Stronstad Utd continued their 100% record at Farlington with another hard fought victory against the only team to beat them in the league this FC Boca.
After last Sunday’s game against Cosham Blues, Stronstad wanted to deal some pay back to a team who knew that they had lady luck on their side we these two teams meet on day 3 of the new season.
The weather was shocking and the driving rain did not help matters but after a chat with the FC Boca players they decided that they wanted the game to go ahead.
From the first whistle Stronstad put the pressure on FC Boca and it was all Stronstad in the early exchanges. The only real danger that the Stronstad defence had to deal with was the long balls that FC Boca used so well in the first encounter but again like every other week Andy Scanlon marshalled the defence well and with Ian Privett being aware of the long ball it was looking good for.
When Stronstad got the ball down on a very difficult pitch they looked dangerous going forward each time but as Stronstad put the pressure on they won a corner. From the resulting corner Robert Pearson swung the ball in and as the FC Boca keeper came out he misjudged the flight of the ball and the ball dropped in the 6 yard box where Gareth Spicer reacted quickest to bang home the opening goal just getting ahead of Jorge Morrison-Cooke to get his second goal in two games.
This lifted Stronstad as they continued to look dangerous on the break and they thought they had won a penalty after James Clarke beat the FC Boca keeper in a race only to be brought down. The referee did call a penalty but then changed his mind a throw in was the result.
But then 5 minutes later they should have been 2-0 up as a defence splitting found Robert Pearson and he drove towards the by-line and his pull back hit Jorge Morrison-Cooke and came back to Pearson who from 6 yards blazed his shot wide.
Stronstad were piling pressure on FC Boca who could not cope with the wave after wave of Blue shirts attacking and Stronstad almost got a second goal through James Clarke after he collected the ball just outside the area but the FC Boca keeper turned his effort around the post.
Soon after that it was 2-0 to Stronstad as another quick counter attack saw the ball played to Robert Pearson who held the ball up before releasing James Clarke and even though his effort was parried by the FC Boca keeper Rod Robertson was on hand to slot the ball into the empty net for 2-0 and his 3rd of the season.
To be honest all FC Boca had was the long ball and it was from another long ball that they managed to get a goal back after a James Clarke and Mark Betteridge tried to close the ball down on the half way line a quick ball over the top saw the FC Boca striker one-on-one with Ian Privett before slotting coolly pas him for 2-1.
This lifted FC Boca and they almost grabbed a quick second goal but were denied by a great block from Ian Privett who bravely blocked the FC Boca striker from getting a second goal. Stronstad were looking to get back in control of the match and maybe should have had another penalty as Gary Cowell showed a great turn of pace to beat his man and as he advanced into the FC Boca penalty area he managed to get his shot in but was brought down but the referee waved away his appeal.
Rich Gillam was the next Stronstad player to test his luck from very long range and he came within inches of his second of the season but his effort went inches wide of the top corner.
Half Time Stronstad Utd 2 FC Boca 1
In the second half with the raining stopped and the sun coming out Stronstad looked to pick up were they left off but it was FC Boca who were asking the questions of Stronstad as they looked to pull back into the game but some great defending and players throwing themselves around managed to clear the danger.
At the other end Stronstad thought they had another goal but was chalked off. A corner from Mark Betteridge caused mayhem in the FC Boca area and as Jorge Morrison-Cooke shot for goal the keeper appeared to carry the ball over the line and as Stronstad appealed for the goal the referee waved away the claims.
FC Boca’s long ball was no longer causing trouble for Stronstad because every ball they tried to play was either meet by the head of a Blue Shirt or Ian Privett was quick to clear the danger but one occasion FC Boca real should have got a second goal as a corner for Stronstad was cleared by FC Boca and a long ball saw the FC Boca player beat Gary Cowell for pace but his attempted lob drifted just wide of the Stronstad goal and the chance had gone.
The next player to try his luck was Mark Betteridge who powered towards goal but his drive was pushed away by the FC Boca keeper and the ball was cleared.
The best chance Stronstad had to getting a goal came through Gary Cowell after Robert Pearson had held the ball up on the half way line and a quick through ball found Gary Cowell who was one-on –one with the FC Boca keeper but his effort was turned around the post for a corner.
With time running out for FC Boca they found themselves 3-1 down as James Clarke picked the ball up on the half way line and despite tow attempts to bring him down James kept running and got into the box but his effort was blocked by the FC Boca keeper and on hand was Robert Pearson who slotted into the empty net to make the score 3-1 and game over.
Just before full time Stronstad got a 4th goal after James Clarke was fouled outside the area and from the resulting free kick the ball was played to an unmarked Adi Card who drove towards the by line and his cross was flicked home by James Clarke to make the score 4-1 and another 3 points for Stronstad.
Full Time Stronstad Utd 4 FC Boca
