What a lovely day for football at King George this morning as table toppers Stronstad Utd battled 3rd place Watersedge who suffered a heavy defeat against FC Boca the previous week.
Stronstad welcomed back Ian Privett and Jeff Needham to the team along with recently signed Steve Beech.
The weather was not a problem but it was the water around the penalty area and in the centre of the pitch, which would play a factor in the game.
Stronstad were struggling to get to grips with the heavy pitch as they tried to get the ball down and play to feet and it was the physical Watersedge that were putting some heavy pressure on Stronstad but some great defending from Jorge Morrison-Cooke and captain Andy Scanlon that stopped any trouble the Watersedge team put on Stronstad.
At the other end a less than fit Robert Pearson was struggling to get into the game but did have a sniff at goal after a back pass to the Watersedge keeper but he could only slice the ball up in the air with Robert Pearson putting him under pressure. The ball fell on the 6-yard box but Pearson trying to reach the ball knocked the ball away from goal. As Pearson got the ball back he made the wrong option and instead of laying the ball back to the edge of the area for Rod Robertson and John Way he chipped the ball back into the box on to see Gareth Spicer miss-cue his volley and the danger was cleared.
At the other end Ian Privett was not really tested with any shots from Watersedge but Watersedge were denied a penalty as a Watersedge player got into the box and he tangled with Jorge Morrison-Cooke and went down but the referee waved away the appeals and Stronstad cleared the danger.
5 minutes after the penalty scare Stronstad opened the scoring. A long punt down field from Ian Privett found Robert Pearson but he was pushed as he tried to control the ball and a free kick was given about 25 yard out of goal.
From the resulting free kick Robert Pearson thundered home through a crowd of players and into the net for his 5th of the season and Stronstad’s opener.
Watersedge tried to get back into the game but could not get the better of a Stronstad defence marshalled by Andy Scanlon with Adi Card, Jorge Morrsion-Cooke and Gary Cowell stopping anything the Watersedge had to offer in the first half.
Just before the half time whistle Stronstad should have had a second goal after a great tackle from Jon Way on the half way line and his through ball saw Pearson beat the offside trap but he fired wide with only the keeper to beat.
Half Time:- Watersedge 0 Stronstad Utd 1
In the second half it was early pressure from Watersedge who were using the slight breeze to play the long ball but it was Andy Scanlon and Jorge Morrison-Cooke at the heart of Stronstad’s defence who were putting there head on all the long balls punted forward.
After 70 minutes Stronstad scored a second goal and it was through recent signing Steve Beech who beat the keeper and the defender to the ball to knock the ball in via the far post. The goal came around after some good work down the Watersedge right between Adi Card, Dan Moore and Rod Robertson saw Adi Card play the ball to the near post and Steve Beech flicked the ball home to make it 2-0.
Stronstad were doing everything to hang on to this 2-0 lead but after 75 minutes Watersedge got a goal back. A long throw into the 6-yard box caused panic and a Watersedge player was on hand to score.
It was backs against the wall as the pitch became heavier and players were tired and from yet another long throw saw Watersedge score as Ian Privett who earlier made a smart save at his near post misjudged a long throw and the ball hit Jorge Morrison-Cooke and into the back of the net to draw level.
Full Time:- Watersedge 2 Stronstad Utd 2
