Match Report

Opposition: Bulimba White

Date: 23-Mar-2004

Time: 9:20pm

Like last year Bulimba have the two teams in veterans and this second team has the older players. They are always competitive and have an excellent goal keeper.

We had our full team out for this game – all twelve of us. Stickers had had a big weekend and wasn't feeling to well, Neil came up from the coast after an all dayer with the solicitors etc. We brought his gear. Greg and I umpired the Easts v SWU game which was a 1–1 draw.

We improvised again as Greg still isn't upto playing a fullbacks role – this time we used Ian and Ray and Greg played on the wing again. Otherwise the team was as you might expect – old and knackered.

1st half.

Bulimba are far more stuctured than SWU and held their positions well but we dominated all over the field from the word go – Stickers slotted one into the net early on but it was disallowed for being dangerous to the keeper, it's hard to believe that this can be a ruling for a field goal, or any other for that matter . A little later on Darryl sneaked a goal past their keeper who had a very fine game – it's very hard to get shots past this man even when they're straight (But I don't want to talk about that!). Wayne ,Darryl, Stickers and Steve combined well during phases of play. Steve and Greg played a close knit game with Greg dispossessing Steve with his foot, I think Greg was riding shotgun at the time. Greg's hand is getting better as he dented the upright with a shot. Steve managed to hit the netting behind the goal, but about 6 metres up. Their inners didn't defend well which often left our inners in a difficult position when we turned the ball over – we often had a 40 metre dash to cover. Wayne missed a couple of shots when the keeper got out to him early and the touches were saved - we squandered quite a few chances but their last line defended so well (buggers).

Half time score 1–0

2^nd Half

No panic at half-time although we weren't exactly setting the world afire. The expectation was that we were fitter and the goals would come eventually. HA. They hadn't counted on my descision to hit the cover off the ball whenever I was near the goal. I fell over, I missed an open net by the width of the net and did all types of stupid things. Wayne had the appropriate chat. Stickers missed a couple and we all had some failures. Steve finally got our second and last goal when he broke into the circle at speed, drew the keeper out, pulled the ball back and scooped it over the keeper and other defenders into the net (The 'goal of the season' so far – so far Steve!!!! Stickers had a blinder disallowed) Steve was getting plenty of ball and constructing well, others (ie me) were de-constructing well. Darryl's beer knee began to play up and he dummied a couple times so well he left their bemused and well beaten defence with the ball at their stick (we were tiring a bit – so much for the superior fitness!)

With the end in sight Easts had their second shot on goal which naturally went in and we found ourselves up 2–1 with 7 minutes to go. We continued to press in attack but simply could not convert our opportunities. Again our defense was excellent in the most part and we moved the ball around the back well. We'll need to watch out for the marking next week as this is two times in a row where we forwards haven't worked hard enough to defend after we've turned it over. Also, me simply must play the whistle as we've been caught out two weeks in a row now. The good news is that when we combined well it was very well and when we didn't it wasn't too bad and we scrambled well. Next weeks it's Commercial and they beat Bulimba well last week – I guess we'll tackle that issue when we meet them at 8:20pm.

Final Score 2–1.

Scorers: D Tucker, S Sawyers

Cards: None

Injuries: Darryls' Beer Knee