Stronstad Utd vs Icomm FC
Big Match Facts
Stronstad drew their first game against Icomm FC on the opening day of the season 2-2 with James Clarke and Dan Moore scoring on that day.
Icomm FC are currently third in the league with 17 points from their 9 games played soon far in the league.
The lowest position Stronstad Utd can go is 6th and the highest 2nd
First Half Action
The opening exchanges was a cagey affair with both teams giving the ball away cheaply and no one wanting to take charge of the game. Stronstad knew that a win today would see them move up to 3rd place but they were dealt a blow as an Ian Privett goal kick landed in centre midfield where Nick Crocker lost out in the battle for the ball with the Icomm FC player who managed to toe poke it through to his team mate who out ran Gareth Spicer before slotting past Ian Privett to make the score 1-0.
At the other end Stronstad were struggling to test the Icomm FC keeper but a swift counter attack from Stronstad resulted in a goal for Steve Beech. The ball was collected by Nick Crocker who’s through ball released Robert Pearson and from his centre Steve Beech was on hand to score from close range to draw the teams level.
Stronstad were putting Icomm FC under some pressure and almost had a second goal as a flick from Nick Crocker released Steve Beech but he pulled his shot inches wide of the Icomm FC far post.
Then came some controversy as Dan Moore released Robert Pearson but the Icomm FC defender played the ball back to the keeper who picked the ball up in the 6 yard box and straight away the referee awarded a back pass. Robert Pearson laid the ball off to Steve Beech who slotted home but the goal was ruled out as it was taken from the wrong spot. From the retake the chance was wasted.
At the other end Stronstad almost gifted Icomm FC the lead as a pass back to Ian Privett hit a bobble and rolled towards the goal but the ball hit the post and then the Icomm FC player managed to spoon the ball away from goal and the danger was cleared by Stronstad some serious comedy football.
Stronstad then shot themselves in the foot as they conceded a sloppy goal as the Icomm FC player managed to get between 3 Stronstad players before advancing into the penalty area then blasting a low effort past Ian Privett to make the score 2-1 to third place Icomm FC.
This was the sloppiest football that Stronstad had played for quite a while but too there credit they tried to get the ball down and pass it area on a very boggy pitch but the Icomm FC defence held firm and cleared all the pressure that Stronstad threw at them but they were caught out from a set piece. Stronstad had won a throw in deep in the Icomm FC half and from a Robert Pearson long throw the ball fell nicely to James Clarke who fired into the bottom corner to make the score 2-2.
Half Time: - Stronstad Utd 2 Icomm FC 2
Stronstad came out hoping to get into the lead for the first time in this match and with the half on minutes old they took the lead. The ball was worked up to Steve Beech who advanced towards the Icomm FC penalty area and his attempted through ball was cut out but James Clarke collected the ball before blasting the ball home from an acute angle to make the score 3-2.
The game was full of controversy and there could have easily been 1 or 2 red cards in the match. The first was for an Icomm FC player who kicked James Clarke after a tackle, which resulted in players from both sides getting involved and when the dust settled the result was a throw in to Icomm FC.
Icomm FC were putting Stronstad under some serious pressure and they were stopped on a number of occasions from Man of the match Ian Privett who made some fantastic saves but he was powerless to stop the Icomm FC equaliser. Again a back pass was the main reason for the goal being scored. Stronstad had defended well but a ball back to Ian Privett was picked up and from just inside the penalty area the Icomm FC player curled the ball into the far corner to draw the teams level.
The game was getting very scrappy and it was an end-to-end affair but it was Icomm FC who thought they had won the game but the offside flag was raised and the goal was ruled out. Just before full time there was another dust up as a bad looking tackle of Rich Gillam resulted in another dust up with both teams getting involved. Just after the free kick was taken it was full time.
As the players were coming off players from both sides got involved in some pushing and shoving before going back to the changing room to cool off.
Full Time: - Stronstad Utd 3 Icomm FC 3
