Match Report - Gas Rec Reserves v Reserve Team

Published by Shane Exley on September 1, 2011 23:30

Earls Colne Reserves traveled to last years champions Gas Rec for their opening game of the season with high expectations following a successful pre season, they were however hugely let down by the non-appearance of Dan Whiting and Kieron Fletcher which left colne with a reshuffle to the starting line up and with only one sub. This did not demoralise the team before kick off as colne still had a very strong starting 11.

The first five minutes were fairly even with both sides testing the water, however Gas Rec started to turn the screw and Colne found the going a bit tough in the first half with the Gas midfield dominating. Colne quickly found themselves a goal down when Rob Leach got drawn out of position to leave his man unmarked to shoot across goal and the rebound off the Colne stopper was tapped in by the Gas forward. This was followed a string of fine saves by Shane Vince who was acting as emergency keeper deputising for the injured Rob Pudney, despite this Colne soon found themselves two then three down as a result of some naive defending and some slack midfield play, with Gas looking hungrier in all departments.

Despite a poor half colne did create a clear goal scoring opportunity before the break with Matt Cross working hard to close the ball in the Gas defense to create a one on one, with the Gas keeper coming out on top with a good save.

Half time and cue the riot act, the Colne boys were given a reminder of what was expected and that a repeat of the first half shenanigans would not go down well.

The Ressie boys reacted well and started the second half very brightly and were well on top for the first ten minutes and were rewarded when a fine cross by Brett Mansfield was missed by the Gas center half and Gary Pearce finished well, Colne were buoyed by this and continued to push and were now matching Gas in all departments with Curtis O'Brien and James Cowling having superb games against the top scorers in the league last year. Colne were back in the game and looking to pull another back, but against the run of play and through a fortunate miss-control from the Gas forward fell straight at the feet of the Gas midfielder who cut through and finished well 4-1.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of Colne a bit and lifted Gas back into life and they again pushed for more goals but were thwarted by good defending from thr back four, with young Rob Leach having a much better half. Colne continued to stay committed but could do nothing to prevent Gas adding a fifth which well and truly put an end to affair.

A much better second half with certainly more positives to take than that of the first half, a bit of a baptism of fire for some of the lads. Colne travel to Alresford this Saturday which will be a tricky tie but hopefully the new boys will have learnt what is needed at this level having faced probably the toughest task of the season in the first week.

Vince, Mansfield, O'Brien, Cowling, Leach, Weir (Greenaway), Stalley, Mead, Bugbee, Pearce, Cross

Goal Scorers

Gary Pearce