AFC Peawitt vs Stronstad Utd @ Paulsgrove
The smell of stale BO and last night’s beer and curry was obvious to smell when I came walking into the changing room at Paulsgrove as I observed the Stronstad players getting focused for today’s massive match. The mood was high amongst the Stronstad players as they have picked up maximum points from the 2 games this year and with the end of the season closing in each game was an FA Cup, World Cup and League Cup final rolled into one.
First Half Action:-
After the handshakes between the two captains and the tossing of the pre-match coin, Stronstad went into battle looking to settle early as the last 2 games they have found themselves a goal down early before eventually getting back into the match and winning so a good start was key. Stronstad kicked off playing into a strong head wind in the first half and it was no surprise that AFC Peawitt took hold of the game early on as they put Stronstad on the back foot. The passing between the AFC Peawitt players started to open up gaps in the Stronstad defence with Paul “Macca” McKay and Dan Razzell in the heart of the defence being tested early on.
From early on you could see that the wind was going to be a factor in this match and Stronstad did not help themselves as the ball was played high into the air where the AFC Peawitt central midfield were easily beating the midfield 3 of Lloyd Adams, captain Pete Hamilton and Ian Privett to every high ball and it was from another high ball that the opening goal came about. The ball was played long to the edge of the Stronstad penalty area where Steve Beech pushed the AFC Peawitt player on the edge of the penalty area. Paul “Macca” McKay took his protest too far and was booked and a nice £10 fine coming his way from Hampshire FA. From the resulting free kick the ball was played into the box where Lloyd Adams got his foot to the ball but this sent the ball into the air and an AFC Peawitt player powered the header home past Craig Stuart from 6 yards out to make the score 1-0.
Things then went from bad to worse as AFC Peawitt scored a quick fire second goal. A long ball was played down field and with Paul “Macca” McKay calling for the ball his centre half partner Dan Razzell flicked the ball away from Paul “Macca” McKay and the ball fell nicely for an AFC Peawitt player who ran forward before rounding an exposed Craig Stuart and slotting the ball into the net despite the best efforts of Jon Way and Gaz Colley.
To their credit Stronstad did not let this affect them as in games earlier in the season they would have folded like a house of cards and they tried to get themselves back into the match and were denied not once but twice with goal line clearances. First a corner was only half cleared to Lloyd Adams and he controlled the ball before sending a lobbed shot back towards goal. With the keeper beaten an AFC Peawitt player on the line managed to head the ball clear from under his cross bar. Then again from another corner the same situation. The ball was only half cleared to the edge of the box where Paul “Macca” McKay sent another lobbed ball towards goal but again an AFC Peawitt player headed the ball off the line and the keeper gathered the ball.
At the other end AFC Peawitt were on the counter attack down the Stronstad right back and it was a straight foot race between Gaz Colley and an AFC Peawitt player and with the AFC Peawitt favourite to nick the ball Gaz Colley flew through the air and not only won the ball but also got up and stopped the ball from going out for a throw in. As Chris Kamara would say “Unbelievable Jeff (Needham)” – see what I did there
The first half was hard for Stronstad as they found themselves for long periods stuck in their own half and when they did get forward they looked dangerous. First a ball played forward found Adam Razzell who with Emily Heskey strength held off the defender before playing the ball out to the wing where Steve Beech collected the ball before opening his little legs as he moved towards the AFC Peawitt penalty area and then from his cross it alluded Lloyd Adams but found Phil Ingram who was still looking for his first goal from the club but his effort was blocked and the danger was cleared.
Back at the other end it was all hands to the pump as some neat interplay on the edge of the Stronstad penalty area saw a shooting chance but a wall of Maroon shirt managed to block the shot and the danger was cleared.
Half Time:-
AFC Peawitt – 2
Stronstad Utd – 0
Second Half Action:-
The half time oranges had been eaten and the Stronstad players were re-fuelled as they went back onto the pitch at Paulsgrove looking to get back into the game but they were struggling to get the ball forward to Adam Razzell as he was left isolated upfront and was getting frustrated at the lack of service. Like I said before AFC Peawitt were a team that could still win the league and with their easy on the eye passing and moving, Stronstad were chasing the ball all around but they did not really penetrate the Stronstad back four as they started to look more like a unit and more organised this half but the most alarming part was seeing the big space between the defence and the midfield as this was obvious to see from the sidelines as Ian Privett working hard and Lloyd Adams tricks and pace were trying to get Stronstad going but they were running out of options as the fitter AFC Peawitt were able to break the attacks up with ease.
Midway through the second half AFC Peawitt scored a 3rd goal as they were awarded a penalty. The ball was played down the line where Paul “Macca” McKay came steaming in but he missed the ball and the player (Lucky for him as it could have been an early bath) and the AFC Peawitt player skipped pass him and then advanced towards goal. Paul “Macca” McKay showed get determination and got up and ran after the player but as the AFC Peawitt player turned back in he was adjudged to have fouled the player and the penalty was given. From the spot kick the ball was tucked home and it was 3-0.
The last time Stronstad failed to score in a game was against J.T.C Rovers earlier in the season and they managed to get a goal back. Phil Ingram had battled his way through a couple of tackles but was upended on the edge of the penalty area. With the free kick dead centre of the goal Ian Privett used the wind to his advantage before smashing a drive into the net with the AFC Peawitt keeper well beaten and queue the worst celebration in history. His celebration was too embarrassing to mention.
This goal spurred Stronstad on and they could and should have had a couple of goals back. First substitute Mark Betteridge played a lovely diagonal ball across the pitch which saw the linesman flag put up against Phil Ingram who made no attempt to get the ball but behind him was Steve Beech who collected the ball and advanced towards goal and unselfishly he squared the ball to two Stronstad players.
I did not see what happened but this is the two versions of the effort.
1. Steve Beech had squared the ball to around the penalty spot where Lloyd Adams and Adam Razzell both went for the ball and Adam Razzell connected with the ball before sending it high and wide of the goal.
2. Steve Beech had squared the ball to around the penalty spot where Lloyd Adams and Adam Razzell both went for the ball and Lloyd Adams connected with the ball before sending it high and wide of the goal.
Then Ian Privett collected the ball before driving towards goal and with Stronstad players waiting for the cut back he managed to spoon his effort wide of the goal when maybe a square ball might have resulted in a goal or an effort on target. Never mind as time was running out AFC Peawitt got a killer 4th goal. I think it was from a corner to AFC Peawitt the ball was worked to the edge of the box where a Stronstad player collected the ball and launched the ball forward and with Ian Privett chasing the long ball it had too much pace and the AFC Peawitt keeper launched a ball forward which saw and AFC Peawitt player break the offside trap and then square the ball to his team mate who slotted into the empty net and with Stronstad players appealing for offside the goal stood. If only the ball that Ian Privett was chasing had a little less pace or Ian Privett had more pace and he collected the ball he was one-on-one with the AFC Peawitt keeper and if he had scored it would have set up a tense finish.
With time running out came two more yellow cards as first Aaron Brown was harshly booked for accidently tripping the AFC Peawitt player as he chased a lost ball then Jeff Needham was also harshly booked as himself and an AFC Peawitt player both dived in 4 foot from the ground for a 50-50 ball but was adjudge to have committed a foul and was booked to the amazement of the sideline and the players. Hampshire FA will be rubbing their hands as they will be issuing £30 worth of fines to the Stronstad secretary next week.
Joining Gaz Colley for tackle of the day was Jeff Needham as an AFC Peawitt player cut through the Stronstad midfield but man mountain Jeff Needham threw himself into the tackle and won the ball before getting up and playing the ball calmly out of danger.
Full Time:-
AFC Peawitt – 4
Stronstad Utd:- 1 (Ian Privett)
Man of the match top 3 players
Jon Way – 4 votes
Lloyd Adams and Steve Beech – 3 votes each
Ian Privett – 2
Next Up:-
Stronstad will need to show some bounce-back-ability next week as they host Drayton FC in the league at Farlington with a 10:30am kick off.
