Lane Cove West 2, North Shore Monash 4
Before this game, Monash had beaten everyone they’d played (some of them more than once) except us. Now they’ve beaten everyone they’ve played.
Our good run had to come to an end sometime, but – as last time we played them – they really weren’t that good. Not as good, for example, as we’ve been in recent weeks, which is why today was particularly disappointing. But, in the words of the recently departed Kurt Vonnegut: so it goes.
We started badly and were very lucky not to concede our first goal for 42 days earlier than we did. But then we did.
We were sluggish, and hesitant to the ball: not at all as we had been of late. And after we’d survived a few scares from a mid-field and forward line that spread the ball around impressively, it was no surprise when they put together a move that worked all the way into our area, and into the net: 0-1.
When we woke up some time later, we were still only one down; which we promptly remedied by scoring one of our own. And another screamer it was, too. A fierce blow from Peter way out on the right turned out not to be a cross, as those of us waiting with increasing puzzlement at the far post had imagined, but a shot that sailed into the top left corner: 1-1.
But then the turning point of the game: instead of capitalizing on our good fortune at being, again, all square, we threw the lead away. More hesitation in our area, as we spurned a few chances to clear from a corner, and the ball fell to a forward who hesitated not at all. 1-2.
Howard was missing today, and we missed him, of course: we particularly needed the verbal kicks up the backside that keep us all on our toes. (No-one has now played in all our games, though Tim & I have seen them all).
For the rest of the half, we gave as good as we got. Literally in one case: Matt found himself in the ref’s (notional) book after a fracas on the touchline. NSM’s linesman came all the way over from the other side to report what everyone else had already seen: that Matt made deliberate contact with his opponent, after the ball had gone. But, oddly, he had nothing to report on the earlier blow in the opposite direction, of which Matt was loudly complaining. At least half of those on the field believed him; plus one, probably, but Ivan had to act on the report he’d received.
So, at half-time, we were only the one down, and might have reminded ourselves that only once (way back in April) had we lost a second half: much more often than not, we have won them.
And we did improve in the second half, and created some good chances.
But there was pressure at the other end, too. Tony made a number of good saves, so it was particularly unfortunate that, mid-way through the half, a clearance of his that didn’t have the distance was thumped straight back over his head, but just under the bar: 1-3.
On we fought, and rattled our opponents, some of whose names also found their way into the book for over-robust challenges (one on Matt as he was on his way into the area with only the keeper ahead).
Then we produced yet another fine goal, again from a long way out. This time it was John whose shot arced beautifully around the keeper’s outstretched left hand and sweetly into the net: 2-3!
(And, by the way, are we an impressive scoring machine, or what? Scored in every game; scored two or more in every game except one.)
There was still time to grab what had seemed an unlikely draw (perhaps an undeserved one, we might admit too), but by now our legs were tiring. We’d started with only one sub, and when Martin went off, Nigel became only the second A-team player to play for us this year. He added welcome new strength in mid-field, but it wasn’t really a surprise when the last goal came, not from us, but from them. Another well-worked move, and another good goal: 2-4. (We always lose 4-2 when someone from the As plays for us!).
Amazingly, 4-2 is the only score we’ve lost by this year. And just the four times…! When you recall that we’ve won once 4-2 this season, too, that’s five of our ten of our games that have ended this way.
This subject was the cause of yet more regret in our household this evening. Not because my family sympathize with our plight (indeed, it was remarkable that they asked the score at all). No, it was because I was unable to answer my wife’s question: so what were the odds against half your games having ended 4-2?
Google to the rescue. The Sporting Life website tells us that 1.58% of Barclays Premier league games end 4-2. We can next make the minor assumption that our league is (in all relevant ways) comparable with the Barclays Premier.
So: less than two chances in 100 that any one game will end 4-2. But five of our ten have. I think perhaps I was away the day we did this particular part of statistics, but I’m pretty sure than the technical answer to what the odds are is… big.
Jon Ball was man-of-the match for another fine performance sweeping up almost all of the problems that the rest of us entrusted to him. (But he’s now lost his 100% record, leaving only Ernie with perfect stats: played one, won one!) Bob was second, and Peter third (I think).
Thanks to Ivan for refereeing a difficult game, and to Willie for running the line. Likewise to John S & Jon B at 3pm. Also to Tim for the beers, and Mark S for standing in whilst I was away, and experiencing the all-to-familiar frustration of getting the team all organized for a game that then doesn’t happen.
MARK
BRYANT