Match Reports - 2006/2007
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United travelled to Mortimer knowing that a victory would move them out of the bottom two and grabbed all points after a seven goal thriller which went all the way to the wire. United started sloppy and found themselves under some intense pressure in the early stages of the first half which saw Mortimer take the lead with a long ball inside 10 minutes. United, shocked, fought there way back intot the game and it was Chocki who bagged the equaliser with a low drive after latching onto Pagey's through ball. Earley pushed on again and took the lead when the keeper was unable to hold Alex's drive from the edge of the box. United couldn't extend this lead though, and were back on level terms when a poorly defended corner was tapped in to make it 2-2. The second half was much the same as the first ... flying tackles and end-to-end play. The scoreline stayed the same until midway through the half when the frustrated Duncan was found by Jimmy inside the box, to rifle United into a 3-2 lead. Not more than 5 minutes later, and United had extended it further to 4-2, again through the in form Duncan (4 in 3 games) with a slightly deflected curling shot from the edge of the box. United had the 2 goal cussion they needed, but couldn't hold it for more than 5 minutes! At 4-3 the remaining 15 minutes were exciting for the spectators. Each team had some glorious chances, but the defences and keepers held out to keep the score as it was, and United's annual end of season survival routine continues. | |||||
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United shamed themselves in this match, especially on the back of last week's performance. Lack of commitment and passion was to blame as United struggled to come to terms with a testing pitch and well dodgy ref. Barton took the lead from a ball over the top which was finished well about midway through the half, only for Page to level from the edge of the box following good work from Tain. Then, for the second time in as many weeks, the stand in ref (also the Barton manager) over-rulled the off side flag and Barton grabbed their second, leaving the score 2-1 at half time. The second was much the same as the first. A scrappy affair, unattractive, and unmanaged by the ref. Barton scored again to make it 3-1 midway through the half. United tripple substituted Pagey, Tain and Jimmy for Kit, Greeny and Dave ... and were rewarded when Duncan drove home United's second to make a game of it. They were punished moments later however when another poorly defended through ball was tucked away to make it 4-2, and kill the game. Even though United had penalty appeals turned down either side of half time , they didn't deserve to win the gameby any means. With that said however, it wouldn't have mattered if United had fielded 22 players, there was no way they were going to win this one! | |||||
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United travelled to high flying Emmer Green and bagged all three points following a superb, hard fought team effort. The game itself was very scrappy throughout, and United lost both Chocki and Tain through injury within the first 20 minutes. Alex (leading goal scorer) who came off the bench and made the first goal. Turning his man inside out he drilled a ball accross the box which was met by Crit, who laid on Jimmy to score. Emmer Green were somewhat stunned after having the better chances prior to this, but from that moment on Earley stepped up their game and began to create more chances of thier own. With seconds to go in the first half however Geen's left midfielder hit a sweet shot that gave the keeper no chance to draw things level. The legend Chrissy Dye had to retire from the game at the break due to injury, but United showed more spirit in the early stages of the second half and were rewarded when Duncan grabbed the winner with a low drive, following good work by Jimmy and Crit. The majority of the game for United was played in thier own half, defending ... even though it was had to do so with all of the toys that the Emmer Green players and fans had been throwing out of thier prams. Green did get a very fortuatous penalty, but a poor strike and superb dive kept the score at 2-1. A mention must also go to Duncan for another wonderous effort in the closing stages from 25 yards which stunned everyone as it rattled the bar. A great result lads ... now to build on it !! | |||||
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Following last weeks win United probably approached this game wrongly, looking for back to back victories, without the passion or commitment from previous weeks. They found themselves chasing the game from the off and apart from when fighting back to 3-2, never looked like they were in it. Goals from Chocki and Greeny (duck broken finally) gave United hope, but not much, not by a long way. | |||||
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Finally United got the rub of the green in the first half of the game and in the second, destroyed the high flying Mortimer side. United scored first when a through ball from Sean found his fitter brother Crit who grabbed his first of the season, before he had to be sub'd with a bad back. Mortimer are not a bad side though and soon hit back to make it 1-1 midway through the half, but United again showed that sort of strength and corage that they have over the past few weeks to dig out another when Greeny found Duncan, fresh off the bench to strike a superb effort into the roof of the net. Earley held out until half time, even when Mortimer smashed the post with seconds to go and went in, 2-1 up in a fine first half. The second half was completely different though. United took control from the word go and destroyed the hardworking Mortimer side. Chocki found Jimmy for United's third before he had to leave to watch Spurs beat Chelsea and his replacement, Kit, then grabbed a superb hat-trick in 15 minutes. United were flying at 6-1 (although still riding thier luck at times), but it was a suitable end to the game when the impressive Duncan hit an absoloute screamer to finish things off. | |||||
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United turned up to find that they only had 9 players. Playing a 4-3-1 however, and through shear determination and character they were never out of the game. Barton struck first on about the half hour mark when a trough ball found their striker in the box who cooly curled into the far corner. United fought back though and grabbed the equaliser moments before half time when alex pounced on a knock down by Lawsey. In the second have Early took the game to Barton and were rewarded within 10 minutes when Alex again (4 goals in 2 games) latched on to the faintest of touched from Chocki to put the 9 man outfit in front. United held out for a further 15 minutes before 'the legs' started to go slightly and Barton equalised on the 75th minute from a poorly defended corner. 5 minutes more and a goalkeeping error from stand in keeper Page lost the 9 men thier first point of the season. | |||||
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Earley played one of thier best games in recent times but still managed to crash out of the cup, finally losing on penalties. In this hard fought battle, United started the brighter of the two sides and although riding thier luck at times, took the lead when Alex latched on to a Jimmy Perkins flick to strike a 25 yarder into the roof of the net. The lead didn't last long however and Southcote grabbed the equaliser within 5 mins. United continued to ask questions of Southcote though for the remainder of the first half, and it was again from a Jimmy flick, that Alex again, cracked home his and United's second. The remainder of the game was hard fought and scrappy, but United had the bit between their teeth and never stopped battling throughout. With 5 minutes to go however, a very dubious free-kick was awarded around the edge of the box and Video drew level once again to send the game into extra-time. Extra time came and went, and unfotunatley United missed 3 or their 4 to seal thier own fate. Although losing on penalties, Earley can take alot of heart from a performance like this. They fought for everything all game and worked hard for each other which almost paid dividends. | |||||
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United started well enough in the first half and even after the visitors squandered a couple of chances, United found themselves 0-0 at half time. The second half was much the same as the first. Scrappy, with not many chances, Bishopswood finally broke the deadlock midway through the half, when a ball over the top fell to the oncoming midfielder who smashed it into the roof of the net, all bit it with a deflection. United pushed forward in search of a point and were caught on the break with a cute lob to make it 2-0. Overall, although Earley did not do enough to win the game, a point a piece would have been a better reflection. The result flattered Bishopswood somewhat. A concern voiced by manager Dance was that "We just didn't do enough in the final third of the pitch. We created very little". | |||||
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United started the season well and were unlucky not to grab a point from their opening game against Woodley Saints. The first half was a mixed affair with neither side really creating many chances although Tain came close from the edge of the box and Saints almost grabbed the lead following an overuled offside. The second half was much the same as the first, and again United were lucky not to be behind when the ref awarded a penatly, but Crit pulled off a great save to keep the visitors in it. Pagey came close with a header from a corner, but was unable to keep it down anfd then moments later, the Saints striker found himself in space in the box and cooly rounded Crit to slot home from close range. The last 15 mins saw United press for a equaliser, and the hard working Mikey Dye almost grabbed a last goal in the closing stages. A point would have been fair, but United caused themselves no shame with this hard working team performance from a side that hadn't really played much together before. | |||||