B GRADE MATCH REPORT

Lane Cove West (O35) 3 - 4 LindfieldB (O35)

Match Report

A second 4-3 defeat in five games. Just as in the first, we came from 4-1 down to be challenging for a point at the end. In this one, 
their 3rd & 4th goals came just before the end of the first half. Since these were Lindfield B’s 9th & 10th goals in 1½ games, the 
floodgates could really have opened. But instead, we regrouped and won the second half 2-0. Indeed, but for the last 4 minutes of 
the first half, we won 3-2! But you don’t get any points for that.

The pre-game talk was, as usual, of injuries. Eric’s physio is worried about muscle trauma: apparently your muscles remember bad 
experiences of the past – or, at least, Eric’s do – and this affects their future performance, apparently. We suggested Eric should 
ask the physio if she can put his muscles back in touch with a 25-year-old Eric who could score goals! Bill has had a relapse of the 
old problem (say no more) and Mark S was absent with what is rumoured to be a strained suntan.

But Dave B, John, Martin P & Neil were back. (The latter two take the blame for last week’s defeat, as it turns out that they were 
both at the rugby). The return of Dave B & Neil was immediately felt, and we began promisingly with a series of attacks; both from 
patient build-ups, and from long balls that Neil, in particular, was able to nod into dangerous positions. Within the first 15 minutes, 
Neil & Dave B had good chances, and Ernie was on the point of shooting from dead in front when a last-ditch tackle just took the ball 
away. Then Dave B had another powerful shot following a great pass from John to Warren on the right wing.

So it was against the run of play when, after 17 minutes, Lindfield scored first: a shot from the right across Dave W just made it 
inside the far post: 0-1.

The lead lasted just 2 minutes. The keeper made a hash of collecting a shot from Peter on the left, and it went through his arms to the 
net: 1-1.

But 3 minutes later, we were behind again, never to recover, as it turned out. We failed to deal with a far post corner from the right, 
and in the ensuing scramble a point-blank shot went in: 1-2.

3 minutes later again, man-of-the-match Neil got on the end of a fine pass from Peter, but was judged off-side. Then there was a let-off 
at the other end, when a forward clean through shot well over the bar.

Exciting end-to-end stuff it was – the sort of football to bring the crowds back. The honours were about even, except for their one-goal 
lead, with 4 minutes till half-time. So it was particularly disappointing to go to the break 4-1 down. First a good shot on the right 
just eluded Dave W, but not the inside of the near post or the net: 1-3. Hardly had we digested this (it stuck in the throat a bit), when 
worse was to come. A far-post cross, a header down, maybe we were obstructed, but another scramble, and another goal: 1-4.

But never say die. The half-time talk was of how we could win; pushing a 3rd forward up was the consensus. 

And the new formation paid off just 6 minutes into the 2nd half. Following a good move, Neil turned & shot & scored and it was 2-4.

What we then needed was another goal soon, and we came agonisingly close. A Mark L thunderbolt hit the bar, and Neil’s shot from the 
rebound was only a little wide. Then Peter put a long-range free-kick just over the bar.

But it was not all one-way. We could easily have gone 5-2 or 6-2 down. First, Dave W made a great fingertip save on his left. Then 
he beat away a fierce shot from a forward who had snaked his way to being clear right in front of goal.

And still our passes flowed, but the next goal was not to come till 2 minutes from the end: a good shot from Mark L inside the left hand 
post: 3-4.

A few scrambles ensued but neither side got close to scoring, and it was disappointment for us again: a third one-goal defeat.

This time last year, we’d also lost four out of five, three of them also by one goal, and, like this year, won the other 1-0. It took 
us until our ninth game last year to win again, but it shouldn’t this year: we’re playing good football, and with good spirit (and 
more of us are training!).

The after-match talk (as we munched on our hot dogs, & watched the other Lane Cove West teams chalk up 3 good wins) was whether 
our football isn’t, in fact, too good!  Should we abandon the flowing passes, and just hoof the ball up the park and hope that 
7 chances turn into 4 goals, as they did for our opponents today? (Not that hoofing was all they did: they had some skilful players). 

This - as well as reports from the various treatment rooms of the week – can be discussed as we prepare for next Saturday’s game: again 
at Blackman against Lindfield, but this time their (so-called) A team

MARK BRYANT