Here we are again ready to delight you and entice you with an oratorial
vision of our Saturday adventure this week. As we see, we are at one third
the way through the season, and this week we entertained the runaway league
leaders Aston Athletic. So the challenge was on, and as you can see from the
score, they may consider changing their name. We suggest Aston Vanilla, the
team anyone can lick. Reports follow, but a special mention this week has to
go to our club raffle. More specifically Nathan who managed to extort
everyone to part with their hard-earned in exchange for an opportunity to
have their winning ticket drawn by the exquisite Justin. The mid-pitch
extravagant draw at half-time was the best entertainment we've had for a
while. Nathan and Justin are available for parties, weddings or any other
special occasion - see www.rorts-r-us.com.au
OK, so the football? Yep, this is how it went.

Weather ... Almost perfect - sunny, slight breeze with the mercury kissing
the breast of 21deg
Pitch ... All you'd expect from Larpent in all its green and glorious
grassland.
Crowd ... A boisterous and good-natured 50 or so, made up of 10 chain
smokers and 40 or so passive smokers.
Canteen ... Good as usual. Staff turnover was high, but food was good.

What looked on paper to be a fairly even match up, turned out to be a
one-way procession. The only down side to the day would have to be how it
ended up at only 3-0. With all three goals coming in the first half, it
looked as though the floodgates would open. It stayed at three, but with a
clean sheet to boast, everyone could be proud of a good day at the office.
Especially Dan, who donned the keepers jersey since Sean was unavailable
through illness. Although Dan didn't have a lot to do, it's still good to
come off the pitch with a big zero in the against column.
Dan was helped, as always, with a solid performance from those in the
backline especially Peter S. Presented with his overdue 250 game medal
pre-match, Peter gave a star performance and capped off his game with a
well-taken penalty.
Up front Jack Duffield and Christian Martin were paired together and they
gave us a taste of what is to come in the next few years. They both took on
defenders at will, and from one surging run into the box, Jack drew a clumsy
foul and a penalty was given. Jack had already ridden through three clips on
his ankle, but stayed on his feet only to be brought down by the fourth. Up
stepped our new penalty taking hero, Peter S. Everyone had looked at Murray,
but with the broken window at Keysborough still fresh in everyone's mind,
the thought was quickly banished. Peter stroked home the opener.
Savva pretty much controlled the game from the middle of the park.  The lads
continued to control the game, the movement and passing was cultured and
incisive. As a result goal number two came from a deft touch by Avish who
lobbed the keeper from 15 metres. First goal of the season from Avish and
one which he can tell his grandkids about, eventually. Third and final goal
of the game and one which sealed the points came from Christian. Again a
super finish from an accomplished young forward. A little bit of tweaking
here and there, and Christian will be scoring for fun at senior level for
years to come.
The second half came and went with chances aplenty - Sean doing an
impression of Prashan, cross bar hit, keeper hit, corner flag hit, - but not
the back of the net, so 3-0 it stayed and 3 points bagged. A good game and
nice to back up last week's win with another three points. That saw the
reserves move up to second in the league. Top effort boys - from Sammy,
Muzz, Vass, Theo, Sean, Mansh and Gilly. Simon's got the boys working well,
especially when every week they have to cope with four or five changes to
personnel.
Good stuff. With money now replaced by worthless raffle tickets, we readied
ourselves for the big game.

Right, so where do we start? The scene had been set already, since we were
playing the top side, we had to have our top team out right? Wrong. Hoppy
had lost our skipper and central defender Petey to illness and Kon D from
the injury last week. So a few changes were made and Lloydy was drafted into
the backline. Dean was shifted to centre back and Gazz swapped sides to
allow Lloydy to settle in at left back. Met and Jarrod were paired in
midfield, but Alex on the left and Prashan on the right had the usual feel
to it. Anthony and Ozzie gave us the cutting edge up front.
For league leaders, Aston didn't really put up much of a fight, but this was
probably down to the quality of the football they faced. From the start the
Glen Waverley boys were all over them and they never let up.

The first 6 or 7 minutes flew by, in a constant flurry of attacks. The first
corner of the game was won by the home side. Alex floated a ball into the
six yard box over the floundering keeper and Jarrod was there to score with
a header. His first since Julius Caesar was a corporal, well a long time
anyway. So for the sixth game this season we opened the scoring and the
challenge was on to see if we could maintain it. Not only did we maintain
it, we doubled it. On our Walt Disney wristwatch, Mickey Mouse's hand
climbed down from under Minnie Mouse's skirt and pointed at 18 minutes and
it was then that Anthony chose the moment to show everyone his class. He
turned his man on the edge of the box, and seemed to have an age to tee
himself up then rip a 20 yard effort into the top right hand corner. Perfect
and the visitors were on the back foot if they weren't already.

Glen Waverley had the league leaders gasping for air, but they strangled the
life out of their game. Aston had nowhere to turn as the Glen Waverley boys
were in their face - harassing, challenging, tackling and closing down all
over the park. The chances they had were hardly chances at all. Four in the
whole game, from a team who had won six out six so far. Were we that good?
On the day, the answer is definitely yes.

To prove it the boys put way two more before halftime. The third was rammed
home by our other regular goal scorer Micky V. Yes, Micky found himself
following in a free-kick and got to the ball first after the keeper spilled
it, knocking it home from 2 yards with his knee. Cool finish, because if
he'd used his foot, chances are he would have put it wide.
Final goal of the half, and the game, as it would turn out, came from the
cultured left foot of Alex Martin. He caught a ripper of a shot on the
half-volley and curled it into the far corner, much to the delight of all.
This left Aston shell shocked and dispirited. To their credit they kept the
second half scoreless, but to their shame their indiscipline cost them two
players to red cards. Both for dissent and swearing at the referee. No
sympathy from us as this will weaken them for the next few games and
hopefully they'll now drop points. All good.

Anyway, as for the lads on the day? Dean played an assured game at centre
back and Anthony again showed us all what he is capable of. The
understanding with Alex on the left is flourishing and with Ozzie they are
creating headaches for any defence. Great to see young Christian get game
time late on as well as big Toe-Knee, who almost capped his entrance off
with a goal. His header from a corner grazed the post.
Another win, another three points, another clean sheet and the goal
difference now second best in the league. A great win, but now it's feet
back on the ground, work hard in the week and get ready to back it up with
three in row.

Well done Hoppy, the boys are playing good football and getting the rewards.
Roll on round 8 and St Kevins. The boys are coming to get you. See you then.