Stronstad Utd vs Cowplain Xi’s
After last week’s amazing 2-0 win against one for the title favourites, Stronstad Utd went into battle against a Cowplain Xi’s side that had beaten them earlier in the season 3-1 with today’s opponents finishing the match with only 9 men!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joint managers Robert Pearson and Paul “Macca” McKay were hoping their troops will pick up from where they left off and pick up another 3 points against a team that we currently sitting 3rd in the league and victory for them could see them move up to 2nd if AC Copnor failed to beat AFC Peawitt.
First Half Action from Farlington
It was a windy down at Farlington today as Stronstad looked to pick up where they left off against Alan & Wright but in front of them was a physical Cowplain Xi’s who have title ambitions of their own as they were currently sitting 3rd in the league. In the opening exchanges it was a scrappy affair as both teams cancelled each other out and with the ball being given away cheaply neither team looked dangerous.
For some reason the Stronstad game plan did not take place as the midfield 3 of Sadiq Mohammad, Pete Hamilton and Dean Barlow were not getting involved as the ball was being pumped from defence up to Adam Razzell who was making his first start up front and with 4 Cowplain players around him he stood very little chance. The Stronstad wingers were not having much joy as well with Steve Beech and Nathan Jeffers not getting much service in the opening exchanges.
At the other end some neat play from two Cowplain players almost created a chance but the alert Paul “Macca” McKay was in the right place to clear the danger. Cowplain started to get more into the game as they were using their physical approach to the game to bully the Stronstad team and only some timely tackles from stand in defender Ian Privett denied another shooting chance.
At the other end and with little service, Adam Razzell battled away and on a couple of occasions thought he should have had a free kick but his appeals were waved away and after one too many words to the referee he was yellow carded for dissent.
Cowplain thought they had taken the lead but for a fine acrobatic clearance from Jon Way. The ball was pumped forward from deep and with Ian Privett under pressure from the Cowplain player his header fell well short of keeper Craig Stuart and this allowed the Cowplain player to get in ahead of him and knock the ball towards goal. In a race to get back Jon Way launched himself through the air and managed to somehow knock the ball onto the cross bar and the danger was cleared.
Ian Privett who was standing in as a defender due to injury to Dan Razzell made a great tackle to deny a Cowplain player. As the Cowplain player advanced towards goal Ian Privett made a great timed tackle to stop the Cowplain player and he was able to get back up clear the danger.
Half Time:-
Stronstad Utd - 0
Cowplain Xi’s – 0
Second Half Action from Farlington
With the wind heading towards the Stronstad goal it was going to be a siege of Cowplain attacks as they looked to take the lead in this battle. The open exchanges were quiet but it was Cowplain again who were looking dangerous and it was all hands to the pumps again as Stronstad could not get their foot on the ball and dictate the pace of the game. The first chance of the second half fell to Stronstad. The ball was worked forward and then across the pitch to where Nathan Jeffers collected the ball and from 25 yards took aim but his effort flew inches over with the Cowplain keeper beaten.
At the other end Cowplain had another sniff of goal but a well placed Aaron Brown who was in the right place to clear a centred ball over his own cross bar from 6 yards out to deny a Cowplain player a chance to give his side the lead. The game was starting to be an end to end affair and Stronstad almost took the lead. Sadiq Mohammad who was due a goal collected the ball before dancing around a couple of tackles before playing a one-two who opened the Cowplain defence wide open and as he advanced on goal he managed to get a toe poke past the Cowplain goalkeeper and as the ball was rolling towards goal a Cowplain player managed to clear the danger.
With 15 minutes of the game to go Stronstad took the lead. Stronstad were awarded a free kick and from the resulting free kick Ian Privett floated the ball into the box where Adam Razzell beat his man and headed the ball down to Mohammad Sadiq who slotted the ball home from close range to send the Maroons of Stronstad into the lead and the goal scorer mobbed by excited Stronstad players as they had taken the lead. In the aftermath of the goal a Cowplain player spoke out of term to the referee and after a lengthy discussion the referee pulled the red card out and Cowplain like the first game were down to 10 men. In theory Stronstad should have seen the game out with the extra man advantage but it was Cowplain who looked the more dangerous of the two sides and only good fortune saw Craig Stuarts goal living a charmed life with Cowplain hitting the post and the bar.
Stronstad were then forced into a change as Paul “Macca” McKay picked up a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Nick Crocker who slotted in at centre back to partner Ian Privett.
With Stronstad’s goal frame still rattling they could not hold out for much longer as Cowplain’s pressure saw them managed to get back into the game with a slice of luck. A shot from outside the area took a deflection and landed at the feet of the Cowplain player who scored and dispite the linesman flag being raised the goal was awarded and Cowplain were level.
Stronstad they were under some real heavy pressure from Cowplain as Cowplain put Stronstad under more pressure but another quick attack from Stronstad which saw Sadiq Mohammad’s run halted by a foul. From the resulting free kick Ian Privett bent a brilliant effort which beat the keeper but curled wide of the far post.
With minutes to go Cowplain were they reduced to 9 men as a Cowplain player aimed a kick at substitute Lato Okunga and the offending player was sent off.
The last chance of the game fell to Stronstad. The ball was collected by Nathan Jeffers who ball down the wing to Steve Beech was collected and his floated ball was inches too high for Adam Razzell and the ball rolled out of play and the referee signalled the end of the game.
Full Time:-
Stronstad Utd – 1
Cowplain Xi’s – 1
Next Week:-
After today’s performance Stronstad Utd has a massive 6 pointer against Drayton FC next week with the venue to be announced followed by the final game of the season against Icomm FC
