First Half from Paulsgrove
The opening exchanges were an end to end affair with both teams looking to settle but the ball was sending a lot of time in the air than on the desk.
Prince of Wales took the lead with 15 minutes on the clock. Prince of Wales worked the ball around the back and then a long ball down the Stronstad right saw Paul “Macca” McKay and the Prince of Wales striker go up for the ball which both missed but this gave the Prince of Wales striker a chance to turn and run onto the ball before cutting in and toe poking the ball across the desperate dive of Robert Pearson and in off the far post and into the back of the net. This goal came as a sucker punch to Stronstad who had settled down well and were playing some great football. It could have been worse for Stronstad as the next attack almost resulted in a goal. The ball was launched into the box where a Prince of Wales player managed to get a head to the ball which found an unmarked Prince of Wales player at the far post but his effort smashed the bar before being cleared.
If we went back over the previous games Stronstad would have folded like a desk of cards but they never let the goal stop them and they went about getting back into the game. First an Ian Privett free kick was cleared with no less than 3 Stronstad players lurking at the back post and then from a free kick Paul “Macca” Mckay got his technique wrong and found the next pitch.
The key to Stronstad getting back into the game is if they could win the midfield battle and with Nick Crocker and Dean Barlow breaking up some key Prince of Wales attack it gave the wingers Ian Privett and Lloyd Adams a chance to drive forward and it was from an important interception which saw Stronstad get back into the game. First the ball was won and then spread across the field to Gareth Colley who played the ball forward to Sadiq Mohammad who drove to the bye line before firing a cross to the far post where Steve Beech was on hand to slot home from 5 yards out to draw the teams level to the delight of manager Dave “Moggsy” Morling.
This goal lifted Stronstad and they went about trying to get a second goal but some of the Stronstad players had left their shooting boots with Sadiq Mohammad launching a shot which almost went in on the other pitch and Nick Crocker seeing a Ronny Rizzler effort blocked. At the other end captain Jeff Needham and Paul “Macca” Mckay were becoming Man Mountains as they were repelling the efforts of the Prince of Wales attackers with some key headers and excellent distribution from the back.
Half Time:- Prince of Wales 1 Stronstad Utd 1
The half time talk from Dave “Moggsy” Morling was “keep it tight and keep things simple” and with the wind behind Stronstad they went about trying to take the lead.
Like the first half both teams were slow to settle with the ball going backwards and forwards but neither team looked settled but with 60 minutes on the clock Stronstad should have been in the lead. A great through ball saw Sadiq Mohammad run onto the ball but as he advanced on the big Prince of Wales goalkeeper his low effort was well parried by the keeper and he was able to gather the loose ball. More chances came and went for Stronstad with Steve Beech the next to have an effort. Yet better passing from Stronstad saw Sadiq Mohammed drive into the Prince of Wales box and his centre found Steve Beech but his effort from close range was brilliantly saved by the Prince of Wales goalkeeper.
At the other end Prince of Wales had a strong penalty claim turned down and only a free kick was awarded as a diagonal ball saw Lato Okunuga slip and foul the Prince of Wales player for a free kick. From the resulting free kick the Stronstad wall stayed firm and they cleared the danger. At the other end Stronstad had a strong penalty claim turned down as Lloyd Adams was butchered down just outside the penalty area with the offending Prince of Wales player yellow carded. From the resulting free kick Ian Privett’s low effort was easily saved by the keeper. The game was turning into an end to end affair with both teams looking for the all important second goal and after a strong run from Ian Privett to the bye line his drilled cross was controlled by Steve Beech who was going to take aim but Prince of Wales bodies came flying in and the danger was cleared. Nick Crocker then took aim from long range and his effort swerved and dipped from 30 yards and with some players thinking it was in the Prince of Wales keeper plucked the ball from the air. Prince of Wales had a chance to take the lead as the ball was played over the top to a Prince of Wales player who got the better of Paul “Macca” Mckay but the shot was too high and cleared the bar but it came at a cost as Paul “Macca” Mckay picked up a knock just like Jeff Needham and Lato Okunuga with Lato Okunuga coming off and Pete Hamilton coming into left back.
With 15 minutes to go Prince of Wales got the all important second goal. With Stronstad committing too many men forward a quick counter attack saw the Prince of Wales player square the ball into the penalty area where an unmarked Prince of Wales player finished across Robert Pearson to make the score 2-1. Stronstad never gave up and they were putting Prince of Wales under pressure and from a series of corners and throw in’s Stronstad saw an effort cleared off the line and with time running out they were rewarded for there never say die spirit. The quiet guy of the team Lloyd Adams collected the ball 25yards from goal he drove a shot that curled, swerved and dipped past the Prince of Wales goalkeeper and into the top corner. All the Stronstad players were delighted and this goal was treated like Stronstad had just won the London Cup final.
Soon after this goal the final whistle went and Stronstad were happy with the result but knew it could have been 3 points.
Full Time:- Prince of Wales 2 Stronstad Utd 2
Next up Stronstad play AC Copnor @ The Rugby Campus near the Roko with a 10:30am start and then the Hampshire Cup 2nd Round against Saturn Royale.
