EASTS 3 def NORTHS 2
Top Effort
FIRST HALF
A mix matched line-up again with most players playing out of their preferred position. We knew it was going to be a tough match and for the first twenty minutes it was 50/50. Some lovely work down the right by Isaac combining with Shane allowed me to pop one over the keeper’s head for the lead. They were quick to respond and evened within 5 minutes. Wayne got slammed by a ferocious tackle that looks to have given him a double fracture of the cheek and eye socket and will require surgery and that took him out of the game with 10 to go in the first half. They scored two goals off corners and we went to the break 3-1 down. The last 15 minutes of this half we gave away the pill to often and ran at pace rather than building it up. Shane showed some great strength up front with some quick through balls. Great defence by Damien Wardy and Mick saved our asses on a number of occasions with Doug saving a ripper at the end. Mick pulled a quad and we were looking like we were going to be in real trouble.
Standouts Damien Rendell, Steven Ward, Doug Schnieder Shane Watson
SECOND HALF
Wayne out, Mick injured, Doug not 100% Steve Fanker not 100% Myself getting over Flu, Drummo, Steve Sawyer, Lee, and Greg not playing, what were we going to do?
Give 100% and play for 35 minutes. ………and we did.
We slowed the pace and forced more penalties. Damien was great in defence and fed Doug the ball who combined with Isaac at right half to build the play up the field giving us opportunities. Up front James and David worked together giving us chances at goal and a cross from the right allowed me to pop another over the keepers head for our second. 2-3. With Mick being injured, our defence played solid to help out and our midfield and strikers helped by not rushing and forcing the penalties. Easts started to crack and make some dangerous tackles and Wardy was unfortunate to get sent for responding to the frequency of them.
On the left, Steve F, Shane, Frank and Pinky were solid in defence and didn’t allow them to attack to many times down the right and when they did they were either stopped or slowed down.
Standouts Damien Rendell, Doug Schnieder, Isaac Campbell, James Rendell, David Ensbey.
At the end of the first half I was worried. I wondered whether you guys could lift to the level needed to get back in the game. I need not worry ever again. As coach and player I could not be more proud of a team that wears such a “never say die” attitude on their sleeve. Although we lost the game, it was a great victory for team moral and spirit and I thank all of you. That said we demonstrated that we need to work on our strength over the ball as many times we tried to hold the ball they were taking it from us putting us on the back foot.
Aaron Griffin 2
3 Points Damien Rendell
2 Points Isaac Campbell
1 Point Doug Schnieder