Round 7 - Glen Waverley v St Kevins
This weekend saw the lads back at Larpent’s green and pleasant land. However, God decided to turn on the taps and drench the blessed souls below. It only rained twice on Saturday – from 3:00am until 11:00am then again from 11:15am until 9:00pm. And Larpent’s green and pleasant land turned to brown and slimy grime. The temperature also dropped off the scale to make matters worse. This worthy scribe also made the ridiculously stupid decision to get a number 2 haircut on the coldest day of the year so far. And so he suffered in the conditions, but would the lads ease or add to the suffering? Read on to find out ….
Reserves
Glen Waverley (1) 3 v 0 (0) St Kevin’s
The rain obviously had a positive effect on the Reserves this week as they finally got their first win of the season. It was a well deserved win and a higher score would not have flattered them either. As in previous weeks they’ve had plenty of chances, but this week three of the chances they created happened to hit the back of the net. The big Zero in the goals against column also gave an indication of their domination. Playing first the Reserves enjoyed the better of the conditions, but with only 12 fit and available it still looked a formidable task in front of them. Utilising the experience of Bill O, who gave a solid look to the defence and Anouk on the left, the team took early control and never looked in any danger. Early chances went begging but it wasn’t long before they finally found the target. The new-found striking danger man TzeKin slotted home the first of the day. Pressure from the home side was almost continuous and was maintained in the second half. After a goalmouth scramble, Yureshan then got his first for the club, cashing in on the goalkeepers fumble. 2-0 up and cruising it was left to Guillermo to add the coup-de-grace. A ball was whipped into the box from the right and Guillermo did a Ronaldo by back-heeling a flick past the helpless keeper. The look of surprise on his, and everyone else’s face tells its own story. It doesn’t matter how they go in, they all count. Final words as always are left to Sir Alex and as usual he was upbeat. “I’m happy with the result of course, but we’ve been playing like that every week. We finally got the reward from all the hard work. We’ll take each week as it comes, but we’ll enjoy the win tonight. What time is the FA Cup night starting?” We said “9:30”
Seniors
Glen Waverley (3) 3 v 4 (0) St Kevin’s
Look at the score-line, then look again, because you won’t believe it, and no, it isn’t a typo. Never has the cliché – “game of two halves” – been more appropriate. 3-0 up at half-time and cruising, then losing it 3-4 was a bitter pill to swallow. First of all, there are positives to take out of every game and the first half performance was probably one of the best seen all season. Without a proper referee this week, the visitors took advantage of the stand-in ref, and under normal circumstances would have been made to pay for their indiscretions. However the local lads played some exceptional football, with plenty of passing and movement and good use of the flanks. In the sapping conditions, the home side made the pressure count. Three quick strikes from Lloyd, Justin and Michael all hit the target. Justin’s was a bit of payback for the growl he received from the visiting goalkeeper. He did a good impersonation of a gorilla at Justin, when Justin was lying prone on the ground after a collision in the box. The best goal of the three goals however was Michael’s exquisite free kick. It bent around the wall, hitting the far top corner, leaving Guy the Gorilla grasping at fresh air.
At halftime feeling quite good at how things were going the lads felt they had the game in the bag. This is where experience tells and the visitors poured on the pressure in the second half. First one,goal then another. The belief transferred from one team to the other. Contrary to what the loudmouth said on the touchline however, Glen Waverley did still “want it”. Trouble was, and as the pitch became heavier, the younger players in the home side tired quickly allowing St Kevin’s the opening which ultimately led to them taking the game. Credit to St Kevin’s for never giving up, but shame on them too for their discredit to the game by their continuous whinging and lack of respect for our stand in referee. There’ll be another time and the youngsters will have grown up. The lads lost the game today, but morally won and also learned another valuable lesson in their football development. Steve was understandably disappointed and declined our interview, this week. We did hear some muttering in a corner somewhere though which sounded something like “I can’t believe it!. I just don’t believe it.”
Six goals in one day for one win and one loss. What would we have given for that last season. How our expectations have grown.