Gunners beat AFC Winnersh in their opening fixture of the Berks and Bucks Cup. A much changed around side took the field of play.
It was Gunners who started the better of the teams with Julian Willis looking particularly lively up front whose good crosses created some early pressure.
Paul Marten was also getting involved in the play and his aerial presence won the ball for Gunners on several occasions. Paul Marten came close to scoring when a ball was hooked into the box and he rose to header the ball which flew just wide of the post.
The opening goal came after Paul Marten squared the ball for Carl Littlechild who finished from close range. Gunners had a couple of other chances to score including a chip from Paul Ali which was saved by the keeper and Matt Rees flashed the ball wide of the post when he was clear on goal.
The defence were relatively untroubled by the oppositions limited attack and they were comfortable enough to play the ball out of defence on a number of occasions although the odd long range clearance was required once or twice ("Have it!") At half time Gunners held a 1-0 lead.
In the second half Gunners were not as good and the team were unable to get much passing football going and we tended to rely on a long ball up front.
Carl Littlechild was unlucky not to have scored a second when his shot from just outside the box went in but the referee disallowed it for a player being in an offside position. The closest AFC Winnersh came to scoring was when a cross shot was tipped over by Andy Birch.
AFC Winnersh tried to battle back but and tried to utilise a long throw into the box, this did create a couple of half chances when the ball was cleared off the line once by Dave Owen and then a second time by Matt Rees.
There were few other really clear chances beyond this point and Gunners ended up eventual winners. Gunners "Man of the Match" was Paul Marten.
Match Facts
MOM : P Marten
Goal : C Littlechild (1)
Team
