B GRADE MATCH REPORT

Berwora (035) 1 - 0 Lane Cove West (O35)

Match Report

The answer to the question is that, yes, there are other teams in the division that we can beat. Berowra is one of them; but today 
at Foxglove, we didn’t. A goal cruelly conceded just 7 minutes from time deprived a depleted squad of a draw that our second half 
display seemed to have earned.

Martin C was absent watching rugby (shame on you!); Neil & Tim C for unspecified reasons; Dave B & I were injured; and John was 
having his son christened (which reminds me: only 2 more months left now for making babies in time for a birth that doesn’t 
interrupt next season; but not on a Friday night, please!).

But Mark L & Martin P were back, and so was Bill (only 2 days after telling me he was giving this season a miss!). And we were 
boosted by guest appearances from Gareth (who had a great game at sweeper), Steve T, Chris (rolling back the years) and latterly, 
Guy, who thus became the 21st player in our team in just 6 days. (Thanks also to Guy for turning up at 1.00 in case we were short, 
and then being linesman for the first half). 

The settling in of this unfamiliar squad was further disrupted after just 5 minutes when Mark S limped of with an Achilles problem. 
By then, we were already on the back foot, as our opponents found space all over the big Foxglove field. Too many half-tackles made, 
and long-range shots conceded was the story of the first half and we were lucky that few shots were on target. But Dave was called 
on to make a reflex save low to his left; and late in the half only a desperate tackle from Tim F facing goal kept us on even terms. 

Heroics also under pressure also from Eric; and Martin P coped well with the disadvantage of a toe with what looked like an elbow 
in it. Steve L, as ever, toiled away – this week in mid-field – getting first to the ball, shielding it for a pass, and moving into 
space.

In the first half, our own attempts on goal rarely looked threatening. Ernie smartly stepped over a Steve T cross (or possibly missed 
it completely, but made it look good) for Chris to shot over. Man-of-the-match Peter had a few long range shots of his own, but usually 
from unfavourable angles after the ball wouldn’t quite set up in front. Just on half-time, Bill had a shot well saved after good work 
from Warren on the left.

This was the spur for a better second half, though we still had our scares. Berowra had the ball in the net after 51 minutes, but the 
ref had already blown for a kick just outside the area. The ball was then somehow scrambled away after Dave had parried the free kick. 
A minute later Mark L’s volley flew over the bar after a smart run by Warren up the left wing. On the hour good work by Steve T saw the 
ball passed across the area, ultimately to Warren, but his shot was wide. Dave was called on for another good save low down, and well 
deserved his second placing in the man-of-the-match voting.

Then Ernie was added to the list of casualties with a nasty lump on the shin from a dangerous tackle. Guy went on, we seemed to be 
giving as good as we got, but then that sinking feeling: our opponents with the ball in our area, a delay, a pass – and with agonising 
inevitability, it ended up with a forward 5 yards out, Dave had no chance, and it was 0-1, with not long enough left. A few more attacks 
at each end rounded off the game; Gareth marauded up and got clear on the left but his cross found only the keeper.

We could not claim to have had the better of the game: our efforts deserved a draw, but this week, it was not to be.

MARK BRYANT