Stronstad Utd vs AC Copnor
Stronstad were looking for their second win of the year against an AC Copnor side that beat them earlier this second 4-2 at the Rugby Campus. Stronstad were forced into changes from the side that beat AC Copnor last week with Dean Barlow and Nick Crocker missing but they were replaced by Gareth Colley and Phil Ingram with Jeff Needham taking his place on the bench for his first game since the Saturn Royale Hampshire cup game.
First Half Action:-
Like last week against Prince of Wales, Stronstad had to come from a goal down after AC Copnor took the lead. With a low sun shining in the eyes of the Stronstad back four and a poor playing surface the ball was played to the edge of the Stronstad penalty area where the ball was collected by Dan Razzell but he was disposed by an AC Copnor player and from there after a lucky couple of rebounds the ball was collected by another AC Copnor player who picked the top corner of Craig Stuart’s goal to give his team the lead with barely 10 minutes on the clock.
Things could have been a lot worse for Stronstad Utd as on two occasions AC Copnor could have extended their lead. First a long range effort crashed off the post with Craig Stuart well beaten and then from another long range effort the ball against crashed off the cross bar as Stronstad were struggling to play football.
Stronstad did have their chances to pull level with first Ian Privett could not get his foot around the ball after a poor clearance from the AC Copnor goalkeeper fell to Phil Ingram and from 30 yards either attempted a shot or a pass but whatever it was it was not going in and Ian Privett who never gave up came in at the far post but pulled his effort wide. Another effort of note was some great skills from Lloyd Adams as he beat his marker before advancing towards goal before slipping the ball out to Ian Privett but he chose the wrong option as he blasted the ball across goal and out for a goalkick with a number of Stronstad players screaming for the ball.
Stronstad had not really tested the AC Copnor goalkeeper and then only time he was called upon was at the end of the first half as Stronstad were awarded a free kick and from the free kick the ball from Ian Privett was well held low down to his post by the AC Copnor goalkeeper.
Half Time:-
Stronstad Utd 0
AC Copnor 1
Second Half Action
With the wind behind them Stronstad went out for the second half hoping to turn the game around of they faced their first defeat in 5 games and with the word of Robert Pearson ringing in their ears everyone knew they had a big 45 minutes to turn the game around.
The first shot of note came early in the second half as Jon Way who was looking for his first goal in a couple of years collected a loose ball and from 30 yards (Just under the Robert Pearson limit of 35 yards) sent an effort goal wards but his effort was comfortable saved by the AC Copnor goalkeeper.
Stronstad did manage to get back into the game in bizarre fashion. Stronstad had not looked dangerous from set plays and when they were awarded another free kick Paul “Macca” McKay launched the ball forward looking for the big men of Stronstad but instead he found the head of an AC Copnor player who managed to head the ball away from his goalkeeper and into his own net to draw Stronstad level. This goal then turned the game on its head as Stronstad players were lifted and they started to play some football which has seen the club move from the lower league to mid-table.
Straight after that goal the ball was again in the back of the AC Copnor net as Adam Razzell finished from close range. Lloyd Adams collected the ball and he advanced down the AC Copnor left wing before cutting into the penalty area and then cutting the ball back for Phil Ingram but somehow he sliced his effort but it fell nicely for Adam Razzell who collected the ball before slamming it home from close range to give him his 3rd goal of the season and Stronstad’s second of the day. You would have thought Stronstad would have kicked on from here but AC Copnor where still in the game and they almost forced an equaliser as the usually reliable Craig Stuart fumbled a high ball into the box and as the dropped the ball it fell to an AC Copnor player who smashed the ball goal wards. With AC Copnor players about to celebrate a goal Dan Razzell managed to get his body in front of the ball and deflect it out for a corner kick.
Stronstad were still looking dangerous going forward and they should have had a 3rd goal. Ian Privett collected a high ball and then advanced on goal before slipping a through ball to Phil Ingram and he collected the ball and advanced on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Here’s your options:-
1. Skilfully dribbled around the keeper before slotting home
2. Lifted the ball over the AC Copnor goalkeeper and scored
3. Passed the ball back to the AC Copnor goalkeeper
If you choice options 1 or 2 then you were wrong. Phil Ingram collected the ball and advanced on the goalkeeper and instead of finishing he passed the ball back to the AC Copnor goalkeeper and his chance to extend the lead and open his account had gone. It brought back memories of last week where Phil Ingram had 2 glories chances to open his account.
Stronstad were starting to break the AC Copnor attack up easily with Pete Hamilton and Lloyd Adams having solid games and then with Gareth Colley coming off after a long period out this was good performance from the centre midfield.
AC Copnor thought they had a let off but they were punished again as a great passing move opened up the AC Copnor defence. Ian Privett collected the ball and advanced into the open space and a neat one-two with Lloyd Adams, Ian Privett collected the return ball before tucking the ball under the advancing AC Copnor goalkeeper to make the score 3-1.
After this it was all one-way traffic as Stronstad looked to punish a tiring AC Copnor side and could have extended the lead further with Adam Razzell having two good chances. The first he collected the ball on the edge of the AC Copnor penalty area and a quick shake of his hips and then a dropped shoulder he moved inside the AC Copnor defender before curling an effort towards goal like Dennis Bergkamp did for Arsenal but with the AC Copnor goalkeeper well beaten the ball hit the top of the bar and over. His second chance came as substitute Steve Beech drove towards the AC Copnor byeline and his cut back to Adam Razzell had goal written all over it but he sent his effort the wrong side of the AC Copnor goal while under pressure from a defender.
Paul “Macca” McKay also had an effort at goal as the AC Copnor goalkeeper had conceded a free kick for hand ball outside the penalty area and from the resulting free kick Paul “Macca” McKay bent a ball to the far post but it drifted wide.
With time running out for AC Copnor they conceded a 4th goal as Steve Beech raced onto a Lloyd Adams through ball and lifted the ball over the advancing AC Copnor goalkeeper like Lionel Messi does every week for Barcelona and the ball bounced a couple of times before resting in the back of the net to make the score 4-1 and game over for the blue and white hoops of AC Copnor. The AC Copnor defence could not complete with the fresh legs of Steve Beech who netted for the first time since his brace against Drayton FC at the beginning of December.
With 5 minutes to play Stronstad completed the scoring as Adam Razzell charged down an attempted clearance before advancing on the shell-shocked AC Copnor goalkeeper but Adam Razzell’s touch past the goalkeeper was like Emily Heskey’s (Heavy) but he was bailed out by Lloyd Adams who collected the ball and slotted into the empty net to score Stronstad’s 5th goal and give Lloyd Adams his first goal since Alan & Wright at the end of November. Stronstad made some changes to personnel as first Jeff Needham returning from injury replaced Phil Ingram and Lato Okunuga promising to behave himself after last week’s throwing of the toys out the pram episode.
With a minute left on the clock AC Copnor got a goal back in yet more bizarre fashion. A free kick was conceded and from long range the AC Copnor player played the ball forward to the Stronstad penalty area. With the AC Copnor players giving up on the over hit ball and with Stronstad players getting back into position they were left rubbing their eyes in disbelieve. Keeper Craig Stuart came running to the penalty spot and instead of jumping the ball floated over his head and the ball bounced in. The views from the sidelines were that it might have been the sun in his eyes but then they remembered that they had swapped ends and the sun was now behind Craig Stuart.
Full Time-
Stronstad Utd 5 (Own goal, Adam Razzell, Ian Privett, Steve Beech, Lloyd Adams
AC Copnor 2
Next Up:-
A tough game vs AFC Peawitt in the league. They are currently 4th (Match report done before all results were in) and have won 10 and lost 2. Details of the match to follow next week.
