Swallows FC vs Stronstad Utd
It’s been a long time coming but finally the Portsmouth Sunday League was back up and running and it was the return to league action for a new look Stronstad Utd who were looking to continue from last week’s bruising encounter with a match against Swallows FC.
With the smell of last night’s beer and curry floating around the changing room manager Dave “Moggsy” Morling was looking for another committed display from his youngish squad and with Steve Beech banging home 3 goals last week, Stronstad were looking to him to lead the line again.
First Half Action from Farlington
The smell of beer had been replaced by the smell of deep heat and body odour as Stronstad were kitted up and ready for action as they entered the field of play and with manager Dave “Moggsy” Morling pacing up and down the touchline everyone was really up for this match.
The game started slowly with both teams testing each other out but it was Swallow Fc who should have been in the lead after 5 minutes of action. Swallows FC collected the ball and then beat the Stronstad back four which left two Swallow’s players advancing towards goal but with two options to select either
1. Finish past Robert Pearson to make the score 1-0
2. Square the ball to the his team mate who would have slotted home from close range
Fortunately for Robert Pearson in the Stronstad goal the Swallow’s player selected a third option and decided to chip Robert Pearson from just inside the area but got it horribly wrong and decided to chip the ball into Robert Pearson’s arms much to the delight of the Stronstad team and the frustration of the Swallow’s player who was well placed.
Last week the sun was shining down on Stronstad but today it felt like a wet December day as the rain came down and this caused extra problems to both defences as the ball was skidding around and the first touch was important in the match and it was from a long punt down field that almost gifted Steve “Will Young Fan” Beech an opportunity to put Stronstad in the lead. The ball was swerving all over the place and this caused the Swallow’s player to misjudge the flight of the ball and the ball bounced past him. Steve Beech peeled off the defender but the ball was just a little ahead of him and the Swallow’s keeper somehow managed to get his hand to the ball and flick it away and the danger was averted.
At the other end the partnership of Jeff Needham and Peter Hamilton was looking good with both players putting in some timely blocks and tackles to contain the Swallow’s strikers and with the veterans Rich Gillam and Jon Way who was being supported by his family the team held firm. With the rain still coming down the ball was going from end to end and from another attack Swallow’s almost scored but for a flying diving save from Robert “The Old Cat” Pearson who turned the ball around the post for a corner.
The midfield for Stronstad was not having much joy as the high balls were being won by a taller Swallow’s midfield with Sam Olby (debut), George Griffiths (debut) and Lloyd Adam trying to get the ball down and play but with the conditions they were struggling. Ian Privett was then to try and test the keeper from a free kick but his effort was clawed away by the Swallow’s keeper and the rebound was cleared. Then came the opening goal of the game. Swallow’s were attacking and with Stronstad playing a high line this gave the Swallow’s player the chance to release his team mate and despite the best efforts from first Pete Hamilton then Ian Privett the Swallow’s player toe poked the ball into the bottom corner to make the score 1-0.
Like last week this goal woke Stronstad up and they had another chance to pull level. From another free kick Phil Ingram took aim and even though the ball deflected off the wall it went towards goal and in his efforts to win the ball Pete Hamilton collided with the Swallow’s keeper which caused players from both teams to pile in and after the dust had settled the referee produced a yellow card to Pete Hamilton.
The last real chance for Stronstad came as George Griffiths collected the ball and drove towards goal but he selected the wrong option and blasted the ball wide when Stronstad had men in the centre.
Half Time:- Swallows FC 1 Stronstad Utd 0
Second Half Action
Straight from kick off Swallow’s were on the attack as Stronstad had given the ball away cheaply but again more solid defending from Jeff Needham and Pete Hamilton stopped the attack and the danger was cleared. Like the Weather Girls once sang “It’s Raining Men” the weather was really bad and it was Swallow’s who got most use to the slippery conditions and they started to turn the screw as they were hitting shots that were bouncing just before Robert Pearson which was like a wet bar of soap which was hard to handle. Then came a very rare moment in the game. This was like a lunar eclipse or the sight of Andy Stamp in a Stronstad kit a really special moment. Ian Privett collected the ball and danced his way towards goal before being halted by a sliding tackle and the referee blew his whistle for a free kick. The ball was placed on the spot and from around 25 yards the veteran who’s last goal was when Stronstad were in Division 5 Rich “The Moon Shine” Gillam bent the ball towards goal and this sent the keeper the wrong way and the ball was in the net to the delight of Rich Gillam and the 4 fans in the stand.
But before Rich Gillam could do a back flip or the worm Stronstad were then 2-1 down. The ball was worked forward and then squared across the box to his team mate who slotted first time across Robert Pearson to put his team level.
Then came the moment of the game that turned things for Stronstad. Stronstad were on the attack and with a Stronstad shot being changed down the ball found its way to Ian Privett who took control of the ball before letting fly from 30 yards. The ball flew towards goal swerving and dipping on its way and with the Swallow’s keeper going one way and the ball the other, Ian Privett could feel that funny feeling inside himself as he thought the ball was in but at the last second the Swallow’s keeper managed to get a finger tip to the ball and it deflected onto the bar and back out. If only the ball had gone in the game would have been interesting as up to that point Stronstad were pushing the Swallow’s back and were getting into a few promising positions.
Stronstad kept going and they might have scored on 3 separate occasions.
1. Lloyd Adams collected the ball and jinxed towards goal but from outside the area he had a rush of blood and managed to curl his effort high and wide
2. From close range the ball was played into the centre and usually the little man Steve Beech would head the ball home but he managed to head over from close range.
3. A rare run forward from Jon Way saw him get into the box but he got his effort all wrong as he took a swipe at fresh air and missed the ball.
N.B Jon Way informed me after the game that he got his foot stuck in his shoe laces that’s why he missed.
With timing running out and with the Stronstad team getting tired and a few players picking up injuries, Swallow’s FC got the killer third goal. This goal was worthy of winning any game as from just inside the area the Swallow’s player curled an effort which flew past the tired Robert Pearson and nestled into the back of the net to knock the stuffing out of Stronstad and the 3 points to Swallow’s.
Full Time:- Swallows FC 3 Stronstad Utd 1
Stronstad can keep their heads up as they played against a team who were in the Havant Senior division last season and have come over to test themselves against Portsmouth’s best.
Next Week:-
League game against Alan & Wright with a 10:30am kick off @ Farlington who will be out for revenge and then the week after (15th September) a cup game against Prince of Wales
