| Glen Waverley Soccer Club - Mens Seniors & Reserves |
We bid you all a warm welcome to this week's match report. We say warm as it
was anything but yesterday. The hosts were genial enough but him upstairs
must have had a diet of baked beans, prune juice and onions because the wind
blew long and hard all day. It was bloody freezing as well. Read on to find
out if our lads warmed us up with a performance on the pitch.
Round 14 v Uni of Melbourne
Venue: The Wind Tunnel (aka Princes Park)
Weather: A gentle breeze wafting slowly down the pitch from North to South.
Reserves
Result ... 2-4
(Halftime score ... 2-3)
Scorers ... Michael N, Yureshan
A quick look at the scorers list above and you would see a name not often
associated with the reserves squad. Michael N has been short on confidence
over the last couple of weeks, so was given a chance in the ressies to see
if he could rekindle the embers and find his "mojo". With Justin also
returning from holiday the reserves has some experience to call upon. Not so
in goal. Young Avish from the U18's was called upon to make his senior debut
in the keeping duties. It proved a tough baptism of fire for the young lad
playing against an experienced team and in very trying conditions.
The wind, as mentioned earlier, played a huge part as it blew straight down
the pitch. The Waverley boys were playing into the wind in the first half
and were under the pump from the first whistle. However the lads did look
reasonably solid at the back, but 15 minutes in Bill G took a nasty tumble
and struggled to continue. Sam was brought into the fray, earlier than he
would have expected. In the meantime, the Students had taken a 2 goal lead.
The first goal courtesy of a combination of wind/luck/inexperience and
miscommunication. That's the polite way of saying we stuffed it up. The
second was a well placed shot past the outstretched arm of Avish.
At this point the lads were jolted into action. Sam won the ball in our half
and sent Nanos quickly on his way. Ripping down the left, he then smashed in
a left footed shot in off the underside of the cross bar from an impossible
angle. Moments later the boys were level. From a similar position, Nanos
whipped a ball across the box. Matt Soon did the customary miss from point
blank range (he'd say he dummied it) and Yureshan followed up at the far
post and hammered home the equaliser. At this point the lads were rampant
and had done well to score twice against the wind and uphill. The home side
did manage to edge back in front squeezing home their third shortly before
the break.
Only one down at halftime things still looked good for our heroes. Murray
and Justin were toiling in midfield and Dan was marshalling the troops in
the back. Nanos gave us the cutting edge and Sean Weston was playing his
best game of the season so far. The second half saw the game played mostly
in the Uni half, but they played a smart game. Plenty men behind the ball
and compressing the space wherever it was created. We had chances to score,
indeed Michael had a couple of one-on-ones which on another day would have
been buried. Still chances were being made. The most crucial chance though
fell to the home side, who took advantage of a poorly defended corner to
grab their fourth goal and basically put the game beyond the reach of the
Waverley boys.
All in all it was a pretty good performance in trying conditions. The lads
will learn from it and hopefully with a good run in to the end of the
season, they should still finish in a healthy league position. Checking to
see if the brass monkeys still had their proverbials, the lads wrapped up
warmly to watch the senior boys do their stuff. Read on to see if they did
indeed "Do their stuff" ...
Seniors
Result ... 1-1
(Halftime score ... 0-0)
Scorer ... James Lopez
We hoped that the wind may have died down between the games, but watching a
magpie try to take off soon dashed our hopes. The poor bloody bird took off,
went up for about three feet then flew backwards for about thirty yards. I
didn't think they could do that - physics and aerodynamics and stuff. But it
crashed in a flurry of black and white feathers, stood upright again, tried
to make it look like it meant it, gave up and decided to watch the game from
terra firma.
Like the reserves in the first game, the senior boys decided to battle the
elements in the first half. The game also followed a similar pattern where
the wind decided which end the game would be played. Playing resolute
defensive football, the boys from the Glen stood firm and withstood all the
pressure from the Uni lads. There wasn't too much to write home about with
regard to chances as Steve was relatively untroubled. Tony G, Julian and Ian
were rock solid. Tony especially commanding in the air and on the ground.
In midfield the solidity of Savva and Kon were flanked by the youthful
Petey, Matey and Alex. It was Alex however who had an early end to his match
with an ankle injury. (I reckon he fancied trying to find somewhere warmer.)
Dean joined the action and the boys were still pretty much in control. Up
front Steve and James didn't see too much action, but it was understandable
considering the conditions. As it happened the score remained at 0-0 up to
halftime. The only blemish being Matey's yellow card for making too good a
tackle on one of the students.
Onto the second half, the lads were full of confidence now having all things
in their favour. Pushing on though it was the home side who broke the
deadlock. Watch the DVD to find out the details, because by now my eyelids
were just about frozen shut and we were getting to the point where we didn't
really care anymore. Sav for the second time in the match came off second
best in a challenge and was replaced by Prashan. Final change came midway
through the half and Sammy O'Brien was given his debut, replacing skipper
Kon.
The Uni team were sitting in second place on the ladder and the Glen
Waverley boys were propping up the league in 12th place, but on the day you
would never have guessed it. Both teams were well matched and the visitors
were unlucky to fall behind. But a never-say-die attitude has been instilled
in the team and up stepped James to ram home a well-deserved equaliser.
Steven's corner was knocked down by the keeper and James was in the right
place at the right time to take advantage.
The game ended with honours even and on the face of it, both sides deserved
to have some reward for playing in pretty cruddy conditions. A good point
well earned and hopefully just the thing to get the season back on track.
The young lads have stepped up and under the guidance of the more
experienced lads, there's no reason why we cant finish well away from the
relegation zone.
Well done lads. Hope you've all thawed out and are looking forward to
putting Endeavour Hills back in their box. See you at Larpent where we hope
the sun will shine.
was anything but yesterday. The hosts were genial enough but him upstairs
must have had a diet of baked beans, prune juice and onions because the wind
blew long and hard all day. It was bloody freezing as well. Read on to find
out if our lads warmed us up with a performance on the pitch.
Round 14 v Uni of Melbourne
Venue: The Wind Tunnel (aka Princes Park)
Weather: A gentle breeze wafting slowly down the pitch from North to South.
Reserves
Result ... 2-4
(Halftime score ... 2-3)
Scorers ... Michael N, Yureshan
A quick look at the scorers list above and you would see a name not often
associated with the reserves squad. Michael N has been short on confidence
over the last couple of weeks, so was given a chance in the ressies to see
if he could rekindle the embers and find his "mojo". With Justin also
returning from holiday the reserves has some experience to call upon. Not so
in goal. Young Avish from the U18's was called upon to make his senior debut
in the keeping duties. It proved a tough baptism of fire for the young lad
playing against an experienced team and in very trying conditions.
The wind, as mentioned earlier, played a huge part as it blew straight down
the pitch. The Waverley boys were playing into the wind in the first half
and were under the pump from the first whistle. However the lads did look
reasonably solid at the back, but 15 minutes in Bill G took a nasty tumble
and struggled to continue. Sam was brought into the fray, earlier than he
would have expected. In the meantime, the Students had taken a 2 goal lead.
The first goal courtesy of a combination of wind/luck/inexperience and
miscommunication. That's the polite way of saying we stuffed it up. The
second was a well placed shot past the outstretched arm of Avish.
At this point the lads were jolted into action. Sam won the ball in our half
and sent Nanos quickly on his way. Ripping down the left, he then smashed in
a left footed shot in off the underside of the cross bar from an impossible
angle. Moments later the boys were level. From a similar position, Nanos
whipped a ball across the box. Matt Soon did the customary miss from point
blank range (he'd say he dummied it) and Yureshan followed up at the far
post and hammered home the equaliser. At this point the lads were rampant
and had done well to score twice against the wind and uphill. The home side
did manage to edge back in front squeezing home their third shortly before
the break.
Only one down at halftime things still looked good for our heroes. Murray
and Justin were toiling in midfield and Dan was marshalling the troops in
the back. Nanos gave us the cutting edge and Sean Weston was playing his
best game of the season so far. The second half saw the game played mostly
in the Uni half, but they played a smart game. Plenty men behind the ball
and compressing the space wherever it was created. We had chances to score,
indeed Michael had a couple of one-on-ones which on another day would have
been buried. Still chances were being made. The most crucial chance though
fell to the home side, who took advantage of a poorly defended corner to
grab their fourth goal and basically put the game beyond the reach of the
Waverley boys.
All in all it was a pretty good performance in trying conditions. The lads
will learn from it and hopefully with a good run in to the end of the
season, they should still finish in a healthy league position. Checking to
see if the brass monkeys still had their proverbials, the lads wrapped up
warmly to watch the senior boys do their stuff. Read on to see if they did
indeed "Do their stuff" ...
Seniors
Result ... 1-1
(Halftime score ... 0-0)
Scorer ... James Lopez
We hoped that the wind may have died down between the games, but watching a
magpie try to take off soon dashed our hopes. The poor bloody bird took off,
went up for about three feet then flew backwards for about thirty yards. I
didn't think they could do that - physics and aerodynamics and stuff. But it
crashed in a flurry of black and white feathers, stood upright again, tried
to make it look like it meant it, gave up and decided to watch the game from
terra firma.
Like the reserves in the first game, the senior boys decided to battle the
elements in the first half. The game also followed a similar pattern where
the wind decided which end the game would be played. Playing resolute
defensive football, the boys from the Glen stood firm and withstood all the
pressure from the Uni lads. There wasn't too much to write home about with
regard to chances as Steve was relatively untroubled. Tony G, Julian and Ian
were rock solid. Tony especially commanding in the air and on the ground.
In midfield the solidity of Savva and Kon were flanked by the youthful
Petey, Matey and Alex. It was Alex however who had an early end to his match
with an ankle injury. (I reckon he fancied trying to find somewhere warmer.)
Dean joined the action and the boys were still pretty much in control. Up
front Steve and James didn't see too much action, but it was understandable
considering the conditions. As it happened the score remained at 0-0 up to
halftime. The only blemish being Matey's yellow card for making too good a
tackle on one of the students.
Onto the second half, the lads were full of confidence now having all things
in their favour. Pushing on though it was the home side who broke the
deadlock. Watch the DVD to find out the details, because by now my eyelids
were just about frozen shut and we were getting to the point where we didn't
really care anymore. Sav for the second time in the match came off second
best in a challenge and was replaced by Prashan. Final change came midway
through the half and Sammy O'Brien was given his debut, replacing skipper
Kon.
The Uni team were sitting in second place on the ladder and the Glen
Waverley boys were propping up the league in 12th place, but on the day you
would never have guessed it. Both teams were well matched and the visitors
were unlucky to fall behind. But a never-say-die attitude has been instilled
in the team and up stepped James to ram home a well-deserved equaliser.
Steven's corner was knocked down by the keeper and James was in the right
place at the right time to take advantage.
The game ended with honours even and on the face of it, both sides deserved
to have some reward for playing in pretty cruddy conditions. A good point
well earned and hopefully just the thing to get the season back on track.
The young lads have stepped up and under the guidance of the more
experienced lads, there's no reason why we cant finish well away from the
relegation zone.
Well done lads. Hope you've all thawed out and are looking forward to
putting Endeavour Hills back in their box. See you at Larpent where we hope
the sun will shine.
