Round 14 as it happened …..
On our way back from Darebin, in round 6, I distinctly remember saying to anyone who cared to listen, “Thank goodness we don’t have to come back here again.” But as we drove up Cheddar Road for the third time this season, there was a distinct feeling of déjà vu. There in all its glory on the left was JC Donath Reserve. But a quick right turn saw us down streets with very familiar sounding names like Argyle Street, Dumbarton Street, Aberdeen Street. However the team the lads were to play would struggle to spell Scotland let alone find it on a map. Our Iraqi hosts didn’t quite manage to roll out the red carpet but they were hospitable enough. Only the fella serving the burgers in canteen, whilst dropping cigarette ash, gave us a bit of a dodgy moment. The quick fix on the line marking machine using a car battery for power was on the lighter side of hysterical though. It took a posse of at least 5 to work out what to do. Once sorted it took one to push and two to walk alongside holding the battery in place. So with lines freshly blotched and burgers coated in Marlboro’s finest, it was off to the battle front we went. Read on to find out what happened on Melway page 19B2 ..
Reserves
Reservoir (1) 3 v 0 (0) Glen Waverle
The lads went to Reservoir in a positive mood and with a full squad. That was until 30 minutes before kick-off. Robbie failed a late fitness test on his hip injury and a last minute withdrawal by Guillermo meant the squad was down to a slimline 12. However confidence was still high as the lads had been improving week after week apart from the lack of goals. But not wishing to sound repetitive today was another one of those days where the ball just would not go in. The lads from The Glen were in command for most of the game, but as is normal these days, they let it slip at the vital moments. Reservoir had an early chance to score but rattled the bar with a long range effort. This was the wake-up call the reserves needed and for the rest of the half were mostly in control. Savva was again the focal point of all that was good with the reserves play. Eduardo was back from his USA break and slotted in comfortably alongside Sav. For all their possession, however another quick break from the home side saw them take the lead. Almost from the restart Alex latched onto a cross field pass, only to see his shot clear the near post. An indirect free-kick inside the box from a back pass, gave Sav the chance to blast home from close range. This time the shot rebounded off a desperate defender who flung himself bravely in front of the ball. Pressure mounted as time went on but the home side defended well and withstood the onslaught. Halftime came and went in a swirl of coach’s instructions. Keep playing the way we were seemed to be the message and so they did. Continuing to make chances Alex and Sav both went close and two close range efforts rattled the post. So near yet so far, but luck deserted the lads as they conceded another on the break and the final nail in the coffin was hammered in with minutes to go. No team reward for all the effort, but plenty of good individual performance were enough to give us hope for the run in to the end of the season. Sir Alex shrugged off the result with a shrug of the shoulders “I’ve shrugged off the result” he said.”The young players are standing up week in week out and should get the rewards they richly deserve.”
Seniors
Reservoir (1) 3 v 1 (0) Glen Waverley
Now it was the turn of the Seniors to see if they could get the better of their Iraqi counterparts. With a full squad available, Liam back in goal and Steve V back in the side, optimism was high. Steve had elected to play with a compressed midfield hoping to put pressure on the quick and mobile Reservoir midfielders. The tactic was working as the boys from the Eastern suburbs stifled the home team. However, an early injury to Petey seemed to destabilise the structure, but it took something special to break the deadlock. The home side centre forward took possession just outside the box, turned onto his left and rifled the ball in past a helpless Liam. The game was still there for the taking though as the Glen Waverley lads produced the majority of the chances. Sweeping moves down either flank were only just dealt with by the home side. However more misfortune fell on our luckless warriors as Steve, attempting to whip the ball in from the left, rolled his ankle. It was clear his game was over and with two replacements in the first thirty minutes; all the best laid plans went to waste.
With only one goal in it at halftime, the game was still in the balance. Our lads had a header from a free-kick cleared off the line and shots from Theos and Kon flew just wide of the target. The home side were in a contest and tried all the old tactics in an attempt to sway the game their way. Even with Anouk, Julian and Micky V along having terrific matches, it was Reservoir’s ability to make their limited chances count that won them the game. With about 60 minutes gone 2 goals within 5 minutes looked like it was enough to give the home side the three points. Final change of the game saw Ian given a chance to get something from the day. It was Dean however, who was back in the starting 11, finishing sweetly from a cross by Lloyd, to give the lads some hope. Perhaps it was too much of a mountain to climb, but the lads didn’t have the resolve to go chasing an improbable result and that’s how the score ended. Ian wasn’t going to be left out of the limelight though, ending his game by letting the referee know what he thought of him – “Richard cranium” I think. The referee was left with no option but to show the red card. It was a silly mistake from a player who should have known better. So there we are, another venture to the west goes unrewarded and as usual we leave the final word to Steve. “Christ, that hurts.” was all we could get out of him.
Losing 0-3 and 1-3 today was no real reflection on how the lads played. In fact, both teams took the game to their higher credentialed opponents. Reservoir is sitting second on both ladders so it was no disgrace to lose although on another day it could have been a different story.