GNP SPORTS 3-2 FC STRATFORD: THE MATCH REPORT...

GNP Win President’s Cup Like Bookends…

GNP Sports 3-2 FC Stratford

(played at Townsend Meadow, home of Racing Club Warwick...)

This game panned out like bookends, with GNP starting the game well, largely due to Infantryman Leigh Phillips’ set-piece abilities and finishing it strongly too, when central striker Tommy Rawlings might have netted a late brace. However, at 2-0 behind, Harry Hartin’s fine free-kick goal seemed to shove FC Stratford into another gear and they competed better, more confidently and certainly after the interval they caused GNP some real problems without, it has to be said, really threatening Sports’ goalie James Wardle. After conceding a third goal to Lewis Commins, FC did score, through rapid winger Tyrike Richards-Burke but no further strikes came Stratford’s way and GNP held on to lift the silver trophy.

BRYSON'S LOW-FIVE WITH A LINESMAN...

Apologies must go to Hartin, for on the copy of the team-sheet, it really did appear that his surname was Martin and I therefore mistakenly called him that throughout the video highlights… Oops…

ONE GNP PLAYER IS A LITTLE LATE ATTACHING A LEG...

GNP certainly began the game in confident mood, going close from two early Private Phillips corners from the left. The Sports central defenders James Bryson and Rob Prinzel both rose well but were unable to keep their headers down. Corey Brookes also benefited from a Paratrooper Phillips assist, this time from a right-side flag-kick but FC ‘keeper Archie Donaldson reacted superbly to turn the ball over his crossbar. However, FC’s right-back Robbie Sone, whose brother I often see between the sticks for Alcester Town, was put under some pressure by GNP, albeit unintentionally and he was forced into making two tackles, well executed but as a result of both, from a throw and then a corner, the Raiders nabbed goals.

COMMINS THE HOUR, COMMINS THE MAN: A BRACE FOR THE STRIKER...

Commins was tackled well by Sone and he took a quick throw inside from the left and Brookes forced his way towards the byeline, shooting right-booted into the far bottom corner of the net, just inside the upright. Soon afterwards, Charlie Cook, he of the mean frown, even when he smiles, won a corner from the challenging Sone and Trooper Phillips clipped the left-wing corner onto the leaping Commins’ head at the far post and GNP led 2-0. 

COMMINS NEARLY SMILES...

Rawlings sliced a 20 yarder well off target, following interplay with Commins then also shovelled another shot wide of the right post as he moved towards the penalty-box late in the half. Commins himself drove an effort high into the right side-netting and Soldier Phillips forced Donaldson into a block from his low byeline shot. However, in truth, FC, despite having taken time to settle, finally found a way back into the match. Hartin had already tested Wardle from an angle on the left and midfielder Alfie Boylin’s hot shot had flown too high (boilin’ hot shot? Really?) but when Stratford were award a free-kick some 23 yards out at inside-right, the left-foot of Hartin itched to get at it.

WE LIKES A SUNDOWN IMAGE...

He scored with a fine curling shot into the top right-hand corner of the net and suddenly GNP began to falter. In truth though, Bryson and Prinzel, alongside Luke Swinnerton were only subsequently troubled by a couple of Richards-Burke rushes and a header by forward Ash Wilkes which brought a comfortable save from Wardle. Skipper Wilkes was starved of service throughout the match, it has to be admitted, despite his willing work-rate, before he was forced to retire through injury. 

RAWLINGS ENJOYS A MOMENT OF NOT BEING MARKED...

PHILLIPS (2) PREPARES FOR CARRYING FULL ARMY KIT...

The second period was uncomfortable to watch at times, for although FC moved the ball far more meaningfully than their adversaries, with Hartin, Boylin, Cody Mullan and Caine Elliott, who took over the skipper’s armband from Wilkes, passing the ball purposefully, GNP defended ably, with Callum Rai, playing a withdrawn midfield role, getting up a number of times to head the ball away from just outside his own penalty-area. This meant that Brennan King and the inspirational Brookes were having to deal with FC’s fluidity in midfield and Sports were too often forced to hack long balls forward for Rawlings, Cook and Commins to chase. Scotty Hammond, along with his sore hamstring, made an appearance from the bench too, as did Travis Smallwood but still GNP struggled, until Commins latched onto a defensive error and trundled a low shot past Donaldson from 15 yards, low into the right corner of the net.

PHILLIPS, IN TRUE ARMY STYLE, OFFERS AN INJURED ENEMY A BACK TO BE CARRIED FROM THE FIELD UPON...

Surely that should have been that for the frustrated Stratford players but immediately, Hartin slipped Richards-Burke clear centrally and he had far too much speed for both the Sports defence and also the advancing Wardle, although the winger’s rising 12 yard finish into the roof of the net was as surprising as it was confident and spectacular. Ben Cook was moving forward on the defensive left for FC and Sone was enjoying a fine game at right-back, looking as unflustered as his goalie brother appears to be between the Alcester sticks. However, FC couldn’t find another goal, as Boylin drove too high again, Hartin shot low at Wardle and late on, replacement James Macmillan’s glancing header drifted off target. In the opening moments of the second-half, Rai had plainly pulled Richards-Burke back around 19 yards from goal, which might just have offered Hartin another free-kick opportunity, had the officials spotted the offence…

3-1 NOW...

RICHARDS-BURKE SHUFFLES HIS FEET AFTER SCORING...

GNP, spluttering after the break, managed only a long Swinnerton shot to Donaldson, before Commins’ second goal, although the striker nearly fastened onto a loose ball in a melee after a Commando Phillips corner too, following a 35 yard free-kick by Rawlings which had been turned onto the roof of his net by the tumbling goalkeeper. It was left to Rawlings then to take centre-stage for the finale when GNP needed some respite from FC’s efforts. First he received a punch-out by Donaldson but smashed his 16 yard effort well too high but then he received a pass from King and fooled a defender before slipping a neat shot from the right side of the 6 yard box but the ball bounced back across goal off the base of the left upright and the ‘keeper grabbed it like the last Easter egg in a family hunt.

GNP APPEAR TO HAVE WON...

The game ended with some relief for GNP and some disbelief for Stratford, who had played their part in a keen contest. Defenders Josh Aspinall-Smyth and Michael O’Regan had fought manfully throughout and had denied the prolific Rawlings a goal but alas, they and their comrades would have to collect losers’ medals and not those accompanying the trophy… 

ALL DONE...

The Raiders march on then and one of them, Recruit Phillips will actually be marching on properly, somewhere on a parade ground from late June onwards, as he joins the British Army; hence my earlier comments. 

I wish him all the luck in the world in his new venture. 

ACTING ARMY MASCOT HANDLER SAPPER LEIGH PHILLIPS LOOKS AFTER THE BADGER...

He will be missed…

And talking of hunting Easter eggs, will GNP manager Sham the Sham Alam find a natural left-footer during his summer break?

TEAMS:

GNP SPORTS:

JAMES WARDLE, CORPORAL LEIGH PHILLIPS, LUKE SWINNERTON, BRENNAN KING, ROB PRINZEL, JAMES BRYSON (CAPT), CHARLIE COOK, CALLUM RAI, TOMMY RAWLINGS, COREY BROOKES, LEWIS COMMINS.

SUBS:

SCOTT DAVIS, JIN DHALIWAL, SCOTTY HAMMOND, TRAVIS SMALLWOOD.

FC STRATFORD:

ARCHIE DONALDSON, ROBBIE SONE, BEN COOK, JOSH ASPINALL-SMYTH, MICHAEL O’REGAN, CODY MULLAN, TYRIKE RICHARDS-BURKE, ALFIE BOYLIN, ASH WILKES, CAINE ELLIOTT, HARRY HARTIN.

SUBS:

JAMES MACMILLAN, JACK BALLINGER, REECE STALEY.