Depleted Sunninghill Held...
The 1-1 scoreline does not reflect this game that was contested well by both sides, with a large number of players injured or unavailable the visitors took to the field with just 10 men and played almost the entire first half with a man down, but you would not have noticed as we were on top of the game creating the clearer of the games chances.
Stand in manager Azarian had a job to sort the team out but was able to field a solid back line in Charlie Harcup, Jon Keough, Paul McDowell and John Gurr that marshalled the Wheatsheaf forwards superbly for the 90 minutes.
Captain Parker started in the middle alongside moutrey with Azarian and Underwood providing the width to lone striker Bennett, and the away side made their intentions clear from the off attacking the visitors goal when a great ball from McDowell on 2 mins released Bennett down the right, and the striker was able to hold off his marker and shoot wide, with the Wheatsheaf left back having to leave the field with an injured shoulder.
Parker and Moutrey were dominating the midfield battle early on as Wheatsheaf looked for direct balls through to their big number 9 who wasnt given a sniff by man of the match McDowell or Keough as both centre backs dealt with the direct balls with relative ease.
Charlie Harcup almost opened the scoring but at the wrong end when he intercepted a through ball and sliced the ball over the stranded Reagan but also over the crossbar.
On 27 minutes Sunninghill took a deserved lead when after some pressure on the home sides goal Azarian floated a great ball into the area where Parker headed down for Bennett to fire past the keeper from close range, 1-0 and nothing less than the visitors deserved.
Wheatsheaf were now becoming frustrated as they passed the ball around nicely but failed to really trouble the Sunninghill goal, they forced a few corners but these didnt come to anything and Reagan wasnt really forced into a meaningful save.
At half time Rob Forde made the numbers equal and Clinton Harcup came on injured as Toby Underwood was unable to continue after he tweaked a hamstring.
Now with the equal numbers the visitors were confident of getting a result but the home side began the second half brightly where their direct balls were now causing a few more problems with the Sun facing the Sunninghill back line, but after a short period of pressure and not a meaningful attempt on goal Sunninghill began to again control the game, but the effort put in during the first half was showing as the side slowed the tempo.
Ali Azarian created space for himself in the area but could only slice his effort wide of the near post, whilst Parker was able to unleash a volley from only 10 yards but this was smothered as the home side defended in numbers.
Wheatsheaf were now looking to their wide players to create something, and although both players had some skill both never really were able to create anything as full backs Charlie Harcup and John Gurr were both excellent.
Eventually one long ball caught out McDowell and as Charlie Harcup challenged the header the ball was flicked out to the left midfielder arriving late who caught his shot well, and although Reagan was able to get a hand to the ball could not keep it out. 1-1.
Azarian then provided the games comical point as he was able to take the kick off incorrectly times before being banished back to the left wing, and when play eventually restarted there was not a lot created in the way of goal scoring chances, as the game entered the final 15 minutes it seemed as though it would end in a draw which proved to be the case, a well contested game by 2 decent sides and the scoreline probably a fair result in the end.
Just a note to the Wheatsheaf left back Alan Gomez who we wish a speedy recovery after it turns out he broke a collarbone during the match according to the Wheatsheaf website
Player Ratings
Chris Reagan - 7 - Did everything asked, shaky start but recovered well
Charlie Harcup - 8 - Filled in at left back and did a superb job, got forward on ocassion and solid defensively
Jon Keough - 8 - Dominated in the air, looked to play from the back and didnt give strikers an inch
Paul McDowell - 9 - Man of the match display, alongside keough dominated everything Wheatsheaf threw at them.
John Gurr - 8 - Improving with every game, another solid display from the long haired stallion.
Ben Moutrey - 7 - Battled well in the middle before moving out wide, looked to get the ball down
Dan Parker - 8 - Captains performance, dominated battle in the middle and chipped in with assist for goal.
Ali Azarian - 7 - Worked hard and showed good touches before lack of match fitness showed towards the end.
Toby Underwood - 7 - Worked hard on the left before suffering injury and being withdrawn at half time.
Jon Bennett - 7 - Worked hard as lone striker and took goal well, was well supported from midfield during first half.
Subs
Rob Forde - 7 - Looked like he had never been away, slotted straight back in and raised the team during second period.
Clinton Harcup - 7 - After spell out through injury was rusty, but still looked to link up in unfamiliar striking role
