Woodley Res vs Earley Gunners 2 - 1

Match Report

Gunners lost in the first round of the Berks & Bucks Junior Trophy to fellow Div 3 East side Woodley Hammers Res.

Gunners started the game very poorly and Woodley Hammers Res dominated early possession. They took the lead when an inswinging corner was headed in by Neil Oldcorn who was attempting to clear the ball away. During the first twenty minutes Gunners were not in the game at all.

However, Gunners began to show fighting spirit and Lee Bonnici in particular was battling well in the first half. Gradually, the game become a little more even and Gunners had a chance to equalise when Paul Ali broke clear but his attempted lob went wide of the post

The half time score was 1-0 to Woodley. In the second half, the game followed the same pattern of Woodley having more possession but creating few chances whilst Gunners forced a few more chances when they decided to press their opponents.

Unfortunately, Woodley added a second goal from a corner with the unlucky Neil Oldcorn heading the ball in to his own goal again.

However, Gunners struck back when Matt Rees finished from close range after Marcus Randles had flicked the ball to him from a corner situation.

This gave Gunners some hope and they nearly equalised when Dave Owen hit the bar from a chance.

However, Gunners could not find the breakthrough and Woodley ended up winners.
Gunners "Man of the Match" was Lee Bonnici.

Match Facts

MOM : L Bonnici

Goals : M Rees (1)

Team Pictures

Loxwood vs Earley Gunners 2 - 5

Match Report

Gunners played their first game in six weeks with a convincing 5 - 2 win over Loxwood Res.
Gunners made a bright start to the game creating a couple of chances and were unlucky not to score when Stephen Tranter rifled a shot over the bar. However it was Loxwood who took the lead when a cross into the box was punched away by the keeper, the ball fell to the Loxwood forward who rifled the ball home past a couple of bodies from close range.

However Gunners equalised when Dave Owen converted a penalty after Phil Norton had been brought down in the box. The half time score was 1 - 1.

Gunners upped the tempo in the second half and took the lead through Stephen Tranter and then increased their lead again through Carlton Dickson.

Loxwoods best chances came when Gunners gave away a couple of free kicks outside their penalty box but the shots really failed to trouble the keeper.

However, in a bizzare incident a short while later there was a double sending off. Paul Marten tackled an opponent and their was a tangle of legs as both players tried to get up. The Loxwood opponent voiced his displeasure at the incident whilst Dave Owen chuckled at the situation. The referee then called the Loxwood player and Dave to him and sent them both off for swearing... Dave hadn't said a thing!

With both teams reduced to ten men, the game became more open and Gunners took advantage when they added a fourth through Matt Rees after some neat interplay between Matt and Carlton and then a shortwhile later Gunners made it five through Richard Alderton.

The referee signalled six minutes of injury time and during this period Loxwood scored a consolation goal when a mis-throw wrong footed the Gunners defence and was finished from close range by the Loxwood forward.

The final score was a 5 - 2 win to Gunners and Carlton Dickson was Gunners "Man of the Match".

Match Facts

MOM : C Dickson

Goals : D Owen (1), C Dickson (1), M Rees (1), R Alderon (1), S Tranter (1)

Team
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Earley Gunners vs Woodley Res 1 - 1

Match Report

Gunners earned a point with a battling draw against Woodley Res.

Gunners were short of numbers this week and a couple of last minute calls were required to get a team together, this gave Peter Ali an opportunity to make his first appearance for Gunners this season.

Woodley started the stronger of the sides and had the better play of the first half. Woodley had several opportunities to score with a few close range headers but Gunners managed to ride their luck. Richard Alderton also made a name for himself with a great tackle in the box to prevent a shot on goal.

However, Gunners held out until half time with the score at 0 - 0.

In the second half, Gunners had the benefit of the slope and the wind and found things easier.
Gunners came close to scoring when Steve Tranters powerful shot hit the bar but he made amends when Phil Byrne played him through and he skipped past a couple of opponents before slotting the ball home.

Woodley tried to raise the game and did have a period of pressure where they had several throws and a couple of corners. Woodley claimed a handball when Paul Ali chested the ball off the line but the referee waved play on.

With ten minutes to go Woodley scrambled an equaliser when a long ball into the box was poked home from close range.

However, Gunners nearly pinched a winner when Carlton Dickson had a late chance and Gunners then had a scare in the last minute when Woodley put the ball over the bar.
The final result was a 1-1 draw and it was a much improved performance than the previous week.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Paul Ali for a good display in defence.

Match Facts

MOM : Pa Ali

Goal : S Tranter

Team

RAS Rovers vs Earley Gunners 1 - 6

Match Report

Gunners earned a comfortable win against RAS Rovers with their best performance of the season.

Gunners were well motivated for the game and started well looking a yard quicker to the ball than their opponents. The softer ground also helped Gunners play the ball on the ground and soon the team were dominating possession.

The opening goal came from a corner by Steve Tranter which was headed in by Marcus Randles.
Gunners made it two when Bill Maslin headed in a cross from Neil Oldcorn and then a third goal came before half time again through Marcus Randles.

Dave Owen playing in an unaccustomed goal keeping role had very little to do in the first half and wasn't required to make a save.

The half time score was 3-0 although it could easily have been 6-0 with Gunners missing three straightforward chances in front of goal.

In the second half, Paul Stout gave Gunners a further lead when he scored with a well struck volley from 20 yards out.

Despite RAS pulling a consolation goal back, Gunners killed of the game when Bill Maslin added a further two goals one of which came from a fine run and cross from Steve Tranter.

The final result was a 6-1 win to Gunners and easily their best performance of the season. The team battled well in all areas of the field and RAS had difficulty coping with Gunners counter-attacked quickly.

Bill Maslin was Gunners "Man of the Match" for a good three goal display.

Match Facts

MOM : B Maslin

Goals : B Maslin (3), M Randles (2), P Stout (1)

Team

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Earley Gunners vs Chalfont 2 - 3

Match Report

Gunners narrowly lost out to league leaders Chalfont Park after a highly charged encounter.
Gunners started the better of the teams in the first half and Jide had an excellent chance to give Gunners the lead but his shot went straight to the keeper.

Gunners did have the slightly the better of the possession in the first half but could not turn this into clear cut chances.

However midway through the first half Chalfont hit Gunners on the break and took the lead with a very well worked goal.

Gunners had a few wayward shots on target and Julian was required to make one very good save in the first half although Chalfont seemed to rely heavily on the long ball to the forwards.
The half time score was 1-0.

In the second half Gunners raised their game and put Chalfont under even more pressure but again found it difficult to create clear cut chances.

Chalfont scored a second goal from a long ball forward to give them the edge.

Steve Tranter was then introduced and made an immediate impact by pulling a goal back. A little while later he added a second to level the game at 2-2.

Gunners were well on top of the game and nearly scored a third when the ball was cleared off the line twice.

At the other end of the field, Julian had to make two good saves to keep Chalfont at bay.
In the final minute Gunners conceded a corner and Chalfont scored a controversial winner when a ball which appeared to have been out of play was crossed back in and a Chalfont scored from the resultant shot to give them a 3-2 win in the final minute.

Despite the defeat it was a superb team effort all round.

Match Facts

MOM : Team Effort

Goals : S Tranter (2)

Team

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Earley Gunners vs Loxwood Res 5 - 0

Match Summary

Gunners were convincing 5-0 winners against Loxwood Reserves thanks to a hat-trick from Bill Maslin and a goal each from Paul Stout and Lee Bonnici.

Match Facts

Goals: B Maslin (3), P Stout (1), L Bonnici (1)

Team

Woodley Saints vs Earley Gunners 2 - 2

Match Report

Gunners earned an away win against Woodley Saints Res with a good all round display.

Gunners changed to a 4-3-1-2 formation and the team looked comfortable with the minor switch in positions. Gunners started the game brightly and opened the scoring after Dave Owen played in Steve Tranter who danced his way through to goal and scored from close range.

Gunners then made it 2-0 when Phil Byrne took a throw in on the right to Paul Stout who turned his man and rifled the ball home from close range. Gunners nearly made it 3-0 when Paul Stout had a clear sight of goal but volleyed the ball over.

At the other end of the field, the Gunners defence were looking solid and Woodley Saints had no real chances of note in the first half. At the start of the second half, Woodley came back into the game and eventually pulled a goal back with a neat interchange and a powerful shot from inside the box.

Gunners were at a point in the game when it could have gone either way but the team responded well and soon added a third goal through Paul Stout after an assist by Bill Maslin. Woodley then managed to score a lucky second goal when a shot took a wicked deflection and spun over the keeper.

However, during the last ten minutes Gunners battled very well and were first to the ball each time which did not allow Woodley a chance to mount any serious pressure. It was a good all round display, with Steve and Bill looking very lively up front, the midfield battled very well and probably for the first time this season started to play some quick passing football to feet. Whilst the defence worked well as a unit and reacted well to any loose balls. Gunners still need to improve the communication more and should also look to convert their chances into more goals but it was one of the better performances this season.

Gunners "Man of the Match" was Paul Stout closely followed by Lee Bonnici.

Match Facts

MOM : P Stout

Goals : P Stout (2), S Tranter (1)

Team

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