This was Stronstad’s last match before their first Semi Finals appearance in their history. Stornstad were looking for a big match against Froddy Arms who were on the end of two heavy defeats in their previous matches. With the bookmakers give Stronstad heavy odds to win the game but 5+ goals Stronstad would have to be up for the match.
First Half Action
In the opening 10 minutes it was wave after wave of blue shirts attacking the Froddy Arms team as Stronstad looked to put a good performance in before next weeks big Semi Finals against AFC Victory.
Froddy Arms were on the back foot as Stronstad looked lively in their new 4-4-2 formation but could not get the early goal that would have settled some early nerves.
At the other end though it was a different story as some players were looking very nerves and shaky and Froddy could sense this as they attacked a Stronstad defence that had conceded 14 goals in their 4 games of 2009. Too many passes where miss-placed and the long ball was used a bit too much after a discussion during the pre-match team talk.
Going forward Stronstad were looking dangerous and the first chance that Stronstad had feel to Robert Pearson after a long ball down the centre was headed back towards goal by the Froddy Arms defender but it fell short and Robert Pearson volleyed the ball wide when really he should have done better.
At the other end Ian Privett was untested on a very sandy pitch but when the ball was played back to him his attempted kick out was poor and fell straight to the Froddy Arms player but he was well closed down before he had time to shoot.
Stronstad were needing goals to boast their goal difference and after beating Froddy Arms 10-0 in the first match they maybe thought that it was going to be an easy game but Froddy Arms were not there to beaten heavily again.
Gareth Spicer was driving the team forward in midfield and Gary Cowell was causing trouble for the full back but that killer ball was not coming off. James Clarke almost opened the scoring after a defence splitting pass but he was unable to collect the ball and the Froddy Arms keeper knocked the ball behind.
In spells Stronstad were moving the ball around well and this created a good chance for Rod Robertson inside the Froddy Arms box but his effort went over the bar as Stronstad started to turn the screw.
Soon after that Stronstad finally broke down Froddy Arms with yet another goal from inform Steve Beech.
A throw into the Froddy Arms box caused panic and with Stronstad players striking the ball towards goal and Froddy trying to clear the ball looped up to Steve Beech 6 yards out and he acrobatically volleyed the ball home to give Stronstad the lead and his 6th goal of the season.
This lifted Stronstad and they should have been 2-0 up soon after as a great lofted ball from Gareth Spicer found Robert Pearson at the far post but his header drifted wide of the goal when he should have hit the target.
Pearson did not have to wait too long to get his goal after a Froddy Arms attack was halted by Nick Crocker and is long through ball was missed first by two Froddy Arms players then the last defender before Robert Pearson coolly slotted past the advancing goalkeeper to make the score 2-0.
In spells in the first half Stronstad got the ball down well and passed the ball around but then other times it was very scrappy and their was no other chance of note as the first half came to an end with Stronstad holding onto the 2-0 lead.
Half Time Stronstad Utd 2 Froddy Arms 0
Stronstad went out for the second half with last weeks game against GB Utd clear in their minds after leading 2-0 and gifting GB Utd a goal which lifted them to claim a point but Stronstad were not going to make that mistake again.
Stronstad attacked Froddy Arms again but were running out of ideas like they did last week
Froddy Arms came out and decided to play football and they started to run the midfield as they looked for a way back into the match but some solid defending from Andy Scanlon and Nick Crocker who was playing centre back for Jeff Needham looking comfortable but the play was still long balls and miss placed passes which saw Stronstad who were in promising positions gift the ball back to Froddy Arms.
The game was turning very scrappy and after an hour Stronstad made a double change with Robert Pearson and Rich Gillam coming off and Brad White and Adi Card entering the action and it did not take long before Brad White made Froddy Arms sit up and take note.
Steve Beech battled down the Froddy Arms wing and he got the better of his marking and his cut back found Brad White who blasted the ball into the top corner to make the score 3-0.
Stronstad were in the mood to score more goals and they near and maybe should have got another goal as James Clarke found room in the Froddy Arms penalty box but his stinging drive was pushed away by the Froddy Arms goalkeeper and the danger was cleared.
Like 14 times this year Stronstad then gave Froddy Arms a glimmer of hope as a Froddy Arms player got the better of the Stronstad back four and slotted past Ian Privett to make the score 3-1 and memories for the 3-3 draw last week came back.
Soon after that……..
Stronstad then got a quick goal back as Brad White took his frustration out and got into the Froddy Arms box before placing the ball past the keeper into the back of the net to make the score 4-1 and some might have said game over.
Stronstad had another couple of chances as a goal mouth scramble saw a couple of Stronstad players get shots in but were unable to find the back of the net and then James Clarke volleyed wildly over from just inside the box.
Rod Robertson failed to hit the target when he was well placed and then Brad White was denied his hat-trick as the linesman gave offside when the ball to Steve Beech was well timed and as he rolled the ball to Brad White the whistle went for offside.
Just before full time Froddy Arms got a goal back as Stronstad failed to clear their lines and the Froddy Arms player scored via the post to make the score 4-2 but Stronstad held on and picked up another 3 points for only their 2nd win of the year.
Full Time Stronstad Utd 4 Froddy Arms 2
