Stronstad United vs Wightlink FC
After Stronstad’s last outing they looked to continue their unbeaten start to 2010 with a tough looking game against Wightlink FC who Stronstad drew with in the opening days of the season.
Mark Betteridge and Jeff Needham who missed the 3-1 win against FC Phoenix rejoined the squad with Jeff Needham moving to centre back and man of the match from the last match Jorge Morrison-Cooke going to left back. Mark Betteridge had to settle for a place on the bench. Steve Beech and Robert Pearson looked to build on their 10 goals in 3 games.
Wightlink FC Facts: -
Before today’s match they were currently 3rd in the league with 14 points from 11 games. A win for Stronstad could put them 2nd if results went their way and 7th if they lost and if results went against them. Wightlink FC’s last match was a thumping 8-0 defeat against JTC Rovers. Stronstad drew the first game 3-3 with Jorge Morrison-Cooke, Dan Moore and a late Steve Beech header sealing a point.
First Half Action From Farlington
The opening exchanges was a sloppy affair as both teams tried to settle down and pass the ball around and it was from a good passing move that saw Stronstad almost take the lead in the early stages. A great ball down the line from Dan Moore released Robert Pearson who beat his marker and squared the ball to Nick Crocker and from about 20 yards out his curling effort had the Wightlink FC keeper well beaten but the ball floated wide of the far post.
At the other end Wightlink FC were not really pressuring Stronstad as a well marshalled defensive line from Gareth (Spike) Spicer kept catching the Wightlink FC strikers offside.
With the ball spending most of its time in the air the next time it was played on the floor it gifted another chance to Stronstad and it was from a through ball from Steve Beech that released Robert Pearson but with his lack of confidence his tamed effort was cleared by the Wightlink FC keeper.
Stronstad then took the lead with a great passing move again. Dan Moore had the ball and his through ball found Robert Pearson who beat the Wightlink FC keeper and was rolling wide but Steve Beech was on hand to knock the ball into the empty net.
Stronstad were turning the screw and they though they had a second goal as the busy Steve Beech flicked on a ball to James Clarke who powered into the Wightlink FC penalty area and his low drive found the far corner but the linesman flag brought an end to James Clarke’s celebration.
Then a second Stronstad goal was disallowed as through ball was collected by Robert Pearson who toe-poked the ball home but was given offside.
At the other end Stronstad had to be aware of the Wightlink FC attack and Stronstad were almost made to pay on two separate occasions. The first was a long ball over the top of the Stronstad defence it saw the Wightlink FC player lob Ian Privett but his effort went inches over and the second was from a dangerous free kick which Ian Privett dived out and punched the ball clear.
It was turning into an end to end affair and Stronstad almost went further ahead again after a long ball into the Wightlink FC penalty area caused havoc with the ball being cleared off the line twice and players throwing themselves to prevent the ball going in.
Steve Beech almost put Stronstad 2-0 up after a long free kick from Gareth Spicer which saw Robert Pearson flick the ball onto Steve Beech who’s header was going in before a fantastic save from the Wightlink FC keeper who clawed the ball away for a corner.
All the best chances were falling to Stronstad and again they were inches away from doubling the lead. A long ball into the box saw Steve Beech beat the keeper to the ball with a header but the ball drifted inches wide of the unguarded net.
Half Time: - Stronstad United 1 Wightlink FC 0
In the second half Stronstad turned on the style. They had to wait till 10 minutes into the second half to get a goal. The ball was played back to Ian Privett whose long punt down the field was misjudged by the Wightlink FC centre back and the ball bounced into the Wightlink FC penalty. Robert Pearson went up with the Wightlink FC player before blasting the ball past the Wightlink FC keeper to make the score 2-0.
This goal lifted Stronstad and for the rest of the half it was all Stronstad. Stronstad were playing some great football getting the ball down and passing it around and it was from another Stronstad attack that saw a contender for goal of the season. The ball was played across the Wightlink FC penalty area where James Clarke’s attempted shot was spooned back to Dan Moore who hit an unstoppable drive into the top corner of the Wightlink FC goal to make the score 3-0.
Robert Pearson also tested the keeper with a powerful 20-yard effort which saw the Wightlink FC keeper do well to turn the ball around the post. James Clarke was inches away from getting his name on the score sheet as he steamed into the Wightlink FC penalty area but his powerful striker hit the post and rebounded to safety.
Stronstad then got a 4th goal with another goal from Dan Moore. The Wightlink FC player had the ball deep in his half but his attempted clearance cannoned off Rod Robertson and fell nicely to Dan Moore his calmly slotted the ball through the Wightlink FC keepers legs and into the net for 4-0.
Jeff Needham wanted to get his name on the score sheet but his 30-yard but his shot was closer to the corner flag than the goal. Jorge Morrison-Cooke almost scored from a Dan Moore corner but his header at the far post went inches over.
It was then 5-0 as James Clarke steamed into the Wightlink FC penalty area before slotting the ball past the Wightlink FC keeper at his near post to complete a bad day for Wightlink FC who were sunk without trace.
The last goal of the game came from Steve Beech after a lofted ball over the top of the Wightlink FC defence saw Steve Beech run on and round the Wightink FC keeper before walking the ball into the empty net and make it an unbeaten start in 2010 for Stronstad.
Full Time: - Stronstad United 6 Wightlink FC 0
