The final match report of the 2011/2012 season!!!!!!!!!!!!
The season has been full of ups and a lot of downs but today was not about winning or losing, it was about a group of guys who have shown commitment throughout the season and even though some players wanted to leave they stuck together and saw out the last match of the season. Only AFC Peawitt stood between Stronstad and a nice Sunday morning lay in but some players were already having their lay in’s already as Stronstad struggled to get a full team and with Ian Privett fresh from his trip to Brazil but only able to play in the first half, manager Robert “Hammer Time” Pearson went in goal.
Missing Players
· Craig Stuart,
· Aaron “Lurch” Brown – Breaking the law so did not pass go and collect £200
· Lloyd Adams – No show
· Nathan Jeffery – Working
· Sadiq Mohammad – No show
· Dan Razzell
· Phil Ingram – Injured
· Steve Beech – Quit and also working
First Half Action:-
From the word go it was backs against the wall as AFC Peawitt who can still win the league looked to dominate a make shift Stronstad side but from standing in goal I had witnessed something special and that was a Stronstad team who last week failed badly against Swallows FC showed plenty of heart and determination to end the season on a high. From the first match against AFC Peawitt it was a physical game and the first person to stand his mark in the game was Paul “Macca” McKay as he was dishing out some hard tackles as he looked to unsettle the AFC Peawitt team. In the centre of midfield saw Nick Crocker and Pete Hamilton putting some crucial blocks in and with Dean Barlow looking to get the team going it was an encouraging start.
The back four were going to be in for a tough ride all game and with no lines man they could not play the offside trap so these meant playing a deep line to combat the threats that AFC Peawitt posed. The first real chance for AFC Peawitt came after 10 minutes when an AFC Peawitt player got the better of Lato Okunuga as he cut inside the penalty area but his low strike was easily gathered up by Robert Pearson. For the first 20 minutes of the game it was Stronstad defending well but they also had their chances at the other end as first and Ian Privett 25 yard free kick was easily saved by the AFC Peawitt keeper then another free kick from a Stronstad player (Can’t remember who) was delivered to the centre where a Stronstad player (Sorry again I can’t remember who) got a header in but it bounced wide with the AFC Peawitt keeper beaten.
Stronstad were looking comfortable with Jeff Needham in his last game standing tall at the back and with Mark Betteridge reading the game well Robert Pearson was only asked to collect some over hit passes but then disaster struck as AFC Peawitt opened the scoring. AFC Peawitt had forced a corner and from the resulting corner the ball was played to the centre where a Stronstad player cleared the ball only to the edge of the box where an AFC Peawitt player blasted the ball back towards goal where Jeff Needham got a telling touch and the ball was into the back of the net. This was bad luck for Stronstad who had defended well but today was all about having fun so instead of arguing and moaning, Stronstad kicked off looking to get back into the game with Ian Privett driving the team forward but with Adam Razzell being isolated by a 6 foot 6 giant there was no real options going forward. Like I said easier in the report Paul “Macca” Mckay was stamping his authority and from one hard tackle we saw an AFC Peawitt spectator enter the pitch to remonstrate with the referee who in turn had a chat with Paul “Macca” Mckay about his conduct. AFC Peawitt were not happy with some of Paul “Macca” McKay’s tackles and they decided to put it around and this saw Pete Hamilton on the end of a hard tackle.
Still the pressure from AFC Peawitt was there as they continued to pressure the Stronstad team but some great tackles from Jon Way and some important blocks from Nick Crocker and Mark Betteridge showed me that Stronstad were not going to lay down easy. AFC Peawitt were they appealing for a penalty as Lato Okunuga used some great body strength to hold off an AFC Peawitt player who went down but the referee waved away the appeals.
Half Time:-
Stronstad Utd – 0
AFC Peawitt – 1
With Stronstad down to 10 men for the second half due to Ian Privett working it was going to be hard for Stronstad Utd as it was wave after wave of White Shirt attacks but they could not break down a stubborn Stronstad defence who were standing firm. This season has been a quiet one for Robert Pearson and with his chance to go in goal he was having an outstanding game with him making a series of great saves to keep Stronstad in the game. At the other end Stronstad had a couple of good chances to get a goal back. First Jon Way collected the ball before seeing his effort deflected wide from just inside the penalty area and then a great ball to the back post found Dean Barlow but his low effort was easily saved.
Obviously it was only a matter of time before AFC Peawitt scored again but things could and maybe should have been different if Stronstad had subs and were not playing with 10 men as tired legs were setting in but the 2nd goal was a mistake and I am gutted that I could not save it. Stronstad have given a throw in after Lato Okunuga had put the ball out but he made the biggest sin by collecting the ball for the AFC Peawitt player and he then threw the ball to a team mate who teed his mate up to score. The thing that annoyed me the most was that an AFC Peawitt player ran over to rub it in my face even though it had taken them until the 75th minute to score another goal.
Oh well with time running out and Stronstad legs very tired from their hard work they put in AFC Peawitt scored another 2 goals to win the game 4-0. Everyone one of the Stronstad players did themselves proud as they battled hard against AFC Peawitt who were top of the league.
Full Time:-
Stronstad Utd – 0
AFC Peawitt - 4
