Stronstad Utd vs White House (League)
Match Facts
· Stronstad Utd has played White House before in a friendly back in 2008. Stronstad lost this match 5-0 down at Langstone Harbour but that season Stronstad finished runners up in division 5.
· Stronstad Utd won their last match with a tough 3-2 victory over Lord Chichester in the London Cup while White House lost 5-1 against AFC Purbrook in the same competition.
First Half Action From Farlington
From the first whistle Stronstad went at White House looking to gain revenge against a team that had beaten them the last time the two teams meet but it was White House that were having the early shots in the game which failed to trouble Ian Privett in the Stronstad goal.
At the other end Stronstad did have a chance to open the scoring but Robert Pearson failed to hit the target or find Dan Moore and the ball went wide of the White House far post. When Stronstad got the ball down they were playing some excellent football and they were tearing a shaky looking White House team apart but failed to score. I don’t know if it was a major blow but Robert Pearson was forced off injured after 20 minutes of the match to be replaced by Paul McKay who went in goal with Ian Privett going up front. Straight after that change Stronstad should have gone 1-0 up. A nice free kick routine saw the ball played the far post where Gareth Spicer (I think) played the ball back across goal where James Clarke was but his fresh area shot was cleared by the White House defence. Not long after that Stronstad went 1-0 up. A through ball from Rod Robertson released James Clarke who advanced on goal before tucking the ball past the advancing White House goalkeeper to make the score 1-0.
It was soon 2-0 after a long ball from the Stronstad defence saw Luke Roystone chase the White House defender down. All the pressure got to the White House defender who sent the ball past his own goalkeeper to make the score 2-0.
Confidence was flowing through the Stronstad team and they looked more likely to extend the lead as they forced a series of corners which Dan Moore almost scoring directly as the ball flashed inches wide of the far post. Luke Roystone also tried his luck from just outside the area but saw his effort go inches wide with the White House keeper beaten. Jeff Needham also came within inches of connecting with another corner from Dan Moore.
It was then 3-0 as Ian Privett went on a solo run and got himself into the penalty area before seeing a deflected shot loop up to James Clarke who saw his first shot blocked but he headed home the rebounds for his second goal of the match. Stronstad were in cruise control and were looking comfortable but one slip gifted White House a chance to get back into the game. A defensive mistake saw the White House player advance towards goal before slotting the ball past Paul McKay as he came out to narrow the angle to give White House a fighting chance in the match.
Half Time: Stronstad Utd 3 White House 1
It was the same again for Stronstad in the second half as they continued to look dangerous everything they went forward with James Clarke looking for his hat trick being denied and Nick Crocker’s bullet header parried by the White House keeper as Stronstad continued to turn the screw. Rich Gillam tried his luck from 35 yards out with his free kick stinging the White House keeper’s hands.
At the other end Paul McKay had to be at his best to parry a shot from a White House player by tipping the ball against the post and Gareth Spicer cleared the danger.
With time running out Stronstad sealed the 3 points as a through ball from Dan Moore released Ian Privett who took his time before slotting past the White House keeper to make the score 4-1. Still more chances came and went with Gary Cowell providing some great ball into the box which caused panic for the White House defence and the little man Jon Way tried his luck from long range but found the ditch behind the goal.
Full Time: Stronstad Utd 4 White House 1
