| Glen Waverley Soccer Club - Mens Seniors & Reserves |
Round 10 | 19.6.10
| Game Rating
Seniors
Reserves
|
Venue ... Trinity Sports Ground
Pitch ... different - red lines and mud in unusual places
Weather ... average, light breeze, sunny spells, etc etc
Canteen ... perfect burgers served from the salubrious gazebo
Crowd ... a light sprinkling, but not a vuvuzela in sight.
Welcome back ladies and gents. We're back after what has been an eventful
couple of weeks. Of course we're now totally immersed in the World Cup,
which has most of us replacing hope with despair as our respective countries
fail to deliver on their promise. However the biggest news and one which has
caused us the most distress was the loss of our clubrooms. Still plenty of
conjecture as to what happened, although arson seems to be top of the list
of theories. The lads really didn't need much motivation since they hadn't
tasted victory in over a month, but this just gave them a little more
impetus as they took to the park on Saturday. Read on and you'll find out
how they gave heart and soul into both games .....
Pitch ... different - red lines and mud in unusual places
Weather ... average, light breeze, sunny spells, etc etc
Canteen ... perfect burgers served from the salubrious gazebo
Crowd ... a light sprinkling, but not a vuvuzela in sight.
Welcome back ladies and gents. We're back after what has been an eventful
couple of weeks. Of course we're now totally immersed in the World Cup,
which has most of us replacing hope with despair as our respective countries
fail to deliver on their promise. However the biggest news and one which has
caused us the most distress was the loss of our clubrooms. Still plenty of
conjecture as to what happened, although arson seems to be top of the list
of theories. The lads really didn't need much motivation since they hadn't
tasted victory in over a month, but this just gave them a little more
impetus as they took to the park on Saturday. Read on and you'll find out
how they gave heart and soul into both games .....
Reserves
Back to the more usual 1:00pm kick-off time, the reserves were at
full strength this week for the short trip up to Old Trinity. Sammy A was
back in the squad after a few weeks off through injury. Dean and Pete S had
been promoted to the ones again, so Stevie W and Prashan got some valuable
game time in the ressies. The match took on significance for two of the
reserve team stalwarts as both Dan and Bill G celebrated their 50th game
milestones. Both players were looking to put in a sterling performance, but
it was all about the team today as they looked to put the past week to bed
and get back on the winning trail.
From the first whistle, the lads looked calm and in control and
pretty much stayed that way for the whole 90 minutes. The home side were
sitting on top of the ladder and had only conceded 8 goals to date so it
must have come as a shock to be outplayed for most of the game and go down
3-0 to a rampant visiting team.
It would be difficult to single out anyone today since it was a
complete team performance. Steve S in goal was solid all game and felt
comfortable behind the calm and disciplined Tony, Dan and the ever-improving
Kon. Lloyd on the left and Sean on the right gave the team excellent width
and Muzz, Stevie W and Prashan were a very mobile midfield. Ozzie and Theo
started up front and caused the home side a lot of early trouble. Bill G,
Sammy and Kav were all anxious to show what they could do off the bench.
Old Trinity had some big lads at their disposal, but the pace of the
Glen Waverley boys was always going to be the difference between the sides.
An early shot from Muzz was well saved, but Sean got the score board moving.
A throw from Dan was knocked on by Ozzie and Sean had easy tap in. The
"G-Dubs" were unlucky not to go into the break more than one goal to the
good as first Prashan had a shot sail just over and Theo hit the bar from a
free-kick.
Stevie W was replaced with Peter Kav midway through the half, as
Steve was needed in the seniors. Peter who was playing his last game for a
few weeks as he was just about to get on a flight to Greece, took his
opportunity with both hands and managed to grab his first and second goal
for the club. More later. But the school old boys were not top of the league
for nothing, and they came out strongly at the start of the second half. For
20 minutes they put pressure on the visitors but a combination of stout
defending and good goalkeeping, kept them at bay. The frustration started to
tell and as they pushed men forward, they were caught on the break. Not
once, but twice. Steve S sent a long clearance up field and Kav latched onto
the ball, ran on and calmly slotted home. This was repeated moments later, a
long clearance and Kav lobbed the keeper to put the game out of reach.
A good win, but more importantly a magnificent all round team
performance. Great to see the boys playing good football and enjoying it in
the process. They deserved to sit back, relax and look forward to seeing if
the seniors could follow it up with another win.
full strength this week for the short trip up to Old Trinity. Sammy A was
back in the squad after a few weeks off through injury. Dean and Pete S had
been promoted to the ones again, so Stevie W and Prashan got some valuable
game time in the ressies. The match took on significance for two of the
reserve team stalwarts as both Dan and Bill G celebrated their 50th game
milestones. Both players were looking to put in a sterling performance, but
it was all about the team today as they looked to put the past week to bed
and get back on the winning trail.
From the first whistle, the lads looked calm and in control and
pretty much stayed that way for the whole 90 minutes. The home side were
sitting on top of the ladder and had only conceded 8 goals to date so it
must have come as a shock to be outplayed for most of the game and go down
3-0 to a rampant visiting team.
It would be difficult to single out anyone today since it was a
complete team performance. Steve S in goal was solid all game and felt
comfortable behind the calm and disciplined Tony, Dan and the ever-improving
Kon. Lloyd on the left and Sean on the right gave the team excellent width
and Muzz, Stevie W and Prashan were a very mobile midfield. Ozzie and Theo
started up front and caused the home side a lot of early trouble. Bill G,
Sammy and Kav were all anxious to show what they could do off the bench.
Old Trinity had some big lads at their disposal, but the pace of the
Glen Waverley boys was always going to be the difference between the sides.
An early shot from Muzz was well saved, but Sean got the score board moving.
A throw from Dan was knocked on by Ozzie and Sean had easy tap in. The
"G-Dubs" were unlucky not to go into the break more than one goal to the
good as first Prashan had a shot sail just over and Theo hit the bar from a
free-kick.
Stevie W was replaced with Peter Kav midway through the half, as
Steve was needed in the seniors. Peter who was playing his last game for a
few weeks as he was just about to get on a flight to Greece, took his
opportunity with both hands and managed to grab his first and second goal
for the club. More later. But the school old boys were not top of the league
for nothing, and they came out strongly at the start of the second half. For
20 minutes they put pressure on the visitors but a combination of stout
defending and good goalkeeping, kept them at bay. The frustration started to
tell and as they pushed men forward, they were caught on the break. Not
once, but twice. Steve S sent a long clearance up field and Kav latched onto
the ball, ran on and calmly slotted home. This was repeated moments later, a
long clearance and Kav lobbed the keeper to put the game out of reach.
A good win, but more importantly a magnificent all round team
performance. Great to see the boys playing good football and enjoying it in
the process. They deserved to sit back, relax and look forward to seeing if
the seniors could follow it up with another win.
Seniors
The challenge was now on for the senior lads to back up the ressies
result with a performance of their own. They would have to do it without
Hoppy though, as he was a last minute withdrawal due to a rib injury. Also
without Kimon and Brian, the resources of the club were to be tested, but we
can now boast strength in depth as Dean, Steve W and Peter S were all called
in to bolster the squad.
Old Trinity were looking to put some distance between themselves and
the bottom sides, and the Glen Waverley boys were hoping to move out of the
relegation zone. Sometimes the form book goes out of the window when one
team wants it more than the other, and today it was the Waverley lads who
positively relished the challenge. They ran out 2-0 winners and a richly
deserved win it was too.
The lads started slowly and for the first 15 minutes or so, Old
Trinity controlled the match. However the new "Chairball" training routine
that was employed on Thursday night started to pay dividends. After the
early pressure, the Waverley midfield started to take over and a long ball
found its way to Johnny. He controlled it brilliantly, then rounded the
keeper and opened the scoring. Within 5 minutes the visitors doubled their
lead. Steve H sent in a well placed cross, which Metin almost got a foot on,
but a defender did manage to turn it in. A great start which had the home
side on the back foot for most of the first half. Kon, Gazz and Johnny were
solid in the middle and Michael and Petey were full of running down the
flanks. Steve H ran selflessly all afternoon in a man-of-the-match
performance, ably supported by the tireless Metin.
2-0 up at half-time, but as we well know, nothing is a certainty
with our lads, but it was the week's events that proved to be the catalyst.
The backline of Justin, Julian and Micky V along with the superb Alistair in
goal stood firm against everything Old Trinity could throw at them. Al
especially pulling off some excellent saves on the few times the last line
was breached. It wasn't all one way in the second half as Steve had three or
four chances to open his account. Pete also had a long shot saved as did
Johnny late in the game.
The introduction of Dean, then Steve and Pete helped make sure the
score stayed as it was although Dean who had an early chance soon after he
came on to grab some headline space for himself. Anyway time seemingly stood
still as the minutes dragged by, but the final whistle was met with a
mixture of relief and celebration.
This had to be one of the best all round club/team efforts in our
short history and one which everyone can take enormous credit. We can't get
carried away, but playing with plenty of belief and without fear, we should
be able to see this as our first step back up the ladder to first safety
then mid-table respectability.
Well done everyone and roll on next Saturday, where we can back this up with
victory over Keysborough.
result with a performance of their own. They would have to do it without
Hoppy though, as he was a last minute withdrawal due to a rib injury. Also
without Kimon and Brian, the resources of the club were to be tested, but we
can now boast strength in depth as Dean, Steve W and Peter S were all called
in to bolster the squad.
Old Trinity were looking to put some distance between themselves and
the bottom sides, and the Glen Waverley boys were hoping to move out of the
relegation zone. Sometimes the form book goes out of the window when one
team wants it more than the other, and today it was the Waverley lads who
positively relished the challenge. They ran out 2-0 winners and a richly
deserved win it was too.
The lads started slowly and for the first 15 minutes or so, Old
Trinity controlled the match. However the new "Chairball" training routine
that was employed on Thursday night started to pay dividends. After the
early pressure, the Waverley midfield started to take over and a long ball
found its way to Johnny. He controlled it brilliantly, then rounded the
keeper and opened the scoring. Within 5 minutes the visitors doubled their
lead. Steve H sent in a well placed cross, which Metin almost got a foot on,
but a defender did manage to turn it in. A great start which had the home
side on the back foot for most of the first half. Kon, Gazz and Johnny were
solid in the middle and Michael and Petey were full of running down the
flanks. Steve H ran selflessly all afternoon in a man-of-the-match
performance, ably supported by the tireless Metin.
2-0 up at half-time, but as we well know, nothing is a certainty
with our lads, but it was the week's events that proved to be the catalyst.
The backline of Justin, Julian and Micky V along with the superb Alistair in
goal stood firm against everything Old Trinity could throw at them. Al
especially pulling off some excellent saves on the few times the last line
was breached. It wasn't all one way in the second half as Steve had three or
four chances to open his account. Pete also had a long shot saved as did
Johnny late in the game.
The introduction of Dean, then Steve and Pete helped make sure the
score stayed as it was although Dean who had an early chance soon after he
came on to grab some headline space for himself. Anyway time seemingly stood
still as the minutes dragged by, but the final whistle was met with a
mixture of relief and celebration.
This had to be one of the best all round club/team efforts in our
short history and one which everyone can take enormous credit. We can't get
carried away, but playing with plenty of belief and without fear, we should
be able to see this as our first step back up the ladder to first safety
then mid-table respectability.
Well done everyone and roll on next Saturday, where we can back this up with
victory over Keysborough.
