GNP SPORTS 7-1 FC STRATFORD: FULL REPORT & IMAGES...

Charlie Cooks Up A Cameo Hat-Trick, As GNP Sports Are Promoted…

COOK, CENTRE, ON HIS WAY TO WORK...

GNP Sports 7-1 FC Stratford

Charlie Cook was due to go to work at 9pm and so he sat on the GNP bench for much of this game, then was given a short period to stretch his limbs and display his severe haircut, yet responded with a pair of left-footers and right-booter to add insult to Stratford’s plucky performance. At 2-1 during the latter stages of the first period however, the guests had stubbed the league-leaders’ ascendancy somewhat and indeed, the Blues kept GNP’s top goalscorer Leigh Phillips, also the prolific Adam Knight and even the skilful Scott Hammond off the scoresheet completely, yet STILL managed to concede seven. The early Nathan Stoute goal and then a very unfortunate own goal had placed GNP on a victory path for sure but slight doubts crept in when ex-Coventry United striker Dan Stokes also crept in to pull a goal back with a leaning header.

THE ART OF GENTLEMANLY TOSSING...

Once the chap who replaced Stokes as Coventry United’s all time leading scorer, Josh O’Grady began to become trickier and subsequently nabbed a quick brace, FC looked scarily downcast, especially since they had lost their influential and efficient midfielder Dean Poulson to an injury. Interesting to note that ex-Coventry United boss Edwin Greaves was watching and seven of the eight goals were scored by his ex-players, Stoute, O’Grady and Cook… He must have felt quite proud.

STOKES BEGINS IT...

Despite the rushes of Chris Brown (not the singer) and the movement of Stokes, FC weren’t really able to threaten the GNP back-line much, despite missing stalwarts James Bryson and Callum Rai. Certainly the Stratford skipper Tom Dyke made a number of fine defensive interceptions but there was too often too much pace, too much guile and too much offensive power from GNP and as Dan Stokes remarked after the game, his team had fallen apart after the interval and certainly since Poulson’s unfortunate departure. Poulson was sent-off when the teams played each other the last time, so maybe in the return league fixture on Thursday, if fit, he might just manage ninety minutes…

A very early right-side corner by O’Grady saw a bunch of fellows jump at the far stick and the ball nudged off Stoute’s head downwards and the exposed goalkeeper Archie Donaldson was unable to prevent it from crossing the goal-line. 1-0 and the GNP Raiders were on their way…

1-0 EARLY...

STOUTE, 10, THE SCORER...

O’Grady nearly fed Hammond, who in fact endured a quiet game on the whole but at times when he ran at defenders, danger was generally caused, as when Phillips burst down whichever flank he’d drifted to as an attacking full-back. A run by Hammond ended with O’Grady’s shot being blocked well by Ben Pattison, who then also cleared a rebound shot by Phillips. Another O’Grady corner from the right was flapped downwards by Donaldson and when O’Grady retrieved the ensuing FC clearance, his next centre was nodded, albeit with a slight deflection, to the Stratford gloveman by Knight. A deflected Phillips shot was collected by Donaldson, Knight fed O’Grady for a shot which took a deflection for another corner and FC defender Chris Hill was forced to head O’Grady’s flag-kick off the goal-line, whereby Matt Compton challenged for a header and Corey Jack Brookes’ overhead shot from the left corner of the 6 yard box flew across the face of the target. Compton was such a physical presence in midfield for the Raiders and one could see him as a lead blocker for an NFL running-back, creating an alley by barging linebackers out of his path. We likes that…

"DON'T SNOT, BORROW MY TISSUE..."

Knight then charged Donaldson’s kick down and won possession on the left but he chose to curl an angled shot which drifted past the far angle of bar and upright, rather than maybe assist a colleague. Couldn’t blame him though… And then finally, FC Stratford mounted an attack. Stokes was in on the right side for a shot but Luke Swinnerton had crossed from the opposite flank to get in a tackle, conceding a corner which came to nought. Jason Evans drove a long shot way over the crossbar and nearly bounced off the steeplechase’s water hurdle, then a quick break by the visitors onto Reece Staley’s clearance, involving Stokes and Brown ended with a badly sliced effort by Brown, well wide of the right, near upright. That chance proved costly for the guests, for when O’Grady held possession on the left flank and fed the ball back for Brookes to pass to Phillips, the skipper crossed from deep. Poor Dan Kirby sliced Phillips’ delivery on the half-volley from 12 yards over Donaldson’s desperate leap and into his own net. 2-0 and GNP had found some relief…

SCISSORS & STONE...

KIRBY: UNFORTUNATE...

Neat play by the well involved O’Grady led to a quick shot by Brookes but it lacked power from 8 yards and was blocked, then a Stoute effort was palmed down by Donaldson but FC created some offense and won a corner off the boot of Phillips. Chris Rowberry’s right-side flag-kick, neck-high was leaned for by Stokes as goalie Lawrence moved forth with arms-a-waving but he didn’t get to Stokes on time and the striker’s header flew through the ‘keeper’s arms. 

Phillips was mighty close to putting his team back into a two-goal lead when he worked a short corner with O’Grady. Phillips lashed a low and powerful drive from an angle towards the near post, the ball deflected off Hill and only a fine reaction stop by Donaldson at the foot of the post prevented goal three. Poulson soon left the field to be replaced by Nick Priest. Hammond’s cheeky rabona to O’Grady on the left touchline led to a tussle and good fortune for the tricky chap, who was gifted the ball by a falling defender and he crossed low to Stoute. He couldn’t react to get power behind his close-range shot however and the ball bounced off him to Donaldson. Phillips then set up Brookes for a shot, near post on the right but the industrious midfielder lifted his effort too high.  

HERE IS LAWRENCE AGAIN...

Just 2-1 at the break then and all to play for really, for Stokes and especially Brown had already shown an ability to worry Jin Dhaliwal and Luke Swinnerton in the home defence. However, subtle alterations in the GNP line-up, virtually allowing skipper Phillips to pop up just anywhere, although mostly on the left, meant that O’Grady was working the right-flank, ably supported by the unselfish Evans. And O’Grady would be the undoing of Stratford as the second period rolled on…

KNIGHT RESTARTS...

Donaldson got down smartly to parry a low O’Grady drive but Stoute was unable to get in a rebound shot as the second period began, then again Staley was tested as the shimmy, the slide and the hippy, hippy shake of O’Grady took him inside from the right again but this time the winger’s shot was deflected away for an unproductive corner. Steve Barrett replaced sitting FC midfielder and taker of set-pieces, Rowberry then Hammond freed Knight to find the net but the effort was ruled out due to a wagging flag. It was then that the game simply faded from the grip of Stratford, like the memories of a pleasant night’s dream, following a few pints at the pub.

O’Grady took a throw on the right to Evans, who returned the ball to the shifty wide-man and he slipped inside his marker and simply side-footed a low left-footer beyond the reach of Donaldson’s right glove. It really did look too easy.

3-1...

GOALSCORER: O'GRADY, HARRY KANE, OR DHALIWAL?
PLEASE VOTE ON TWITTER...

Brookes was to be hacked to the ground three times in the second-half and two cautions came from the misdemeanours. First it was Priest and later it would be Stokes. Phillips provided the original assist for goal four with a cross-field pass towards O’Grady, who cleverly left the unfortunate just booked Barratt behind as he cut inside again and this time his impudent lifted finish looked like it would be a goal to remember but the effort struck the underside of the crossbar. Before anyone else could react though, O’Grady latched onto the loose ball and pummelled it into the roof of the net from close range.

4-1...

OK, YOU CAN HAVE THAT ONE, O'GRADY...

Evans took a rest, Stoute dropped to the right side of defence for GNP and Cook appeared, on his way to work of course… And he quickly made his mark. Brookes’ header to Knight was pushed back to O’Grady, he served the ball from deep and inside-left towards Cook at inside-right but Priest’s glanced header fell kindly for the replacement. Cook controlled the ball with his right boot and fired it unerringly past Donaldson with the outside of his left foot on the half-volley. He seemed pleased.

5-1...

COOK'S FIRST...

COOK SPOTS A BLUE-FOOTED BOOBY FLYING OVER COVENTRY...

Ryan Price then replaced Knight, whose efforts had brought no reward for himself and it was Price’s right-side centre, after a tussle for possession by Brookes which was smacked in low, first time on the volley at the left post by the predatory Cook. Before anyone could even take in how much effect the substitution had had, Cook had netted his hat-trick. Another short left-side corner routine between O’Grady and Phillips allowed the winger to ghost to the byeline from whence he picked out Cook, standing on the 6 yard line and the substitute did the rest with his right foot. Remarkable… 

CAUTION FOR STOKES...

A BRACE FOR COOK...

YOU WANT MORE?

"WILL A HAT-TRICK DO?"

Jay Tilbury appeared as a replacement for FC’s Pattison, Ryan Isherwood replaced Brookes for GNP but then Stoute was hurt and taken from the pitch, leaving FC with a man extra, albeit 7-1 behind. A couple of attacks by Stratford were defended with little trouble by Dhaliwal, Stoute and Swinnerton and it was the GNP Raiders who forged two late chances. Cook fed O’Grady, who cut inside yet again only for Donaldson to dive low to his left to grab the goalbound shot. And finally a right-footer by Cook took a deflection of the harassed Staley for a corner. 

GLOOMY...

However, the game was soon called to a halt as darkness threatened even the scant lighting around the 400m track and GNP opened a bottle of, ahem, pop and bounced around like the Wisconsin Badgers do. All that was missing was ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain…

CELEBRATING...

O’Grady scored twice, his corner assisted goal one, his clipped pass assisted for Cook’s first goal and his pass from the byeline assisted Cook for the hat-trick strike and so perhaps, O’Grady deserves a mention as one of the offensive successes on the field. Cook? What can I say, apart from: about time, mate… 

PROMOTION ACHIEVED...

And thus the GNP players trooped from the pitch to claim both of O’Grady’s goals…

I think Harry Kane got them though…

However, as I walked across the parking lot to my car, I was just dropping my bag onto the passenger seat when I heard “Mowdog?” It was Dean Poulson and he was keen to speak about my blog and told me he follows it regularly. I was taken aback. I have to say that his father, Manager Dave, must be proud of his son, for his attitude and enthusiasm were spot on about football in general and as I drove away, I felt somewhat emotional… 

GNP? 

Congratulations…

TEAMS:

GNP SPORTS:

PAUL LAWRENCE, LUKE SWINNERTON, LEIGH PHILLIPS (CAPT), COREY JACK BROOKES, JIN DHALIWAL, MATT COMPTON, SCOTT HAMMOND, JOSH O’GRADY, ADAM KNIGHT, NATHAN STOUTE, JASON EVANS.

SUBS:

RYAN ISHERWOOD, RYAN PRICE, CHARLIE COOK.

FC STRATFORD:

ARCHIE DONALDSON, CHRIS HILL, REECE STALEY, TOM DYKE (CAPT), CHRIS ROWBERRY, DAN KIRBY, BEN PATTISON, NICK COX, CHRIS BROWN, DAN STOKES, DEAN POULSON.

SUBS:

ADAM HEMMING, NICK PRIEST, STEVE BARRETT, JAY TILBURY.