Cosham Blues vs Stronstad Utd – Portsmouth Division 3
Match Facts:-
Stronstad have never lost to Cosham Blues in 3 meetings.
Stronstad 2 (Robertson and Pearson) Cosham Blues 1
Stronstad 3 (Card, Pearson and Spicer) Cosham Blues 1
Stronstad 5 (Cowell, Privett, Clarke, Beech, Moore) Cosham Blues 1
A win for Stronstad would keep them in 3rd spot in the league. If result went against Stronstad they could drop down to 5th in the league.
Cosham Blues have won their last two matches 5-4 against FC Phoenix and 5-2 against FC Fenner. Cosham Blues are currently 9th with 10 points from their 11 games.
Steve Beech has netted in all his appearances for Stronstad this season with 11 goals in 8 games helping Stronstad move up the league.
First Half Action:-
Cosham Blues kicked off the game knowing a win would move them into mid table but on a heavy pitch, which looked like the cows had been on before hand both teams struggled to get the ball down and pass it around.
In the opening exchanges Stronstad had the slight advantage with Mark Betteridge and Nick Crocker winning the midfield tussle against the Cosham Blues midfield but neither keepers were really tested until Mark Betteridge tried his luck from just outside the area which bobbled through to the Cosham keeper.
With 15 minutes gone in the first half Cosham Blues got the opening goal. Stronstad were playing a high line and as a result a through ball released the Cosham Blues striker who advanced on Ian Privett and finished into the far corner of the net. This goal lifted Stronstad and they pulled a goal back almost straight away. Steve Beech flicked on a long ball which wrong footed the Cosham Blues defender and from just outside the area Robert Pearson blasted a low drive past the Cosham Blues keeper and into the net for 1-1.
This drove Stronstad forward and they were awarded a free kick just outside the Cosham Blues penalty area but a driving effort from Robert Pearson flew just over the bar. Another through ball released Robert Pearson but the Cosham Blues goalkeeper easily saved his tame effort.
Gary Cowell then tried his luck from long distance but his free kick was inches over as the referee blew for half time.
Half Time: - Cosham Blues 1 Stronstad Utd 1
Stronstad kicked off playing into a strong head wind but this did not stop them from taking the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. A great passing move between Dan Moore, Steve Beech and Robert Pearson saw them split the Cosham Blues defence open and this gave Robert Pearson the time to pick James Clarke out who came in at the back post to blast the ball home from 8 yards to make the score 2-1.
Cosham Blues had not really tested the Stronstad back four in the first half but it was a whole different ball game in the second half as Cosham were using the long ball which was causing Stronstad problems especially in the heavy penalty area. Ian Privett had to be on his toes as he was put under pressure from a Cosham Blues corner and fumbled the ball behind.
At the other end a well worked throw in between Robert Pearson and Gary Cowell saw the ball come back to Robert Pearson who tricked his marker and sent a fizzing ball in where Steve Beech got his head to the ball but headed just wide.
The best chances were falling to Stronstad but they failed to convert the chances with Jorge Morrison-Cooke seeing a header well saved on the line by the Cosham Blues keeper and James Clarke failing to convert at the back post from a centre. Cosham Blues were then dealt some luck as the Cosham Blues keeper handled Mark Betteridge’s attempted lob outside the area but he got away without a booking. From the resulting free kick David George on his debut curled a delightful effort, which the Cosham Blues keeper managed to keep out.
Stronstad had a strong case for a penalty turned down as Steve Beech ran onto a through ball and as he got his shot away he was clattered by the Cosham Blues keeper and the ball drifted inches wide.
Gareth Spicer was next to test his luck. A well-worked free kick from Dan Moore found Gareth Spicer outside the area. He took one touch and sent a looping effort that the Cosham Blues keeper managed to tip over for a corner.
With time running out Cosham Blues scored an equliser as a mistake at the back. The ball was played forward but was not dealt with by Jeff Needham and this gave the Cosham Blues man a chance to advance towards goal before finishing past Ian Privett to draw the teams level.
At the other end Dan Moore drove forward and sent a pile driving effort inches wide of the top corner as Stronstad pushed to snatch the winner and with 2 minutes to go they got it. David George was pulling the strings in midfield and he drove forward before firing a powerful effort towards go that was parried by the Cosham Blues keeper straight to James Clarke who volleyed home the winner to the delight of Stronstad and there fans.
Stronstad then had another strong case for a penalty turned down as the Cosham Blues defender was hacking at Dan Moore but the referee waved away his appeals and blew for full time.
Full Time: - Cosham Blues 2 Stronstad Utd 3
Man of the match awarded by Rich Gillam went to Nick Crocker
