| Glen Waverley Soccer Club - Mens Seniors & Reserves |
Round 5 | 8.5.10
| Game RatingsSeniors
Reserves
|
Reserves
Want a tip? Never use Warragul Road on a Saturday, or any other day for that
matter. Is Chadstone shopping centre the new Mecca as that's where everybody
seems to want to go, and it's not even Christmas. Anyway, that gives you a
fair idea of how my day started. Stuck in a traffic jam and late getting to
the ground. So did my day improve any? Read on to find out if things got any
better.
Venue ... Bailey Reserve, somewhere south west of here
Pitch ... Very good
Canteen ... crap
Crowd ... as good as it gets in this league.
So where do we start with this week's review of the reserves match? We have
to start, of course, by giving Savvas a huge welcome as he takes over at
helm of the reserves. His first week in charge proved to be a challenging
one. We'd lost 5 or 6 players due to suspension, unavailability or injury,
so we had to call on the Under 16 players Stevey Frantzis and Christian
Martin. It is exciting for the club that we can bring in and develop the
younger players and give them a taste of adult football.
The backline had been reshuffled to cover the absentees and it was clear
that they would take a while to get comfortable. Murray tried manfully at
sweeper, and with Pete and Kon either side, they had a hard job all day. Our
midfield also struggled with their more physical opponents as East Bentleigh
put pressure on the ball all over the park. However it was Dean who got in
early shot to give the lads some encouragement.
This was short lived though. East Bentleigh had a free-kick on the 13 minute
mark and ball into the box wasn't cleared properly. Their player was left
unmarked at the back post and the score was 1-0 to the home side. An early
goal, so plenty of time to get back into the game. But Glen Waverley never
really got going until the last 15 minutes of the half. Moving the ball
around we had a couple of chances from Dean, Peter Kav and Ozzie. A good
penalty shout was turned down, probably because the ref couldn't see that
far. He tended not to venture too far from the safety of the centre circle.
Well I've managed to write a fair bit on what was a non-event of a game. It
never really did get out of second gear. The home side eventually managed to
scrape a second although the lad did pretty well. Unchallenged about 20
metres out, he curled a sweet shot past a flailing Steve S. The late
introduction of Chris and Steve didn't allow them a chance to show what they
could do or make any impression on the game.
With chances few and far between to either side, those that did fall were
taken by East Bentleigh so they probably deserved the three points on the
day. With only Dean, Peter S and Kon rising above the average today the lads
will all have to pick up their game next week. Still third on the ladder in
a tight league, so all to play for.
Normally we would crap on about how good our "between game" refreshments
were. Not this week folks. The girl in the canteen was obviously trying
hard, but they have to realise we do expect more than pies and sausage rolls
these days. To not even have the barbeque happening was poor form, so come
on, buck up your ideas. We'll show you how to do it when you come to our
place. So with no sustenance to speak of we had to watch the seniors game
with the sound of rumbling tummies. Between the groans, this is roughly what
happened ....
matter. Is Chadstone shopping centre the new Mecca as that's where everybody
seems to want to go, and it's not even Christmas. Anyway, that gives you a
fair idea of how my day started. Stuck in a traffic jam and late getting to
the ground. So did my day improve any? Read on to find out if things got any
better.
Venue ... Bailey Reserve, somewhere south west of here
Pitch ... Very good
Canteen ... crap
Crowd ... as good as it gets in this league.
So where do we start with this week's review of the reserves match? We have
to start, of course, by giving Savvas a huge welcome as he takes over at
helm of the reserves. His first week in charge proved to be a challenging
one. We'd lost 5 or 6 players due to suspension, unavailability or injury,
so we had to call on the Under 16 players Stevey Frantzis and Christian
Martin. It is exciting for the club that we can bring in and develop the
younger players and give them a taste of adult football.
The backline had been reshuffled to cover the absentees and it was clear
that they would take a while to get comfortable. Murray tried manfully at
sweeper, and with Pete and Kon either side, they had a hard job all day. Our
midfield also struggled with their more physical opponents as East Bentleigh
put pressure on the ball all over the park. However it was Dean who got in
early shot to give the lads some encouragement.
This was short lived though. East Bentleigh had a free-kick on the 13 minute
mark and ball into the box wasn't cleared properly. Their player was left
unmarked at the back post and the score was 1-0 to the home side. An early
goal, so plenty of time to get back into the game. But Glen Waverley never
really got going until the last 15 minutes of the half. Moving the ball
around we had a couple of chances from Dean, Peter Kav and Ozzie. A good
penalty shout was turned down, probably because the ref couldn't see that
far. He tended not to venture too far from the safety of the centre circle.
Well I've managed to write a fair bit on what was a non-event of a game. It
never really did get out of second gear. The home side eventually managed to
scrape a second although the lad did pretty well. Unchallenged about 20
metres out, he curled a sweet shot past a flailing Steve S. The late
introduction of Chris and Steve didn't allow them a chance to show what they
could do or make any impression on the game.
With chances few and far between to either side, those that did fall were
taken by East Bentleigh so they probably deserved the three points on the
day. With only Dean, Peter S and Kon rising above the average today the lads
will all have to pick up their game next week. Still third on the ladder in
a tight league, so all to play for.
Normally we would crap on about how good our "between game" refreshments
were. Not this week folks. The girl in the canteen was obviously trying
hard, but they have to realise we do expect more than pies and sausage rolls
these days. To not even have the barbeque happening was poor form, so come
on, buck up your ideas. We'll show you how to do it when you come to our
place. So with no sustenance to speak of we had to watch the seniors game
with the sound of rumbling tummies. Between the groans, this is roughly what
happened ....
Seniors
So far the disappointments were coming thick and fast - traffic jam, late,
reserves lost, crappy canteen, referee having a whinge about team book being
presented late. Surely things had to improve, and by God did they ever.
Looking like they meant business the senior lads took to the pitch
determined to get that much anticipated first win of the season.
Now I'm sure they didn't do it to help my day get better, but the
performance by the Seniors lads on the day was first class. Full of grit,
determination, graft and solidarity they finally got their first notch in
the winners column.
Team news - this week we saw Met reintroduced to the starting line up,
replacing Danny who was having 4 weeks off courtesy of the FFV judiciary.
Justin took his place on the bench, returning after injury. The stable
line-up is one of the reasons the team is playing consistent football. The
biggest mystery was why we weren't scoring or winning games of football.
A slight toot on "Ivan the Arrogant's" whistle got the game under way. The
ref earned this title because of his manner on and off the pitch. They do
ask for respect, but surely it works both ways and a quick visit to the
charm school would have helped earn him a little. Anyway, he didn't affect
the way the lads set about the game. Straight from the off the Glen Waverley
boys laid siege to the East Bentleigh goal. An early shot was blocked, then
with only 8 minutes on the clock, Johnny rose highest to a cross and headed
in the opening goal. And the crowd went wild, well our section anyway. We'd
only just settled down, when Johnny knocked in the second. Cue mass
celebrations again, only to be dashed within seconds as the lineman's flag
signalled for offside. Video replays suggest this was tight call, and for
the second time in 2 weeks, Steve was denied his first goal for the club.
Against the run of play, East Bentleigh got an equaliser 5 minutes later.
Glen Waverley continued to press though and were unlucky not to get back in
front as Johnny saw a long range effort sail wide. Corners and free-kicks,
whilst causing plenty of home side jitters couldn't be converted either, so
the score remained 1-1 at the break.
There is a story attached to the half-time break involving a dog, a doggy
dump, bad language and a repentant teenager. This story will be told some
other time, as we were anxious to see if the lads could turn their obvious
domination into three points. Kon had replaced a tired looking Prashan in
the first half and with John and Hoppy, were bossing the game. Brian was
given free-reign on the left and within 2 minutes of the restart had earned
his side a penalty. Brought down just inside by a beaten full-back, the
penalty was the least we deserved. Our record to date with penalties is not
startling to say the least, so our cheering was put on hold until Hoppy
crashed the ball into the net. 2-1 and game on, although it was going to be
a long-half if that was the way the score was to remain.
As it happened, the second half last approximately 86 minutes. The last 10
minutes lasted 35, the last 5 lasted 2 hours and Paul was visibly greying by
the second. Corners, free-kicks, shots and pressure aplenty couldn't get the
breathing space of a second goal. East Bentleigh gave us a hard time late in
the game, but the defense of Micky V, Julian and Kimon, who was immense on
the day, held firm. The final whistle finally blew around about Sunday
lunchtime and the sighs of relief could be heard all the way around the
Provy 3 grounds.
We all enjoyed the noisy celebration in the room after, but it's back to
business on Tuesday as we ready ourselves for the next round. Well done
lads, a great result and richly deserved. Now let's start climbing the
ladder.
Cheers and catch you next week at North.
reserves lost, crappy canteen, referee having a whinge about team book being
presented late. Surely things had to improve, and by God did they ever.
Looking like they meant business the senior lads took to the pitch
determined to get that much anticipated first win of the season.
Now I'm sure they didn't do it to help my day get better, but the
performance by the Seniors lads on the day was first class. Full of grit,
determination, graft and solidarity they finally got their first notch in
the winners column.
Team news - this week we saw Met reintroduced to the starting line up,
replacing Danny who was having 4 weeks off courtesy of the FFV judiciary.
Justin took his place on the bench, returning after injury. The stable
line-up is one of the reasons the team is playing consistent football. The
biggest mystery was why we weren't scoring or winning games of football.
A slight toot on "Ivan the Arrogant's" whistle got the game under way. The
ref earned this title because of his manner on and off the pitch. They do
ask for respect, but surely it works both ways and a quick visit to the
charm school would have helped earn him a little. Anyway, he didn't affect
the way the lads set about the game. Straight from the off the Glen Waverley
boys laid siege to the East Bentleigh goal. An early shot was blocked, then
with only 8 minutes on the clock, Johnny rose highest to a cross and headed
in the opening goal. And the crowd went wild, well our section anyway. We'd
only just settled down, when Johnny knocked in the second. Cue mass
celebrations again, only to be dashed within seconds as the lineman's flag
signalled for offside. Video replays suggest this was tight call, and for
the second time in 2 weeks, Steve was denied his first goal for the club.
Against the run of play, East Bentleigh got an equaliser 5 minutes later.
Glen Waverley continued to press though and were unlucky not to get back in
front as Johnny saw a long range effort sail wide. Corners and free-kicks,
whilst causing plenty of home side jitters couldn't be converted either, so
the score remained 1-1 at the break.
There is a story attached to the half-time break involving a dog, a doggy
dump, bad language and a repentant teenager. This story will be told some
other time, as we were anxious to see if the lads could turn their obvious
domination into three points. Kon had replaced a tired looking Prashan in
the first half and with John and Hoppy, were bossing the game. Brian was
given free-reign on the left and within 2 minutes of the restart had earned
his side a penalty. Brought down just inside by a beaten full-back, the
penalty was the least we deserved. Our record to date with penalties is not
startling to say the least, so our cheering was put on hold until Hoppy
crashed the ball into the net. 2-1 and game on, although it was going to be
a long-half if that was the way the score was to remain.
As it happened, the second half last approximately 86 minutes. The last 10
minutes lasted 35, the last 5 lasted 2 hours and Paul was visibly greying by
the second. Corners, free-kicks, shots and pressure aplenty couldn't get the
breathing space of a second goal. East Bentleigh gave us a hard time late in
the game, but the defense of Micky V, Julian and Kimon, who was immense on
the day, held firm. The final whistle finally blew around about Sunday
lunchtime and the sighs of relief could be heard all the way around the
Provy 3 grounds.
We all enjoyed the noisy celebration in the room after, but it's back to
business on Tuesday as we ready ourselves for the next round. Well done
lads, a great result and richly deserved. Now let's start climbing the
ladder.
Cheers and catch you next week at North.
