Hi folks, and welcome to our last round up of the season for 2011. We hope
you've enjoyed reading this little bit of nonsense each week and sincerely
hope that we'll have the pleasure of your company next season. It seems to
have been a never-ending season as the last few rounds dragged on, but we
can now finally put our feet up and reflect on a season just gone. We had a
mixed bag of results this week, but there were goals galore and action
aplenty. So read on as we pick out the highlights and make up the rest.

Weather ... Perfect, sunny spring day, with a light cross field breeze to
keep the temperature to a comfortable 20 odd degrees.
Pitch ... bumpy with a sprinkling of grass. The rooms were sensational
though.
Crowd ... sparse but vocal, and friendly enough.
Canteen ... called the kiosk and served chevapi and Kransky and beer and
stuff, all for $5 or $6 or something

The reserves started the day with an outside chance of winning the reserves
league, although with Harrisfield playing lowly Endeavour, it really was an
outside chance. Anyway, team news for the week didn't have any real
surprises. Nick in goal, a backline with Peter S, Vass, Lachie and Sammy,
the midfield comprised of Muzz, Theo, Alex and Gilly, with Nick Mav and Sean
up at the pointy end. On the bench this week we had Erick, Alex V and Mansh.
So on paper the boys looked the goods.

As we all know, it doesn't matter how good the team looks on paper, its what
you do on the pitch that counts. The first half can only be described as an
error strewn litany of lost possession and tired football. Both sides
couldn't retain possession long enough to put any meaningful attacks
together. Neither keeper was brought into serious action, although Gilly
nearly caught the home keeper napping with a flicked half-volley which was
tipped over.

The bobbly pitch didn't help either as players needed 2 and sometimes 3
touches to get the ball under control. Stand out performer though was
Lachlan, who cleared up just about everything thrown at the lads in the air.
The largely forgettable half drew to a close with the fans hoping to see an
improvement in the second half. It was the home side who stepped up though
as twice they caught the Waverley boys on the break. Swift movement down the
right, and a square ball to an unmarked forward was calmly finished off,
with a repeat dose moments later.

Muzz and Theo willed the lads on and they stepped up a gear in an effort to
get back into the game. Nick Mav came close with a snap shot on the turn and
Alex Martin burst into the box only to blaze over from 12 metres out. As the
boys threatened to get back into the game, the Parkers broke again and
finished the game off as a contest with 15 minutes to go. The introduction
of Erick and Alex V gave the boys some impetus, but it was left to Theo to
snatch a consolation goal with a long range effort into the bottom left hand
corner of the net. The young lads couldn't quite close the gap on their more
experienced opponents and so for the second time this season, had to settle
for second best against Parkmore.

With Harrisfield winning 6-0, the runners-up spot was sealed. Although it
was disappointing to end the season with a loss, it was great to see the
team finish in second place on the ladder. 50 points is a fair effort and
would win a league any other time. The season stats will be in the yearbook,
so we won't bore you now. All that remains to be said is well done to all
the boys and a huge pat on the back to Simon for his exemplary leadership
and guidance of the team this year. Now we slap on the sun-screen and settle
back with a chevapi and corona to watch the senior boys end the season is
style.

Team news - Al in goal. Micky V, Petey, Deano, Avish, Lloydy, Marty, Kon D,
Prashan, Metin, Micky P. Warming the pine we had Hyphenated Simon, Goody,
Nick Mav, Sammy and young Erick.

The senior boys started the game with a chance of finishing 2nd/3rd or 4th
depending on other results. The first challenge though was to pick up three
points from today's tricky encounter. We were lucky enough to have a full
complement of officials today and credit is due to the man in the middle,
since he had as a good a game as anyone today.

As for the game itself, here's the highlights of the first half - Metin
opened the scoring on the third minute mark with a shot through a crowded
penalty area. Prashan then scored a second ten minutes later with a
beautifully flighted free-kick which hit the top corner. Parkmore pulled one
back, late in the half to bring them back into the game and that just about
sums the first 45 minutes. Neither side really playing fluid football
although the Waverley boys just about had the edge. We knew the second half
could only get better, but didn't expect the explosive start nor avalanche
of goals.

The crowd had barely settled into their seats when the home side got back on
level terms. Literally straight from the kick-off their forward burst into
the box, only to be upended by Alistair. The ref had no hesitation in
pointing to the spot and inevitably gave Al his marching orders. Avish was
the reluctant volunteer and he pulled on the keepers top. His first piece of
action was to face the penalty which he almost got a hand on, but couldn't
keep out. So it was back to all square but now things would get tough
playing 10v11.

This seemed to spur the lads into action and from then on the second half
was controlled completely by the Waverley boys. 10minutes in, and Metin had
broke clear down the right. He bore down on the keeper and unselfishly
played the ball into the oncoming Micky P to finish. Simon was brought on in
the middle of the park to shore things up and make sure we didn't let the
home side back in. Some tasty tackles started to fly in at this stage and we
were glad the ref was strong enough to clamp down and make sure things
didn't get out of hand. Parkmore were reduced to 10 men midway through the
half as the centre half saw red. His second yellow for dissent saw him take
an early bath.

Petey and his merry men, then went on the rampage and from the 69th minute
the goals came in a flood. First Lloyd, then Marty with a cheeky near post
flick and Micky V extended the lead. The best was saved til last though as
young Erick was given a taste of first team action. With almost his first
touch, he had the ball in the back of the net, only to see the linesman have
his flag raised for offside. Never mind though, he got the taste and a
couple of minutes later he finished off a great move from Mary, Simon and
Goody to get his first goal at senior level. Not content with that, four
minutes later he'd grabbed his second and the teams eighth of the game with
a looping header back over the keeper. Again the culmination of great work
down the right from Marty.

That rounded off the action for the game, the day and season. Probably a
very fitting way to end the season, with one of our young rising stars
sealing the win. The sign of things to come and there's plenty more waiting
in the wings for their opportunity. Let's hope it's not too late for some.

Three points added to the seasons tally and that gets the lads to 40 points,
only 6 points off where we'd planned to be. A successful season no matter
which way you look at things and whatever the other results may be, we can
hold our heads up and be proud of what's been achieved, on and off the park.
Well done guys and especially Hoppy for his leadership, support and guidance
throughout the season. Now it's feet up, relax, take a deep breath and think
about 2012. See you all then.