Stronstad Utd vs Prince of Wales (14th November 2010)
Match Facts:-
· The first game between these sides was won by Prince of Wales 4-3 with James Clarke, Nick Crocker and Dan Moore scoring
· Stronstad are currently 5th while Prince of Wales are 3rd
· Stronstad’s last league game was a 4-1 defeat against Cowplain Xi’s while Prince of Wales beat J.T.C Rovers 3-2.
· A win for Stronstad would see them stay where they are while defeat could see them drop down to 7th
Other Matches:-
· White House vs Cowplain Xi’s
· Newcombe Arms Blues vs Lord Chichester
· J.T.C Rovers vs Icomm FC
· Drayton FC vs AC Copnor
First Half Action from Farlington Marshes
Stronstad Utd knew that they needed to start battling and battling hard if they wanted to move up the league after 3 straight defeats in league and cup. Captain Gareth Spicer demanded more from his players and he was hoping that his players would cut their mistakes out and start to play the kind of football that saw them play White House off the park.
With manager Andy “Stampy” Stamp only having the bare 11 the team picked itself. The injured Robert Pearson went in goal with Mark Betteridge moving upfront and Ian Privett playing left back. On a wet and muddy pitch Stronstad started the brighter of the two teams with the first real chance falling to Roger Campbell who burst into the Prince of Wales penalty area before seeing a low shot turned around the post by the Prince of Wales goalkeeper. It was all Stronstad still and from a cross they should have taken the lead. The ball was crossed into the centre where James Clarke’s brilliant header was matched with a brilliant diving save from the Prince of Wales goalkeeper who was keeping his side in the match.
At the other end Stronstad were defending well limiting the Prince of Wales players pop shots from long range but when they did get close to goal only a world class sliding block from Jon Way denied a Prince of Wales player a chance at goal. Then came a moment of controversy as a defence splitting pass saw a Prince of Wales striker run onto the ball and despite Ian Privett’s attempted Slide tackle the referee awarded a penalty as he deemed Ian Privett to have clipped the Prince of Wales player. From the resulting penalty the ball was stroked home to give Prince of Wales the lead.
This goal had knocked the wind out of Stronstad’s sails as Prince of Wales stepped up a gear as they looked to put the game to bed and they got a second goal after a mistake from Ian Privett saw him lose possession in the box to a Prince of Wales player who squared the ball across the box to his team mate who drilled a low shot past Robert Pearson to make the score 2-0.
At the other end Stronstad should have pulled a goal back as a strong run and cross saw the ball fly across the Prince of Wales penalty box to James Clarke who was off balance and managed to clear the bar from close range.
Half Time: - Stronstad Utd 0 Prince of Wales 2
Second Half
Stronstad changed the formation from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 hoping this would bring goals to a Stronstad team that have scored 3 goals in their last 3 games but they would have to do it the hard way if they wanted to win the game. From a Prince of Wales corner the ball was played to the far post where the ball was rifled into the roof of the net to give Prince of Wales a comfortable lead and some of their players sensing more goals to come against a depleted Stronstad team but they were in for a shock.
For some reason even though Stronstad were not playing too bad this 3-0 score line seemed to raise the Stronstad team by another 50% and they went about getting back into this game and got a goal back on the hour mark in spectacular fashion. With Ian Privett being moved up front as Stronstad changed the formation to a 3-4-1-2 formation and from a clearance Ian Privett collected the ball 30 yards out before firing a cracking shot into the top corner to give Stronstad a lifeline in this match. This goal lifted Stronstad and within 5 minutes they pulled another goal back. The ball was worked into Mark Betteridge who took aim from just inside the Prince of Wales penalty area before firing a drive into the back of the net to get his first of the season and could the greatest comeback be on?????
Stronstad were asking all the questions with the back 4 of Dave George, Jeff Needham, Jon Way and new signing Travis holding firm and clearing any danger that the Prince of Wales strikers could offer and with Roger Campbell and captain Gareth Spicer now bossing the midfield battle it was only a matter of time before they scored again. Stronstad managed to win a corner and from the resulting corner Mark Betteridge floated the ball into the box where Dave George and a Prince of Wales player challenged for the ball but instead of heading the ball away the Prince of Wales player headed the ball into his own net to make the scores 3-3 with 10 minutes to go.
There was only going to be one winner in this game and it was going to be the Maroon’s as the confidence was oozing through the team with everyone tackling and working hard to get the 3 points and they got the all important 4th goal as a great passing move between Mark Betteridge and Dave Moore saw Dan Moore fire a low drive into the back of the Prince of Wales net to make the score 4-3 to the delights of manager Andy Stamp who was doing his part for the team by running the line.
With time running out for Prince of Wales they threw men forward but they could not get past a stubborn Stronstad defence as the defenders cleaned up everything. Stronstad did have chance to extend the lead but first Mark Betteridge fired wide from a very good position and Ian Privett’s direct corner was tipped over.
Full Time: - Stronstad Utd 4 Prince of Wales 3
Summary:-
A great come from behind win for Stronstad after 3 defeats. We all battled for each other and worked as a team which we had not done for a while. At the final whistle you could see the delight in the faces of the Stronstad players. Let’s build on this win next week against Lord Chichester.
