Lane Cove West 1, Northbridge 5

We’ve had better days than this, it must be said. Though the score perhaps flattered our opponents, we again failed to hold onto the ball when we should, and did not create enough chances of our own. But we were unlucky in the manner of their goals: read on.

Another sunny day, though not as hot as recent weeks. Tony joined Dave B and Tim on the treatment table & John was away entertaining visitors (apparently watching us wasn’t high on the list of things to do in Sydney.). But Dave L & Neil were back, and we started with confidence, and a few promising attacks.

But not long into the game, I failed to control a pass on the edge of their box. Eric had pushed up in support, and so was not on hand to intercept the clearance up their right that found their winger. His cross was met well by an attacker, but the shot deflected into the bottom right of our net, giving Dave W no chance: 0-1.

Worse was to follow not long after. A free kick to them just inside their half was hoofed forward, bounced in our area and over everyone into the net. (Though a forward claimed to touch it, if he did, it made no difference): 0-2.

And the 3^rd was not far away. This was a mix-up between Dave W and (I think) Eric who both went for the same ball which was then swept in: 0-3.

The game now became a bit heated. Our opponents weren’t as gracious as we commonly are when winning comfortably, and the constant kicking that our defenders got, not surprisingly, contributed to a feeling of less than contentment with our afternoon’s outing.

More verbals accompanied another indirect free kick, when Dave W picked up what was adjudged a back pass, but the wall intimidated well, and the shot flew well over the bar.

Our resolve at half-time was to win the second half, and that quest started well enough. I had a run into the area where 2 defenders & the keeper in each others’ way almost presented me with a free shot. Dave L (3^rd in the Man of the Match voting) took a series of corners, most of which were met by headers from Peter, a couple of which would have needed only small deflections to find their way in.

But then – another disaster: a swift clearance from their half found Martin C one-on-one with an attacker. Martin stumbled for a moment, and the attacker was gone, drew Dave W and shot coolly: 0-4.

Was the curse of history repeating itself? Last season ended with a run of 0-3, 3-0, 0-0, 0-5, then 0-4; and had there been no further scoring today, that’s how this season so far would have looked, too. But no, we kept plugging away, and from another corner, a scramble, a shot of mine pushed out, my header back, and there was Dave C (2^nd in the MOTM) to nod it on & in, for his first goal for the club: 1-4. A hint of offside, it’s true, but if ever we deserved a bit of luck, now was the time. (This week’s trivia is that this was the first time we’ve scored in a game we didn’t win since the end of June).

Northbridge seemed to flag at this point and we pushed forward, winning a series of free-kicks from some distance out. One of them, Man of the Match, Eric powered against the bar, and the ball rebounded to a defender, and made contact with his upper arm. Free kick to us? Probably 50/50, but not given. Again, the ball was swept upfield, a forward was free on goal once more and 1-5 was the result.

Incredibly, this was the 4^th of their goals which had come not more than a moment or two after the ball had been in their own half. All credit to them for taking their chances, but it’s a cruel way to be so comprehensively beaten.

Somewhere around here Dave W made a fantastic save. A cross from their left was met by a powerful header downwards at the far post. It had Dave going the wrong way - back to his right - but somehow he got a hand to it and scooped it away.

So it was not all bad, though not 100% good, it is true. But we can only aim to put the last two weeks behind us (& when you think about it, where else could they be?!), and think ahead to Prouille next week.

Thanks this week to Mark A for refereeing us [thankless task as it was], and Pete Nolan for lining (aided by Tony); to Dave W for reffing the As, & a combination of 2 Martins & 2 Marks for lining; to Tim for the beers; belatedly to Peter for putting up the nets (again) for 2 weeks in the school holidays; to Ernie for doing the MOTM admin; and to my wife for bringing our red shirts at the last minute for the young blokes who’d left theirs at home (& then washing them AND the 2 yellow sets): well beyond the call of duty. (She agrees!)

MARK BRYANT