First Half Action:-
After picking 4 points from a possible 6, Stronstad entered the field of play in this massive 6 pointer but stood in front of them stood the famous yellow and blue of Brazil but instead of playing Kaka and Ronaldinho they were playing against the 9 men of Drayton and if there was any good chance for Stronstad to pick up their 2nd win under the guidance of Robert “Hammertime” Pearson and Paul “Macca” Mckay this was it.
The first chance of the half fell to Stronstad Utd as Sadiq Mohammad jinxed, turned and bamboozled the Drayton full back and sent in a low cross that had “put me in” written all over it but first Adam Razzell and the Steve Beech failed to get a telling touch on the ball and the ball drifted harmlessly wide of the Drayton goal. You would have expected Stronstad to keep turning the screw as they looked to get into the lead but it was 9 men of Drayton how looked more hungry for the game and they were winning the first and second ball but rarely failed to trouble Craig Stuart in the Stronstad goal.
Stronstad took the lead after 10 minutes. Stronstad won themselves a corner and from the resulting corner Steve Beech delivered the ball into the 6 yard box where the Drayton goalkeeper came out to collect the ball but Sadiq Mohammad raise like a salmon out of the water and headed the ball towards goal and despite a half hearted effort from the Drayton player on the line the ball was in the net and Stronstad had the lead. This goal settled Stronstad down and they started to play some football and with Lloyd Adam filling in for the ill Jon Way, Steve Beech and Lloyd Adam were running riot down the Drayton left wing and on another occasion their efforts would have been rewarded as first Lloyd Adams ran towards the bye line and cut the ball back for Steve Beech but his effort was cleared and then another strong run saw the ball fizzed across goal and just as Adam Razzell had the sight of goal and the glory the keeper managed to get a finger tip to the ball and it caused the ball to spin back and Adam Razzell could not adjust himself and the danger was cleared.
At the other end Drayton were still looking dangerous going forward but they could not break down the defensive unit of Paul “Macca” McKay and Dan Razzell who were having a good game and with Lloyd Adams on fire and Aaron “Lurch” Brown keeping things simple it looked like being a quiet day for them. The game started to get a bit kicky as first Pete Hamilton was kicked by a Drayton player in front of the referee and then Dean Barlow putting a meaty tackle in on the Drayton player which caused the players to come together. You could see that Stronstad were starting to get frustrated as passes where going astray and the communication not there but Stronstad started to get more involved in the game as Sadiq Mohammad started running at the Drayton defence and you could see that his goal last week and his goal today had given him plenty of confidence and it was no surprise that it was him that grabbed the second goal. The ball was played into the Drayton penalty area and with players from both teams diving in the ball somehow found its way to Sadiq Mohammad who blasted an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net to make the score 2-0.
After this goal it was all one way traffic as first Sadiq Mohammad flashed an effort over from just outside the area. Steve Beech tried to beat the Drayton keeper from a tight angle and then Nathan Jeffery who collected the ball should have done better but is effort lacked power and direction and instead of finding the net he put the ball wide.
Half Time:-
Drayton FC – 0
Stronstad Utd – 2
Second Half
With the words of Robert Pearson ringing in their ears Stronstad went out to step up their efforts by a further 20% but they were dealt a blow as Drayton pulled a goal back early in the second half. The ball was played forward and using his body strength the Drayton player turned a Stronstad defender and beat Craig Stuart to give Drayton a glimmer of hope in the match.
This goal lifted Stronstad more than Drayton and they scored a third goal as Steve Beech who was having a solid game on the wing collected the ball and played the ball through to Sadiq Mohammad who collected the ball and blasted the ball home from close range to seal his hat trick and Stronstad’s 3rd.
Now the flood gates had opened as the Drayton players started to tire and they were luck not to concede a 4th goal as a great cross from Steve Beech saw Adam Razzell head the ball towards goal but with the Drayton keeper well beaten the ball crashed against the cross bar and the danger was cleared. Soon after it was Sadiq Mohammad 4 Drayton 1. Nathan Jeffery collected the ball and then feed Sadiq Mohammad who skilfully turned the Drayton player inside out before finding the roof of the net to make the score 4-1. The confidence was there as all the Stronstad players wanted to get on the score sheet with Lloyd Adams seeing a near post effort pushed around the post and then Adam Razzell beating the offside trap but his drive was turned away for a corner. Paul “Macca” McKay headed wide from a corner. Adam Razzell had another sight at goal but he got his technique wrong and as the ball came in he managed to trap the ball and then when he got the ball out of his feet the Drayton keeper was able to smooth the effort.
Stronstad then got a 5th goal as Steve Beech was moved up front and with the extra pace up front the counter attack was quick and with Nathan Jeffery playing the ball into the box Steve Beech collected the ball and beat his man before finding the bottom corner to make the score 5-1 and game over.
With time running out Stronstad then scored a 6th goal as Sadiq Mohammad piled more misery on the Drayton team as he scored his 5th goal as he collected the ball in midfield and took off on a mazy run before finding the bottom corner of the Drayton net.
Stronstad were then in 7 heaven as they scored a 7th goal in the last 5 minutes of the game. Lloyd Adams who was having a solid performance collected the ball before playing a weighted through ball to Steve Beech who took a shot at the near post and with too much power on the shoot the Drayton keeper could only palm the ball into his net to complete a great performance by Stronstad.
Full Time:-
Drayton FC – 1
Stronstad Utd 7
