GWRSA vs Earley Gunners 0 - 9

Match Report

Earley Gunners earned a very comfortable victory against GWRSA with a 9-0 win. The record for the shortest appearance ever was set when Paul Ali retired after 5 minutes through injury and he was replaced by Paul Carvana.

It took Gunners twenty minutes to open the scoring but the GWRSA keeper had to pull off a few good saves to keep them in the game until this point.

Paul Marten also had an early chance to score when he made a run from the back. The first goal came from Dave Owen who latched onto a ball from Paul Clark and lobbed the keeper. Gunners then made it two in two minutes when Iain Peer cut the ball back to Danny Deeks who scored from close range.

The third goal came ten minutes later when Paul Stout hit a sweet shot from 25 yards which the keeper got his fingertips to but could not hold. Carl Littlechild then scored his debut goal for Gunners with the best move of the game which involved some neat interplay down the left wing before Dave Owen played Carl through to score from close range.

The half time score was 4-0 to Gunners. In the second half it was more of the same . Danny scored his second of the game and then scored his hat-trick when Iain Peer set him up again. GWRSA were dealt another blow when they had to swap keepers through injury. Iain then scored his first goal of the game after receiving a pass from Paul Carvana he cut across the box and finished from close range.

Dave Owen then replaced Julian Willis in goal who went up front in search of a goal but unfortunately could not convert the couple of half chances he had.

Iain then added another goal himself when a hopeful lobbed ball towards goal was let in by the keeper and Kenny Bunce rounded off the game with a thunderous toe-punt from 20 yards.
Gunners were a little disorganised towards the end with players pushing towards goal and Matt Rees did a good professional job at the back sweeping up any loose balls. The final whistle went with Gunners being comfortable victors and credit to GWRSA for keeping going towards the end.

Match Facts:

MOM : D Deeks

Goals: D Deeks (3), I Peer (2), K Bunce (1), D Owen (1), C Littlechilld (1), P Stout (1)

Team

Arborfield vs Earley Gunners 3 - 1

Match Report

Earley Gunners lost out to Arborfield in Gunners first league game for a few weeks.

Gunners made their typical start when they conceded an early goal. Phil Byrne unfortunately misjudged a header and this allowed Arborfield to break and score.

Arborfield dominated the first twenty minutes and Gunners were rarely in the game at this point. Arborfield then scored a second to put them in the driving seat.

Midway through the second half, Gunners began to get some possession and broke away down the left hand side a couple of times and created a couple of half chances.

Paul Ali came close to scoring when he was played through but the keeper made a good close range save.

Gunners began to offer a bit more fight in the middle particularly through Paul Stout who began to win a few headers and loose balls.

The half time score was 2-0 to Arborfield who were the better team in the first half.

Gunners started the second half much more brightly and had a couple of half chances before they managed to open the scoring when Paul Clark headed the ball onto Paul Ali who lobbed the keeper.

However, just as Gunners were getting back in the game, Arborfield broke and scored with a soft shot which rolled under the keepers legs.

Gunners did maintain the pressure and did have a number of chances to equalise the closest of which came from Paul Clark who hit the cross bar but it just wasn't going to be Gunners day and the team ended up losing 3-1.

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

MOM : P Stout

Goal : Pa Ali (1)

Team

Christchuch vs Earley Gunners 0 - 1

Match Report

Earley Gunners battle through to the next round of the John Lusted Cup with a narrow win over Christchurch.

Gunners started the game very poorly and were put under enormous pressure in the first ten minutes when Christchurch opening up the Gunners right hand side.

However, Gunners managed to hold out and slowly began to get back into the game.
Chances were few and far between although Mark Firmager was required to make a good close range save to keep Gunners in the game.

Gunners were unlucky not to take the lead when Paul Ali charged down the keeper and tapped the ball into the net but a dubious off side decision was made.

Iain Peer also made a name for himself when he was involved in a slight altercation with an opponent. The half time score was 0 - 0.

The second half was a fairly even affair with Gunners creating some early pressure with a string of corners. Unfortunately, the team could not force a goal.

However, midway through the second half Iain Peer opened the scoring after chasing a long ball from the keeper and finishing from just inside the box.

At the other end of the field, the defence played well enough to keep the opposition from creating too many clear shots although their was a late scare when they had a one on one but the opposing forward put the ball wide of the post.

Gunners held out for the last few minutes to earn a tight win. Paul Ali was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a hard working display up front.

MOM : Pa Ali

Goal : I Peer (1)

Team

Shottesbrooke vs Earley Gunners 3 - 2

Match Report

Earley Gunners slumped to defeat against Shottesbrooke in the Berks & Bucks Cup.

Gunners made the worst possible start when Shottesbrooke broke down their left wing and sent a cross into the box which was deflected into their attackers path who scored from close range.
Gunners then dominated the majority of the first half and created numerous openings.

Leigh Holdway had plenty of space down the right wing and most of our attacking opportunities seem to come from this area.

The Shottesbrooke keeper made a couple of fine saves to keep Gunners at bay. Danny Deeks was particularly unlucky when he hit a right foot volley which the keeper tipped over the bar. Gunners also had a couple of chances cleared off the line. The half time score was 1-0 to the opposition.

In the second half Gunners scored twice both of which were close range headers by Iain Peer to give the team the lead to put Gunners in the driving seat at 2-1.

Gunners were also unlucky when the ball was cleared off the line again when it appeared to be over.

For the next few minutes it looked as if Gunners were going to put the game beyond doubt. However Shottesbrook started to get back into the game and they equalised when Gunners failed to clear a ball into the box and they scored at the far post.

Gunners had a nervous moment when Phil Byrne appeared to use his arm to knock the ball off the line but the referee waved play on. With five minutes to go, Shottesbrooke took the lead when they crossed the ball into the box and the attacking player scored from the near post.
Gunners tried to get the equaliser but failed to create a decent chance as the time ran out. The final score was a poor 3-2 defeat when Gunners really failed to get a grip of the game in the second half after they had put themselves into a winning position.

"Man of the Match" was Leigh Holdway for a good game in right midfield.

Match Facts:

MOM : L Holdway

Goals : I Peer (2)

Team

Earley Gunners vs Abbey Res 3 - 3

Match Report

Earley Gunners battled their way to a 3-3 draw against high flying Abbey Rangers Res.

Gunners made the worst possible start when the opposition were awarded a penalty in the first minute. A long ball was throw into the Gunners box which Paul Ali headed away, the ball went straight in the air and fell back onto Pauls arm which was by his side, nobody appealed for the penalty yet it was awarded by the referee. Abbey duly converted this.

However, this bad luck made Gunners more determined to battle harder and they soon were back in the match when Dave Owen flicked the ball onto Danny who slotted home from the edge of the box.

Gunners also had a further chance to score when Danny flicked the ball onto Paul Ali who chested the ball past the opponent but shot too close to the keeper who saved from close range.
Gunners then took the lead when Mark Firmager sent a long goal kick downfield which Dave Owen chased and flicked over the keeper. The half time score was 2-1.

In the second half, Gunners continued to work hard but Abbey pulled a goal back when a cross was not cleared from the box and Abbey scored from close range.

Abbey then put Gunners under some pressure although Paul Marten played well to clearaway some loose balls played over the top.

The Gunners midfield battled on especially through debutant Paul Stout and Gunners did create a couple of opportunities.

Gunners then took the lead when Matt Rees set up Dave Owen for the score. Gunners could have finished the game off when Dave Owen hit the cross bar.

Gunners began to play some neat football especially along the right hand side and they created some crosses into the box from this area.

Abbey pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser and got their reward when they headed in from a corner with about five minutes to go.

Despite only gaining one point, this was a good battling performance from Gunners where every player gave a good level of effort and played the game in a positive manner.

"Man of the Match" went to Paul Stout for a great game in the heart of midfield with Paul Marten coming a close second.

Match Facts:

MOM : P Stout

Goals : D Owen (2), D Deeks (1)

Team

Earley Gunners vs Loxwood Res 3 - 0

Match Report

Earley Gunners battled their way through to the next round of the John Lusted Cup against a strong looking Loxwood side.

Loxwood were slightly the better of the two sides in the first half although chances were limited at both ends.

Stuart Bye had a good chance to open the scoring when he received the ball at the edge of the box from a cross and brought it down well but then put his shot over the bar. Gareth also had a chance when he made a good run into the box but put the ball wide from close range.

However ten minutes from the end of the first half Gunners began to get more into the game.
In the second half Gunners began to assert themselves more and took the lead when Nick Burrows played the ball to Iain Peer who scored.

Gunners then added a second when Iain Peer received the ball inside the box and bustled his way past a couple of players before finishing from close range.

Loxwood failed to create many clear cut opportunities and when they had half chances, their shooting was quite poor on the day.

Iain had a good chance for a hat-trick when the ball was squared back to him from a cross but he put the ball over.

In the last few minutes Gunners sealed the victory with virtually the last kick of the game when substitute keeper Mark Firmager send a long kick upfield which Dave Owen raced onto and put past the keeper.Gunners were eventual 3-0 winners.

There were some good performances from Dave Owen and Matt Rees but Iain Peer edged them out for MOM.

Match Facts:

MOM : I Peer

Goals : I Peer (2), D Owen (1)

Team

Pictures

Earley Gunners vs Saints 2 - 1

Match Report

Earley Gunners earned three points in the league with a close win again Saints.

Gunners did not have a particularly good first half and the team did not control the ball or pass this around enough to worry the opposition.

Saints opened the scoring when they played the ball back to a free player from a throw on, who stroked the ball home from 20 yards.

However, Gunners managed to equalise when a free kick was nodded down by Matt Rees to Stuart Bye who controlled the ball and placed it home from close range.

Gunners did possess an aerial threat with long throws and corners but could not quite convert this into clear opportunities.

The half time score was 1-1 and whilst the team had made an effort to play they lacked some control and coordination.

In the second half, the team still looked a little lethargic and again found it difficult to play much football. However as the half progressed Richard found himself with more space on the right hand side and he gave Gunners a lead when Dave Owen played him through to score.
Saints then pushed forward in search of an equaliser and the defence played very well to keep the opposition at bay.

However, this also gave Gunners extra space up front and Richard had a couple of great chances to score when he found himself free on the right but his left foot shots were just a little wide of the post.

Jim Roberts also had a good chance to score from close range when he sent the ball wide.
The final score was a close 2-1 win but Gunners should have added a couple more to give them a greater lead.

Match Facts:

MOM : F McNaughton

Goals : S Bye (1), R Taylor (1)

Team