Season Review 2002 - 2003

Season Review

Gunners did not start the season too well going 3-0 down at half time to Stevie B’s. "Man of the Match" Peter Ali led a fight back with a goal but Gunners eventually lost the game 3-2.
Gunners earned their first points of the season with a 3-2 win over RAS Rovers in a fiery encounter.

Next up was an away tie against Ruscombe Res which Gunners won 3-0 with Matt Rees the pick of Gunners players.

Gunners reached a 100 competitive games with a 3-0 home win against Good Companions. It was fitting that Paul Ali scored on his 100th appearance for the club. Richard Alderton was Gunners star man on the day.

Gunners then hit a poor run of form losing 1-0 to a distinctly average Forest side and then lost the next game 1-0 to RBC with Matt Rees was Gunners "Man of the Match".

The next game saw Gunners play West End in the Berks & Bucks Cup. The game did not go to well for Gunners who found themselves 3-1 down in the second half. However, a fightback led by Paul Clark who scored 2 goals saw them take the game to extra time and then penalties.

However, Gunners were very poor in the shoot out losing 3-1 to go out of the Cup.

Stuart Bye then single handedly demolished Purple Turtle scoring 5 goals in a 7-0 win and picking up the "Man of the Match" award.

Gunners then progressed through to the next round of the John Lusted Cup with a 5-2 win against the Black Boy with Lee Bonnici Gunners star man.

Gunners faced another cup tie in their next game and Paul Ali inspired the team to a 6-2 win against Tilehurst Utd.

Gunners then missed 3 weeks of games due to poor weather or pitch conditions but returned to action in the league with a 5-2 win over Loxwood Res with Dave Owen Gunners "Man of the Match". Gunners were proving to be a jinx over Loxwood who had yet to beat them in a competitive game.

Despite a good effort from Carl Littlechild, Gunners lost the return fixture to RBC 2-1 although Gunners did struggle to raise a team on the day and were forced to rely on a couple of "guest" players.

Purple Turtle then avenged their earlier defeat with a narrow 2-1 win despite a good performance from Gunners keeper Julian Willis.

The poor run of form continued with a 5-2 defeat against Palmer FC with Dave Owen the pick of Gunners players. Gunners were then knocked out of the John Lusted Cup losing 5-0 to Southbank Reserves who the team had not played in a competitive fixture since the first season.
Gunners could then only muster a 1-1 draw against Arborfield Reserves in their last game of the 2002 year.

The start of 2003 saw Gunners beat RAS Rovers 2-0 and then Gunners dropped two points against Forest FC with a 3-3 draw. Matt Rees was Gunners best performer on the day.
Gunners lost out 9-4 to Palmer FC but were forced to play the majority (about 80 minutes) of the game with 10 men due to the harsh dismissal of Adie Smith. Gunners batlled well in the first half and had levelled the score at 4-4 before Palmer used the extra men in the second half to run out clear winners.

A Dave Owen hat trick helped Gunners to a 5-3 win against Woodley Thatchers. Gunners then faced top of the table Stevie B’s and were drawing 2-2 until injuries forced Gunners to play the last 30 minutes with 10 men. Gunners looked like they were going to hold out but two late goals from Stev’e B’s gave them the win. Marcus Randles was Gunners "Man of the Match".

Shinfield 10k 2003

Shinfield 10k 2003

Heather & Kenny

Leevan, Laure, Paul & Mark

Paul & Laure

Leevan & Paul

Laure, Mark, Mike & Trish

Laure

Arborfield vs Earley Gunners 1 - 3

Match Report

Gunners ended the season with a 3-1 away win over lowly Arborfield.

Arborfield started the better of the two teams and began to attack well down the left hand side of a very wide pitch. Arborfield gave Gunners a scare when they thought they had scored from a corner but the referee disallowed this effort for a push on the keeper.

However, Arborfield did take the lead a short while later when Gunners fumbled a tame shot and Arborfield scored from close range.

However, Gunners equalised before half time when Dave Owens free kick was headed in by an Arborfield player.

In the second half Gunners dominated possession and began to pass the ball around with a bit more fluidity. However, Gunners failed to really play a decent last ball which meant chances were few and far between.

However, Gunners took the lead when Lee Bonnici crossed the ball to Richard Aldertons whose attempt on goal fell to Marcus who scored from close range.

Gunners then secured the points in the last minute when a Peter Ali intercepted a loose ball by the keeper who was well outside his goal and Peter lobbed the ball over the keeper from distance.

Match Facts:

Goals: M Randles (1), Pe Ali (1), Own Goal (1)

Team

Pictures

Good Companions vs Earley Gunners 2 - 1

Match Report

Gunners lost out in mid table encounter against Good Companions.

Gunners made a very good start and immediately put the opposition under some pressure in the first few minutes.

However, Goodies soaked up the early pressure and then looked the team most likely to score when a header went just over the bar and they again come close when Julian Willis came out of his box to clear a ball.

Gunners created few chances in the first half and the half time score was 0 - 0.

In the second half, Goodies opened the scoring early on when there was a defensive mixup which allowed Goodies a free shot on goal.

However, Gunners struck back when Marcus Randles played Peter Ali through who scored with a well struck shot.

Gunners really failed to a grip of the game and there was little passing football played. Gunners had very few chances apart from a couple of wayward free kicks.

Unfortunately, it was Goodies who struck late on to earn themselves a slender lead and despite some last minute pressure when Julian even came up for a corner in the last minute, Gunners failed to find the net and eventually ended up 2 - 1 losers.

Match Facts

Goal : Pe Ali (1)

Team

Pictures

Stevie B's vs Earley Gunners 4 - 2

Match Report

Gunners were unlucky not to get a point against league favourites Stevie B’s.

Gunners started the game well and despite Stevie B’s having a few wayward shots early on it was Gunners who took the lead when Peter Ali fed Richard Alderton who scored with the outside of his right foot.

Stevie B’s put Gunners under some pressure but Andy Birch came out well on a couple of occasions to clear the ball. Gunners then lost Paul Ali shortly before half time to injury.
However, Stevie B’s managed to equalise before half time when they squeezed a shot in from a tight angle.

In the second half, Gunners again took the lead when Lee Bonnici was fouled in the box and Dave Owen converted the penalty.

Matt Rees then retired from the game due to an injury and with Gunners having no further subs the team was reduced to 10 men for the last 30 minutes.

The team worked very hard and were put under a great deal of pressure and held out until the last ten minutes before they eventually conceded a goal.

However, after Stevie B’s scored one goal they continued to press their advantage and then added two further late goals to seal the win. The final result was a 4-2 win.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Marcus Randles for a very good display although credit must be given to the whole team for the effort shown today.

Match Facts:

MOM : M Randles

Goals : D Owen (1), R Alderton (1)

Team

Pictures