Stronstad Utd vs Watersedge Park
After a long hard session with plenty of ups and down Stronstad Utd played their last match of the season against archrivals from division 5 Watersedge Park.
Match Stats: -
The first match between these two teams ended up with a Stronstad win with Robert Pearson 3, Steve Beech 2, Gary Cowell and Roger Harris scoring in a fine 7-1 win just before Christmas. A win will see Stronstad climb to 3rd in the league but with J.T.C Rovers still with a game in hand against Prince of Wales, Stronstad Utd could finish the season either 3rd, 4th or 5th. Stronstad have played Watersedge Park 3 times. Drawing the first game 2-2, losing the second 3-0 and winning the last meeting 7-1. Watersedge Park form guide LLLLL conceding 30 goals in 5 games. Stronstad Utd’s form is WWLLW.
Other Matches Tonight
Prince of Wales (5th) vs FC Phoenix (1st)
Universal Utd (7th) vs Cosham Blues (10th)
First Half Action: -
On a sunny evening in Cosham Stronstad stepped out onto the pitch for the last time this season looking to end the season on a high. Stronstad started the brighter of the two teams and put Watersedge Park under some heavy early pressure with Ian Privett bullying his way into the Watersedge Park penalty area but was penalized for a foul on the defender.
It took 10 minutes before Stronstad found the target and it was from a great delivery that Stronstad took the lead. Gary Cowell had worked space near the touch line before cutting back and curling a delightful ball to the far post where the unmarked Steve Beech rose to plant a header home from 6 yards out to give Stronstad the lead that they deserved.
From there on it was all Stronstad but they failed to extend the lead but they did come close on a number of occasions. The first from an Ian Privett corner that saw the smallest player in the team Jon Way leap like a salmon and plant his header agonisingly over from 6 yards out. The best chance though fell to Nick Crocker who was left one-on-one with the Watersedge Park keeper but instead of finding the net he managed to find the next pitch for maybe the second worse miss of the season (behind Roger Harris’s against Watersedge Park last year). I was informed by Jon Way that it was him that set up the chance for Nick Crocker. Jon skillfully beat his man before bending a world class outside the foot curler to Nick Crocker who then missed.
Ian Privett also had an excellent chance to score but he put his effort wide after being played through.
Watersedge Park had rarely troubled the Stronstad back four with Jorge Morrison-Cooke and Jeff Needham at the heart of the defence dealing with the little threat but they were caught out by a swift counter attack. The ball was worked down the Stronstad right and delivered to the far post where the Watersedge Park player volleyed past Mark Betteridge to make the scores 1-1.
This goal kicked Stronstad back into life and straightaway they were gifted a golden chance to take the lead again. A poor header from the Watersedge Park keeper found a Stronstad player (Sorry can’t remember who) and he shot towards goal but the covering defender handled the ball on the line to concede a penalty. The referee had no other option but to send the defender off. Gareth Spicer converted the penalty to make the score 2-1.
After that Stronstad were asking questions of a very shaky looking Watersedge Park defence and it was no real surprise when Stronstad got a third goal. A long ball was flicked on by Gareth Spicer and this released Steve Beech who beat his marker before slotting past the Watersedge Park goalkeeper to make the score 3-1.
Half Time: - Watersedge Park 1 Stronstad Utd 3
In the second half it was party football for Stronstad Utd as they were looking to enjoy their last 45 minutes of football. All the players wanted to get their names on the score sheet and maybe Stronstad should have scored 7 or 8 goals. Jeff Needham who has not scored all season almost got himself the title of goal of the season as for a central defender showed some unbelievable tekkers to skilfully beat his marker in the box but his shot was too close to the Watersedge Park keeper who managed to push the ball away. Jeff Needham also had another chance after an Ian Privett cross went to the back post where Jeff Needham came steaming in but his effort was cleared off the line.
Stronstad made a couple of changes with Gary Cowell and Jeff Needham being replaced by Rod Robertson (making his return) and Dan Moore. Dan Moore was the next player to try and get his name on the score sheet but his driven shot flew wide of the target from 20 yards out.
At the other end Stronstad were looking very comfortable playing with 3 men at the back with Jorge Morrison-Cooke, Marty Tyrrell and Nick Crocker dealing with the lack of threats.
Manager Andy Stamp made his final change of the 2009/2010 season bring on the aging Robert Pearson in place of Jon Way and it was not long before he was involved in another chance. Some get inter play from Gareth Spicer and Robert Pearson saw the ball fall to Rod Robertson who sent a volley inches over the bar from just outside the area.
More chances came and went with the busy James Clarke creating a chance for Ian Privett after getting to the bye line and pulling the ball back but Ian Privett’s effort went wide from 6 yards out.
Finally the last goal of the season was scored. Stronstad put an attack together which saw Steve Beech get into the box but his effort was pushed out by the Watersedge Park keeper but the ball fell to Robert Pearson who walked the ball into the net to make the score 4-1.
Just before full time Stronstad had one more chance to score as Dan Moore sent in a world class cross where Robert Pearson acrobatically volleyed the ball inches over.
Full time: - Watersedge Park 1 Stronstad Utd 4
Other results from tonight
Prince of Wales 4 FC Phoenix 2
Universal Utd 4 Cosham Blues 1
Them results mean that it is between Cosham Blues, Watersedge Park and FC Fenner to see which teams are relegated.
