AFC Twyford vs Earley Gunners 1 - 3

Match Report

Gunners made a good start to the season with a 3 - 1 win over AFC Twyford.

Gunners started the game well and took an early lead through Steve Tranter who scored with a powerful drive after an assist from Bill Maslin.

Bill Maslin then made it two after Richard Alderton played the ball forward to Bill Maslin who coolly lobbed the keeper.

AFC Twyford then pulled a goal back when their forward broke clear and finished well from a tight angle but Gunners restored their two goal cushion with another goal from the lively Steve Tranter after a cross field ball from Dave Owen and Stephen was unlucky not to get a hat-trick when he hit the post a short while later. The Half time score was 3 - 1 to Gunners.

In the second half, AFC Twyford came out the stronger and put Gunners under some pressure with a series of corners and throw-ons. However, Gunners defended the aerial threat well most notably when Neil Oldcorn cleared a ball of the line.

At the other end of the field, Gunners had a few chances but the team found it harder to hold the ball upfield.

Both teams started to tire towards the end of the game with space appearing in the middle of the park which lead to counter attacks from both teams.

However, neither side could breach the oppositions defence in the second half and Gunners ran out 3-1 winners.

Gunners battled extremely well and thoroughly deserved the win. Gunners "Man of the Match" was Marcus Randles for a solid game in defence

Match Facts

MOM : M Randles

Goals : S Tranter (2), B Maslin (1)

Team

Pictures

Gunners AGM 2003

Club Awards

Gunners did not hold an annual AGM event this year and so the Club Awards were handed out after a summer training session.

The first award was Most Improved Player and this went to Marcus Randles who had a good year all round. Marcus is pictured below with his award.

Gunners top scorer went to Stuart Bye with 13 goals, 5 of which he scored in 1 game against Purple Turtle!

Then it was time for the "Player of the Year" awards. In 3rd place was Matt Rees who had a fine season. Matt had played 23 games and collected 2 "Man of the Match" awards. He also broke his scoring duck for Gunners and finished the season with 6 goals.

2nd Place went to Dave Owen who was celebrating his fifth season with Gunners. Again, Dave contributed to the season with i23 appearances, 11 goals and 4 "Man of the Match" awards.

Finally, the 1st Place, Player of the Year Award went to Carl Littlechild who was ever present this season playing in 25 games. Carl was a consistently good performer all season and this was recognised by his team mates who voted him Player of the Year.

Team Photo - Season 5

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