A GRADE MATCH REPORT

North Sydney (Over35) 1 - 1 Lane Cove West (Over 35)

Match Report

Attendance: 3 (Bill & 2 children)

I should start this week with a general apology and a general thank you. Both are to anyone I’ve forgotten to mention (eg John 
for refereeing last week, and now 5 times in all; and to Tim F for the beer every week; and to Dave W for some good saves last 
week that didn’t get a mention: I’d like to say that my report of them got edited out, but – as you can tell – no-one does edit 
what I write). So if I forget, apologies and thanks all round; including my parents, children, wife etc. Actually we should all 
thank my wife as she hangs out & brings back in the shirts every week (I’m sure  you can all tell that it’s sunlight that dries 
them, not electricity); but I have to load them into the washer: she draws the line at handling a mound of sweaty shirts.

And very sweaty they were today after a superb effort all round that produced a well-deserved draw, and our first away point of 
the season. But it was hard work. North Sydney had dropped only 4 points before today, conceding just 3 goals, and you could see 
why: skilful, competitive – combative, even – and very fit. And, as with many of our games this year, some of our opponents were 
first team players doubling up. Ironically, our success in finding new players for the squad has meant that we have rarely needed
to do this. The beneficiaries, of course, are our A team, and I trust that they realise that owe to us some credit for tiring out 
their opposition, in getting to where the As are on the table (equal 3rd on points, despite giving up a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 
today).  

Mark L is still injured & Dave L kindly agreed to take a week off. Gareth slotted firstly into the back 4, and later into midfield.
This was the only change from last week’s stirring win, and we carried on where we left off then: fighting hard for every ball, 
and believing in ourselves. And this week we added the smooth passing that last week I said could wait for better conditions They 
duly arrived: not much wind, and a Primrose pitch in good condition.

We had the better of the first half, and often looked dangerous. Steve, who was third in the man-of-the-match voting often held up 
the ball well, then passed it wisely. Second placed Eric was a rock on the left against his old team-mates. Further forward, we 
often stretched the N Sydney back line, which was particularly gratifying, as it included John Todd who was a big bustling centre-
forward for us back in the 1980’s, when men were men and centre forwards were all big and bustling. Then he went away for 15 years 
or so, failed to rejoin us on his return (twice, actually, since he was at Northbridge until last year), and is now evidently 
receding, both towards the back of the team, and in the hairline!

It took half an hour for all our good work to produce a clear chance: Neil lobbed a bouncing ball from not far out; but it beat the 
bar as well as the keeper.

Just when it looked like we would have to content ourselves with 0-0 at halftime, man-of-the match Dave B came up with the goal that 
we deserved. John assures me that he was involved in the build-up (which I can well believe, as he was everywhere today). Then Neil 
turned and flicked to Dave, whose smart turn freed him of the defender. He still found himself quite a way out on the left; but a 
great shot along the ground just eluded the keeper to find its way inside the far post: 1-0.

In the second half, we began confidently. With just a minute gone, Neil & Dave B combined well to leave Dave B clear on goal, but 
his shot was wide. Five minutes later, Dave returned the favour with a precise through-ball, but it bobbled away from Neil at the 
crucial moment. 

Things regrettably got a bit heated with the ref constantly failing to pull up dangerous tackles, mostly from our opponents, but we 
kept our cool commendably.

But as the second half progressed, the balance of play seemed to be shifting slowly to the left, which was, unfortunately, the end 
we were defending. And the unusual willingness of players to take a breather was testament to the pace of the game. 

The half was still only 9 minutes old when N Sydney got level. A long throw on the right attracted the attention of both Martin P & 
Dave W, and the former’s header took it over the latter, and across to the number 26, who had an easy side-footed volley into the 
empty net.

Those of us on the sideline now began to worry. Possibly also to hallucinate: both Peter & I swear that we heard one N Sydney player 
shout to another, “Walk away René” (to which, of course, the only possible response is, “Don’t”). 

Just 5 minutes after their goal came the turning point of the game: a miraculous save by Dave W in goal. A bullet-like shot was on 
its way into the net just inside his right-hand post. Somehow he got across, and deflected it just enough to change its flight onto, 
not inside, the post, and we lived again: one of the 5 best of Dave’s career, he says, and who are we to doubt it? (Though, of course, 
in the 10 years he’s been with us, we’ve seen less than 20% of his career!) . Had that shot gone in, a collapse was on the cards. As 
it was, heartened by the reprieve, we took a deep breath and fought on. True, our goal suffered more threats than theirs – including 
a marvellous clearance off the line (& I apologise again, that in the excitement I didn’t see who it was, but I’m sure at least 2 
players will own up to it). But it was not all one way, and Neil & Dave continued to prosper up front (at least until Neil came off 
with a wrist that radiographer Warren says is sprained but not broken, thus saving Neil the inconvenience of an actual X-ray!).

Nonetheless, it was with relief that we heard the final whistle: a draw was definitely what we deserved, but we were happy to have it 
confirmed and take a rest from our sterling efforts.

Other than Dave W, that is, who was linesman for the next game (despite having done it 2 weeks ago). Thanks to him, and also to Mike 
who did our game: having professed total ignorance of the off-side rule, he proceeded to give one crucial (but correct) decision in 
the first half, then decided in the second half that he wasn’t going to better that one, and kept the flag down!

So here we are, half way through the season, languishing in 7th it may appear. However, 2 wins & a draw from our last 4 games is a 
much better return than earlier, and if we continue as we’re playing now it’s not beyond us to make up the 7 points to 4th (Kissing 
Point, whom we are due to play on the last day of the season….). The second half of the season is not in the same order as the first; 
and next week we play at Naremburn against Northbridge, whom we beat 1-0 six weeks ago at home. As we have only 4 more games 
at home it would be timely to follow up our first point away today with our first win away next week.

MARK BRYANT