A GRADE MATCH REPORT

Hornsby Heights (Over35) 3 - 0 Lane Cove West (Over 35)

Match Report

Conceding three and losing was nothing to be ashamed of this weekend: Australia did it; Millwall did it; Dunfermline did it; 
and so did we. And like Australia and Millwall (& even Dunfermline: Scott Wilson, Scott Thomson & Greg Shields in case 
you think I’m making this up), we had injuries and absences to make the task harder before we started. Australia were 
missing one Mark, but we lacked all three; Harry Kewell was absent without leave in England & so was Neil in China. 
Unlike all of our fellow losers, however, we do not have the consolation of having been beaten by a team ranked higher 
than us; unless you count our positions after the game, that is!

The length of the trip north to Montview was confirmed when we were met with a different climate: “clouds”, apparently, 
is what those fluffy things were called. “Rain” was darkly talked of, as well, but whatever it is, none of it came to 
pass. Instead, the rather more predictable did occur: we were 0-2 down within 20 minutes. 

We started brightly enough with Dave L, belying his five-score years, & Dave B combining well for a good assault on 
goal. And Chris was back again (he’s not a very determined retiree); we had ruminated again on our joint first game for 
this great club. 1979 it was: we won 5-2 on that pitch in front of North Shore hospital. I could still talk you through 
my 2 goals, if you’d like, or even if you wouldn’t. So, this is the 4th decade in which Chris has trundled up and down 
the wing for us, and occasionally in that time I’ve given him a pass weighted exactly to his liking: 1995, was the last 
one, and before that, 1987. 

But I digress: postponing the revelation of the misfortunes that unfolded. Our opponents, it must be said, were actually 
quite good; rather disturbingly good for a team that had won only once all season. And like Millwall, we were faced with 
a large striker who was just a bit too strong and skilful. After several forays into our area, it was no surprise after 
13 minutes when a scramble saw the ball bobble from what looked a lot like Martin P’s hand to what was definitely a 
Hornsby Heights foot, and at short range, it was 0-1.

We played good football in parts, with man-of-the-match John involved in a lot of flowing passes (learnt from Turkey the 
night before, no doubt). Ben came on for a guest appearance, and looked dangerous. But we seemed often under pressure, 
and it was exactly that which brought goal 2: Eric, facing goal, stretched to take the ball from an attacker’s foot in a 
looping clearance. It could have gone anywhere, and unfortunately did: over the grasping fingers of leaping Dave W, and 
into our net: 0-2. 

Shortly afterwards, Tim F showed his concern at this usurping of his usual role as leading scorer of own-goals, by having 
a pretty fair attempt himself; but slices from the side of the boot are rarely as powerful as the full-blooded toe, and 
this one flew harmlessly out for a corner. In the meantime Dave W had rushed out of his area for a smart clearance ahead 
of a marauding forward, but John had had a good shot saved at the other end.

The turning point of the game could have come just 3 minutes into the second half. Dave B ran onto a bouncing ball, 
steadied himself for the shot but it flew over the bar. For 20 minutes we remained in the hunt but then a cruel blow: 
Martin P’s goal-kick (Tim F being off, pondering his own-goal strategies) went only to a forward just outside the area. 
His rifle shot straight back went where Dave W couldn’t have got it even in his heyday (which I was going to be unkind 
enough to say might have been a while ago now until I remembered that, once again this year, his handling and saving have 
been terrific): just shaving the inside of the post: 0-3, and no way back even for us catch-up specialists. Brian had a 
good shot before the end, and – as ever- we kept positive in adversity (I think we’ve mastered that now: perhaps we now 
need practice in something else, like graciousness in large victories; or finding someone who hasn’t scored a hat-trick 
take our first-half penalties?) 

Thanks this week to Chris, Brian & Ben & Dave L for filling in in our hour of need. Also to Gareth for assistant 
refereeing.

And so onto Blackman for our last home game of the first round: against West Pymble, who are bottom. Then North Sydney 
away: they’re top, having won 6 & drawn 1, but in the process have scored fewer goal than us: just 10 (but conceded 1: 
we have troubled the scorer a bit more in that respect).

MARK BRYANT