Well folks, how have you been? All well we hope. So what's been happening, I
hear you ask. You can see the results from the header, so a mixed bag this
week unfortunately. Good news is we managed some goals this week, to delight
the crowd. Only managed 3 points out of 6 though which is a disappointment
to say the least. This week, we again had to relocate to our now
semi-permanent home at Lum Road. The weather had been pretty good in the
week, but chose to hiss down today, exactly at the time the ref blew for the
start of the game in the ressies. At one point it seemed like it was only
raining on us, since all around we could see some blue sky and sunshine. It
closed in though, and for those on Facetube, you can check out the picture
of Nick in the splosh, with our soft-cock supporters woosing undercover in
the background. Right, now to put some jam in our verbal doughnut. Read on
at your leisure ....

Weather ... Started nice, almost shirt sleeve weather. Then it came down,
went up, then came down again. A cold blast added to the misery.
Pitch ... A big grassy rectangle, with white lines and goalposts at either
end.
Crowd ... Not the largest gathering of the season, but noisy. Well the away
section were, even if it did get repetitive - shy-hiking the keeper and
abusing the ref.
Canteen ... Splendidly cordial as usual. However, had a touch of the
"Tom-Tits" today though, so maybe the burgers were a bit dodgy.

Special note - Making their debuts for the seniors/reserves, we welcomed
Hyphenated Simon and Scott Bearder. Simon has just joined the club after an
illustrious career in Seth Effrica. Scott is a member of the U18's and the
development squad, so it was great to see another of our youngsters getting
a chance to shine at the senior level. We also saw the return of Justin Reed
after a 15 week injury lay-off. Welcome, one and all.
Some disappointing news today. None of our players were called up for the
Socceroos friendly in Wales. Slipped under the radar again boys.

Like most weeks, the reserves squad suffered from last minute
changes/withdrawals/promotion to seniors etc. This makes it difficult to get
any sort of continuity, but it's to theirs and Simon's credit that the
reserves remain top of the ladder. With last week's 5-0 thrashing at the
hands of Sandown, still fresh in the memory, it was a good opportunity to
get the wheels back on the wagon.

Nick A was back in goal after a two week break. Dan and Pete S were both
missing in action, so the backline had an unfamiliar look - Con, Lachlan,
Justin and Vassil. The midfield was more recognisable with Avish, Theo, Muzz
and Gilly taking centre stage. New boy Simon was paired with Micky P up
front. Mansh, Scott and Sean W were on the bench, ready to get into the
action when needed.

The ressies took the game by the scruff of the neck straight from the start,
and the first shot on goal came within minutes. Micky P firing just wide
after a sharp turn left a defender in his wake. The early pressure had its
rewards as early as the fourth minute, with the lads taking a deserved lead.
A good move down the left and Gilly played the ball into Simon. His snap
shot was well saved by the keeper but he could only parry into the path of
Avish, who managed to miss the cross bar and hit the back of the net.

We hoped the flood gates would open, but the visitors came back into the
game and within 10 minutes they had drawn level. They took advantage of an
injury to Con, and the left midfielder was left unguarded at the far port to
head home a cross from the right. Con had managed to dislocate a toe in a
challenge and was replaced on 10 minutes by Sean. A little bit of a
reshuffle, but the boys settled and had the game pretty much under control.
The weather did conspire to reduced the game a kick-a-thon, but there was
some decent football in between. Avish especially was enjoying himself down
the right, and Justin was making up for lost time, by making sure none got
past him.

Muzz and Theo needed to be firm in the middle as the Wolves put themselves
about. Muzz especially coming in for some rough treatment. An elbow here, a
nudge in the back there, all making up a normal day at the office for a
midfielder in the Metro league.

Half-time was a welcome relief from the relentless rain. The Glen Waverley
boys had the better of the chances in the first half and the score didn't
reflect their domination. The visiting keeper, who looked like a cast member
from that 80's TV hit show Fame, did actually make some good saves and kept
his side in the game. One save in the second half was top drawer as he
tipped a shot from Avish over the bar.

At this point though the boys were well on top and the game was played
exclusively in the Wolves half. Chance after chance fell to the boys in
green, but as the game looked like heading towards a stalemate, Micky P
grabbed the winner. in the 85th minute he leaped highest to head home a
cracking goal. Another one to add to the tally and he now takes the lead in
the race for the golden boot. More importantly though the lads had the win,
and another three points secured in their table-topping march. Not an
emphatic win and not particularly spectacular football either, but if you
can win without playing well, that's the sign of a good side.

Well done boys, especially Avish, Justin and the young lads - Scott, Lachlan
and Vassil. Simon also did enough to earn himself a spot on the seniors
bench. Bet he's feeling it today. Now onto the seniors as they tried to
emulate the score when we played them first time round.

A little bit of turmoil surrounding selection again this week. Dan was a
late withdrawal due to illness, so Sammy was drafted in to take his place.
The starting line-up was only made clear minutes before kick-off. Alistair
in goal, and a backline of Micky V, Dean, Petey and Alex M. Midfield was a
solid affair comprising of Kon, Prashan, Lloydy out left and Metin. Marty
was shoved up front with Nick Mav. This week's back-up was Jarrod " Any
win's a good win" Goodwin, Sammy, Avish and Simon.

With the rain still showing no signs of relenting the lads took to the pitch
and quickly enjoyed a wet tee shirt comp of their own. Enjoying this took
their mind off the task in hand, as the lads gave away the early advantage.
A couple of forays down the left through Lloydy was all they could muster as
the balls into the box were dealt with easily. The Wolves settled and pushed
on in the middle of the park. On the 14th minute they were awarded a
free-kick for handball. The ball cannoning off Alex's arm. The centre
forward smacked the ball hard and Alistair couldn't keep out the fierce
shot.

A couple of minutes later and the Wolves couldn't believe their luck as they
doubled their lead. Breaking quickly they cut through our defence and the
winger had the easiest of chances to score. Where had that come from? There
was a lot of head-scratching since this side bore no relation to the team
that the Glenny boys had hammered 8-0 earlier in the season. Maybe that was
the problem. Maybe, this was going to be a banker 3 points after the three
losses in a row.

Anyway, the lads re-grouped and from then on the first half belonged to the
home side. Attacking down either flank they couldn't find that killer touch.
Marty tried to get on the end of most balls into the box. We lost Nick
towards the end of the half to a knee injury (another striker gone - what
have we done wrong to deserve this?). Lloydy was unlucky, as he managed to
lob the keeper from an acute angle only to have the ball cleared off the
line with a last-ditch clearance by a defender. Marty couldn't quite get to
the loose ball and the chance was gone.

Losing strikers by the minute, the lads were looking for inspiration to get
back in the game, and it came from an unlikely source. Micky V got the boys
back into the game from the penalty spot. The defender had an age to get the
ball under control and clear but only managed to handle the ball and concede
the penalty. It was clear cut, although he argued, as all good players
should. Did him no good though as Micky V slammed home the spot kick.

One down at half-time and all to play for. The second half was dominated for
the most part by the home team as the lads pushed on to get the equaliser.
In a repeat performance the visitors conspired to help the Waverley boys get
back on terms by conceding another penalty. Again handball, again no
argument. A clear handball and up stepped hot-shot Vavaras again to smash
home the equaliser.

From then on it looked like only one side would take the three points. The
boys in green were playing the more constructive football - through the
middle and down either flank. Prashan was afforded some space and jinked his
way through on one mazy run. The final ball proved to be the Achilles heel
through-out as no-one could either set themselves up for the shot or be sent
clean through. The visitors held firm and were strong in defence. Many
occasions they were first to the ball and were showing themselves to be made
of sterner stuff than earlier in the season. this desire resulted in them
getting their third and ultimately winning goal. Another long-ball found its
way to their bustling centre-forward. He was left one-on-one with Alistair
and a low shot across the face of goal, found its way into the bottom
corner.

More chances fell to the home side but to no avail and the game slipped away
in the rain and mud. The lads looked bedraggled and low on confidence as
another game slipped by without reward. Hard work from Jarrod when he came
on for Nick, and Alistair in goal were a couple of positives from the day.
Some soul-searching required over the next couple of days, but mostly some
hard work. The lads need to now dig deep and see if they can recapture some
of that early pre-season form which took them to the top of the league.
It'll take a piece of luck or inspiration or whatever, but remember lads -
"Form is temporary, Class is permanent".

Next week, we'll get back on the winning trail and look forward to a good
run in to the end of the season. See you all at Aston Vanilla, the team
anyone can lick.