FC STRATFORD 1-0 GNP SPORTS: THE MATCH REPORT...

FC Stratford Squeeze Past GNP After A Game Not Lacking In Effort…

FC Stratford 1-0 GNP Sports

It could be argued that GNP’s below strength line-up, due to an FA Vase match this coming weekend against Malvern Town, had contributed to their defeat but in truth, they played poorly. FC, anchored by the positional defending of Danny Janes, the calm goalkeeping of Luis Sone and the offensive play of Freddy Murphy, probably deserved the victory, given to them by Murphy’s second period spot-kick. In saving skipper James Bryson until the final half-hour, the move misfired on GNP manager Sham the Sham Alam, for Bryson was injured soon afterwards and the club will be anxious about his well being. Little offense was conjured up by the visiting Raiders, although when shots were fired, Luis Sone saved well from ex-team-mate Tom Parnaby, then late on from Scott Hammond. GNP were plagued by an inability to remain onside, although in fairness, both teams were subjected to some rather inconsistent refereeing too. The only certainty about the evening was that ex-Raider Matty Compton would be cautioned… He was.

GNP: Getting No Pleasure...

I was unable to get access to the FC team until the game had already kicked off, so I must apologise for the lack of recognition of some Stratford players before the break. I was able to access the line-up during the half-time recess, however. This match was untidy, often careless but for the majority of the time, it lacked entertainment or excitement, as well as innovation. Thus I paid my £2 for the privilege of reporting on it, filming it and preparing for several hours of uploading the coverage on the following day. Ah, but that’s what I do…

IT SAYS 'NO STANDING' BUT PEOPLE WILL BREAK THE RULES THESE DAYS...

GNP were the more dominant group before the interval but their forwards were ineffective, bar one or two runs by wingbacks Dan Purvin and Scotty Hammond. Neither Kiam Galdins, nor Sean Kavanagh were threats, although the latter rapped one effort past Luis Sone but he was flagged offside, something he would fall foul of a number of times. Sone turned a plunging Parnaby header over his crossbar with little need of fuss, then he took low drives by GNP defender Josh Nash and then Purvin before the break although there was also a sliced drive by Luke Swinnerton which drifted way off target.

HALF-TIME & GNP HEADS ARE DOWN...

The hosts had rarely caused Nash, Rhys Lyons, or Swinnerton any real concern, despite the efforts of Murphy and Dean Poulson, plus the indefatigable central striker James Gifford. GNP goalie Scott Davis did make a diving save from a Murphy drive but both Poulson and Nick Cox shot off target. Cox’s effort followed a fine run by Dan Atkins but the shot was a good impression of a point-after-touchdown success by an NFL kicker. Surely the game had to get better after toast and marmalade at half-time? Well, no, it didn’t…

BRYSON IS HURT...

The referee had been inconsistent with some decisions, leaving GNP raging on occasions that although Sports players had looked to be fouled, play often simply continued. It was tough to agree or disagree from my position but to be fair this was never a feisty encounter. Until, that is, Compton slid in to achieve a yellow gift from the main official. Poulson again skied his attempt following a short corner routine, after his penalty success, Murphy then shot at Davis, whose gloves palmed the ball out, before in the latter stages replacement Robbie Sone saw a low centre deflected for Davis to drop onto and a very late effort trickle wide of the right post, after his clever footwork had created the opportunity.

PENALTY!

The penalty incident was like it was being filmed for a particularly bad TV advert, for Davis exited his goalmouth to the right and basically fell into the back of lively FC substitute Rob Singer and both of them fell into a slow motion heap. Hence Murphy drove a low penalty into the bottom right corner of the net for the winning goal. 

MURPHY PREPARES TO SCORE...

GNP? Oh, dear… Galdins drove just too high from 18 yards and later had a strike disallowed for, er, offside, following good skills by Hammond. Hammond then shot wide of the right angle following another jinking rush and also shot low to Luis Sone, before his best effort came from 18 yards. He struck the ball low and hard but the drive was really well saved by the ‘keeper, diving low and left, before Sone chased and leapt onto the loose ball. Brennan King shot low at the goalie, Bryson headed a free-kick over the target, Parnaby’s near post header was misdirected and replacement Joe Wright shot wastefully high right at the end of the match, as GNP wasted so much desperate possession.

GNP DEFEND A LATE CORNER...

Janes was outstanding for FC, Luis Sone’s kicking was very assured, Murphy and Poulson remained useful in their movement and Gifford was a glutton for holding up the ball. Compton did what Compton does and tall midfielder Atkins impressed on occasions. Full-backs James Robbins and Louis McDonald were busy and Cox was destructive in midfield, leaving Courtney Sowe to bolster Janes’ play at the back. GNP’s Hammond looked decent at times, Parnaby was quick, Nash was often assured in defence, as was Lyons, but Galdins, King and the ever so quiet skipper Corey Brookes failed to ignite much offense. When they did, flags rose…

"THAT'S C-O-M-P-T-O-N. I'M NICE, REALLY..."

A disappointing evening for the viewers then but subsequently it really was a good victory for the hosts…

TEAMS:

FC STRATFORD:

LUIS SONE, JAMES ROBBINS, LOUIS MCDONALD, NICK COX, DANNY JANES, COURTNEY SOWE, FREDDY MURPHY, MATTY COMPTON, JAMES GIFFORD, DAN ATKINS, DEAN POULSON.

SUBS:

MATT STEADMAN, ROBBIE SONE, DANIEL MAY, ROB SINGER, NATHANIEL PERCIVAL, ASH WILKES. 

GNP SPORTS:

SCOTT DAVIS, RHYS LYONS, DAN PURVIN, COREY BROOKES (CAPT), JOSH NASH, LUKE SWINNERTON, SCOTT HAMMOND, BRENNAN KING, SEAN KAVANAGH, KIAM GALDINS, TOM PARNABY.

SUBS:

JOE WRIGHT, JAMES BRYSON, AARON DICKENS, JASON EVANS.