only to have the referee tell him that it had to be retaken for some infringement. Fraser was upset by this decision and was booked by the referee. The penalty was retaken and scored to leave Crown Royals 7-6 ahead.

Paul Clark then took the last penalty of five and scored leaving Crown Royals needing to score to win. They missed their penalty to take it into a sudden death shoot out. Tony Poacher hammered his penalty home and then Crown Royals scored to make it 8-8. Ian Thornhill then stepped up but the keeper made a good save but Crown Royals failed to take their chance and also missed.

Darren Fry scored the next penalty but Crown Royals also converted to make it 9-9. Goalkeeper Fraser McNaughton then stepped up and coolly placed his shot into the corner of the goal to make it 10-9. The Crown Royals player then blasted his penalty off target to make Gunners the eventual winners of the game.

Despite a poor start to the game, Gunners whilst not playing their best football made up for it with a great show of character to come back and win the game despite being reduced in numbers and having to come from behind after every goal. It was a superb result for the Gunners. This was definitely "Game of the Season" for the pure excitement and drama and the great battling display after being reduced to 10 men.

Match Facts:

MOM : Team Effort

Goals : K Rapley (2), I Thornhill (1), S Kearns (1)

Team

Pictures