Stronstad Utd vs Drayton FC @ Farlington Marshes
The former West Ham, Southampton and Northern Ireland great Iain Dowie once used the terms Bounce-back-ability when being interviewed about his team Crystal Palace’s come back from defeat and today this word was used for the first time in Robert Pearson’s pre-game team talk as he was hoping to put last week’s defeat against Drayton FC behind them and get another 3 points against a relegation threatened Drayton FC.
The mood amongst the Stronstad players were good as they knew that they have the advantage over today opponents after defeating them 7-1 earlier this season with Sadiq Mohammad and Steve Beech scoring the goals that day and with the form table looking bad for Drayton FC with 4 points from their last 6 games you would have thought this was a certain home win but we have seen many times that things don’t happen this way.
Examples:- Alan & Wright were on a hot run but we halted by Stronstad who had picked up one point from their last 9 games while Alan & Wright had picked up 21 points from their last 9 games but they took Stronstad lightly and lost 2-0. Another example was Stronstad in a higher division lost to Saturn Royale 2-1 with Saturn Royale at that point 2nd to bottom of Division 2. This shows anyone can beat anyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All management duo Paul “Macca” McKay and Robert Pearson could ask for is show respect to your opponents and let the football do the talking.
First Half Action:-
Captain Pete Hamilton lead the teams onto the field hoping to get the best out of his troops and make sure that Stronstad take an early lead as the last time Stronstad took the lead first was against Icomm FC in the 4-4 draw at the end of last year. Both teams took time to settle with Stronstad launching the ball into the air which was easily won by the big midfield for Drayton as Stronstad struggled to get the ball down and play. The first real shot in the match came from Phil Ingram who took aim from 30 yards but saw his effort clear the Drayton FC goal and land on the next pitch.
Stronstad took the lead against the run of play as Ian Privett battled his way through the Drayton FC defence leaving him one-on-one with the Drayton FC goalkeeper before taking the ball around the keeper with ease and slotting the ball into the empty net to give Stronstad an early lead in the match. You might have thought that Stronstad would have gone on to build on the lead but things were about to change.
Drayton were looking to get back into the game and they took the game to Stronstad and it was all hands to the pumps with Drayton playing some neat, simply football to break open Stronstad’s defence on a number of occasions but some great defensive work from Dan Razzell, Paul “Macca” McKay, Jon Way and Aaron Brown kept them at bay but little the three little pig story the wolf (Drayton) were huffing and puffing as they pounded the Stronstad goal and if it was not for Craig Stuart it could have been a very different story. Not once but several times he kept Stronstad in the match with some world class saves.
At the other end Lloyd Adams collected the ball deep in his own half and ran towards the halfway line where Drayton had pushed up to the halfway line. With 2 Stronstad players standing in an offside position he decided to take the ball on him selves and he knocked the ball ahead into open space but his final touch was too heavy and the ball went through to the keeper.
Half Time:-
Stronstad Utd:- 1
Drayton:- 0
Second Half Action:-
Stronstad went out for the second half looking to keep hold of the slender lead but it was Drayton who looked more likely to score and like I wrote early the wolf (Drayton) finally blew down the Stronstad straw house. A ball was worked out to the Stronstad left back position where the Drayton player got the better of Jon Way before delivering a deep cross to the far post where a Drayton player headed home from close range to draw the teams level.
This goal lifted Drayton FC as they started to settle down a lot quicker and they took the game to Stronstad who had lost its shape with the Stronstad midfield 3 of Phil Ingram, Pete Hamilton and Lloyd Adams getting beaten easily by the Drayton midfield 2 as the simple passing created more chances for Drayton and again it was all hands to the pump with Dan Razzell and Paul “Macca” McKay stepping up to the plate but they could not hold out for long as a defensive mistake resulted in a second goal for Drayton. I did not see what happened but I was informed by the subs and the referee after the game that Craig Stuart rolled the ball to Paul “Macca” McKay who was not expecting the ball and the Drayton FC player nipped in before sending a low drive into the far corner to send Drayton 2-1 up.
Stronstad had their chances to pull back but Ian Privett first fired over from the edge of the penalty area and then he fired across goal with Steve Beech unmarked at the far post. The Drayton keeper was not really pressured at all during this match and he was to have an easy game.
Stronstad then came within an inch of pulling level. A corner was swung into the centre where Nick Crocker rose like a salmon swimming up a river in Alaska for mating season and bulleted a header towards goal but the ball hit the cross bar and bounced out to Paul “Macca” McKay who went for power and launched the ball high into a tree knocking a bird out of its nest.
Just before full time Drayton FC got a 3rd goal and sealed their 2nd win of the season as a ball into the Stronstad box was not dealt with and as I was informed by Jon Way via text he got the final touch as he blasted the ball into the net under pressure.
Stronstad had run out of ideas and the last real chance came as a free kick was played into the Drayton penalty area and after a game of ping pong the ball fell to the edge of the penalty area where Lato Okunuga saw his effort blocked by a Drayton player and the referee signalled an end to the match
Full Time:-
Stronstad Utd:- 1
Drayton:- 3
