Lane Cove
West 0,
It’s not
true what you read in the paper:
2. Teams that wear
red always don’t do better than others: today we conceded 5 goals for the third
time in six games. True it is that everyone who has played
And I blame
me! We were tooling along quite happily at 0-1 early in the second half; still
everything to play for; something good could happen. The ball was out for our
throw-in on our left - I swear it was – but no flag, so no whistle,
and I should have booted it over Blackman Lower anyway. But I didn’t and their
winger pounced on it, and passed it into the area, for a forward to hook it
over Dave W; and suddenly it was 0-2.
Which became 0-3 a minute later. I think this was one of the several
forward-through-with-only-keeper to beat goals (they blur into one after a
while), but whatever it was, it knocked the stuffing out of us, and two more
were to follow before we were done; literally.
It had all
started so promisingly. Our intention to defend against the league leaders was
thwarted, when we kept having attacks, which saw us give at least as good as we
got, overall, in the opening stages. Dave B had a few promising runs and we
made their defence look not at all like one that had conceded only two goals
all season.
On the
other hand, you could see how their forwards had scored a lot. They were very
fast and very skilful. So it wasn’t altogether a surprise when sustained
pressure led to us not clearing from our area, and Matt forced into a tackle
that did get the ball; but did also, perhaps, allow the possible interpretation
that it had collected a leg or two on the way. Penalty, said the wise ref,
Brian (and a ruling that all of us, other than Dave W, had to be behind the
penalty mark: not one I heard before, but quite correct: Law 14). Thump! And it
was 0-1.
But we
carried on pushing forwards. A smartly taken throw-in by John set me off to the
by-line, and a cross to Dave B nearly had a goal.
There were
much closer shaves at the other end, however. The most memorable was Eric –
somehow – keeping the ball out when there seemed no way a point-blank shot
could possibly miss. And, though free-kicks and corners also rained in, it was only
0-1 at half-time.
The second
half I’ve already related, other than two and a half fantastic saves from Dave
W. First he flew to his right to tip a stinging shot around the post. Then he
parried another scorcher only for one of our defenders [name, please?] to hit
it back straight at him, prompting the catch that I was thinking of as the
half; but now that I reflect, it was probably worth more.
And Martin
C wanted me to mention that he’d done a tackle and two forward rolls (with a
pike). And lots more (conventional) tackling to earn him
Man-of-the-Match. (Dave W second; Matt third).
Corrections and amplifications from last week. It was Mark S who had the vision to
pass the ball across the field to set up John’s goal. And
John, in turn, who passed to Dave B for his.
Good to see
Tim back so soon after surgery. A game this season is the objective now.
Thanks this
week to Bill for the beers; to Brian & Tim B for being ref & linesman for
us; and ditto Dave L & Martin P for the As.
And so onto
Waverton next week (not Bob Campbell Oval, as previously scheduled). We are
unbeaten there, I believe (never, to my recollection, having played there).
This is the last game of the first round, against St Michaels. They include
some of our former players, and are third, having lost only to Mount Colah & Lindfield. But their average score is only 2-1:
ours is 1-3, so it doesn’t need a big turnaround, really, for us to win!
MARK BRYANT