Chris

AA/6 vs Beecroft: D 1-1

Published June 2, 2008 | By Chris

Game 9 (31/5/8)
Scorer: Pete
The much anticipated game against first place was decided by two penalties. We started well, with plenty of chances being made, one resulting in Chris being felled in the box for Pete to step up and calmly wrong foot the keeper with the resultant penalty. We were then made to pay for missing a few gilt-edged opportunities, when the ref awarded the opposition a penalty for a dive so blatant you could have thought C Ronaldo was playing, and Beecroft scored with their first shot on target for the game. The rest of the game was evenly contested, and even with a Beecroft player being sent off with ten minutes to go couldn’t tip the balance either way. Good games for Pete, Dan, Roger, Tom and Simon at the back, holding strong even with us missing three defenders. Thanks to Merrick for filling in (and Townsend for offering).

AA/6 — 2-1 Win vs Epping Eastwood

Published May 20, 2008 | By Chris

Round 7 – 18/5/08

Scorers: Heman, Tom G

Still recovering from a beating 8 days beforehand, we had a satisfying number of players turn up, allowing us to have 2 subs on the bench. However not all players were fit. Heman made a slightly late arrival after running a half marathon in the city and Howard was suffering from cold. Despite this, Chris Hobbs, Andrew, Herman and Scott created a number of wonderful opportunities that just lacked the perfect finish. Simon was playing CB along side Dan, and together the opposition front line were totally ineffective. Pete playing in a new position at left back did well to contain a young winger from doing major damage. Nick tirelessly worked throughout the middle of the park, coming out first with most of the 50-50 challenges and 15mins from half time, Nick cleverly won a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Heman slotted this beautifully in the top right hand corner for his 4th of the campaign, with the opposition baffled at the attempt.

In the 2nd half, Herb decided to push Pete up into the mids and play a 3 man backline and rotated Little Tom who had a rather boring 1st half with Howard in goals. This turned out to be a genius substitution as he scored with a wonderful through ball to put us 2-0 up. Lachlan played as Tom’s supporting striker with a series of wonderful passes and runs that troubles the tired defence. Epping Eastwood then turned the heat on, requiring Dan, Simon and Tim to put in the hard yards to keep a clean sheet. However this was not to be, a rusty Howie in goals made a slight misjudgement of the ball, and he was beaten by a header. 2-1 the score now. By now the referee’s decisions caused a few of the opposition to abuse him and a few yellow cards were shown. Epping Eastwood kept the pressure up and the ref eventually made a controversial decision awarding a penalty against us for a “handball” in the box. Pressure was on both sides, as the kicker had never taken a penalty before, and Howie still a bit sick. The first attempt went into the top right hand corner, but the ref called it back with Epping Eastwood players crossing the line before the ball was kicked. The second attempt proved breath taking, with the kicker opting for the other side, put it too close to the keeper and Howie guessed correctly and made a brilliant one handed diving save to keep us ahead. A big thank you to the supporters who came and watched and Tim Wilson for a wicked shift in the backline who is also my vote for man of the match.

AA/6 — 1-6 Loss vs Thornleigh

Published May 13, 2008 | By Chris

Round 5 – 10/5/8

Scorer: Hobbs

Bugger. Despite a bright start, when Chris stayed on his feet and scored despite a redcardworthy tackle within the first minute it looked good, but wasted opportunities, a lack of cards, and conceding a goal in every screwed up way imaginable as we hit the self-destruct button time and again, made for an unenjoyable afternoon.
Also, has anyone else ever had ‘no, its not a card, he got the player first, and from behind’ from an official before? I have

AA/6 vs West Ryde Rovers: W 4-2

Published May 4, 2008 | By Chris

Game 5 (3/5/08)
Scorers: Heman -3, Houston

After getting a surprise from seeing our old four-time-draw joint-champion friends from last year in Div11, our team settled into playing on Glenorie Park’s mini oval and started strongly. However Rovers took the lead with their first shot on target after around twenty minutes, but a Heman special saw his freekick restore parity with a savage dip just before half time.
As expected, both teams came back out all guns blazing, tackles flying everywhere, yellows given to both teams, but a deep cross was neatly controlled by Chris Houston to finish from close range and put us into the lead. Heman followed by bamboozling four defenders to put us 3-1 up. And when Herman’s cross found Heman to head us into a three goal lead and complete his hattrick, we felt confident that we were finally going to beat our bogey team from the year before. Good possession play from Andrew and Scott saw a few more chances including another from Heman hitting the bar, while Simon continued to impress in defence. Late on we lost focus a little, as Rovers got one back to spoil the party a little. Only a little.
Good games all round, with keeper Tom making some great saves, and Roger pulling out some tricks.
Also we are keeping Andrew Dupen in our prayers, dislocating his elbow while filling in for us. Get well soon mate

AA/11 — 0-0 Draw vs West Ryde Rovers

Published August 15, 2007 | By Chris

Finals Round 2 – 11/8/7

No score, but we could have got it 3-0, one shot on post, one missed point blank, one ruled out due to someone else being offside (would have been my 5th goal of the season too you jerks. Wait til I find out who it was…).

First time (in three meetings) we havent had to carry any injured players off. See how it goes against them next week in the final.

Training

Published July 27, 2007 | By Chris

All Coaches –

Please remember to put away any training cones or poles that you use for your training sessions. Also please pick up any drink bottles (empty or otherwise) that are left behind by your players. Thank you

AA/11 — 6-0 Win vs Carlingford Redbacks

Published July 23, 2007 | By Chris

Round 9 – 22/7/7

Scorers: Chris -2, Nick, Fish, Wes, Pete

What a difference having subs makes. That and the fact that more than half the team were playing in their proper positions. But to the game. I would like to start off by saying that 9am on Sunday mornings should not exist at all, let alone to be outside and running around in. Nevertheless, we managed to pull out one of our best games of the season so far, and early pressure saw Nick get a goal to start us off. He then turned provider for Chris’ inch perfect header to double the lead. Displaying some brilliant passing football, Jesse and Heman continued to fashion chances and we kept the lion’s share, or should I say the Puma’s share [/bad joke] of possession throughout the game. Just before halftime, Fish (playing game 3 out of 4 for the weekend) stumbled the ball across the line from close range, and we felt confident at halftime.

The second half saw Redbacks come at us strongly, with Ranen making some fancy saves using some choice selections from his diving repertoire to keep the clean sheet, ably helped by a strong backline, including Howard making his debut at centreback. Pete and Roger at fulbacks distributed the ball well to keep Jason and Wes with plenty of action on the wings, with Wes cutting in field, beating 3 players before pulling out an unstoppable shot from longrange for his first goal of the season. Then it was Pete’s turn for his first goal as we dispatched a penalty Jason had won with his marauding run. At 5 up we slowed down a little and let them attack a bit more, to their credit Redbacks played the whole game at full commitment and in good spirit. But a quick breakaway through Erik and Scott from the AA/14s saw Scott put Chris through for his second of the game.

Big thanks to Scott, Fish and Erik for filling in for us. Now for next week, and hold on to our one point lead and hopefully win the Premiership next week.

AA11 — 3-1 Win vs Kenthurst

Published June 3, 2007 | By Chris

Round 8 – 2/6/7

Scorers: Nick, Chris, Steve Morsillo

Same score as the round 1 game against these guys, but a very different team having taken to the field. Due to injuries Herman made his debut in goals not having played there since… ever? We also had to call on Fish, Brendan and Steve from the AA18s who did an awesome job helping out, Steve getting on the scoresheet for our second goal.
The game started brightly with Nick getting close enough from a Simon special corner that not even he could miss to put us up within the opening minutes. The game had plenty of attacking moves from both teams, and Simon turned provider again for Steve M to chip the keeper. 2-0 at half time.
In the second half a miscommunication in the defence saw Kenthurst get one back, but a marauding late run from Steve Jurd saw Heman’s square ball trickled in via Chris’ deflection. Despite carrying numerous niggling injuries into the game, I think the fact that Herman was in goals made us all defend a lot harder. Next week should be fun though, 9am start.

AA11 — 2-2 Draw vs West Ryde Rovers

Published May 5, 2007 | By Chris

Round 4 – 5/5/7

Scorers: Herman, Nick

Our first points dropped in the season . Early pressure paid off with the “To brothers” combining with Jason playing a great cross for Herman to finish with a header. A stray corner saw Nick head goalwards only for a Rovers player to head it past his goalie for us to go 2-0 up. However a defensive lapse saw them get one back before halftime.
With minutes to go we were made to regret all our spurned chances from earlier as somehow a penalty was given against us. Several of our players left the field injured. Luckily for them this time it paid off and the ref gave them two goes at the penalty and it finished level. C’est la vie. We are still first.

NW

AA11 — 4-1 Win vs Putney

Published April 28, 2007 | By Chris

Round 3 – 28/4/7

Scorers: Chris, Jason, Nick, Heman

Hooray, our 3-1 jinx is broken! Our unbeaten record did look to be in danger for a while as Putney had us on the ropes for the opening part of the game, and their pressure paid off as they took the lead. Once we woke up though, we took the game back and Howard’s low ball across the box saw Chris slide in an equalise. He followed this up shortly with a brilliant heeled pass for Jason to “To”-bash home and put us in the lead at half time.
The second half was more of the same, with our defence and Steve and Pete in particular shackling the opposition forwards. The chances were continuing to be made up front, even allowing Nick to score a left-footer in a scramble in the box. The 3-1 jinx loomed large, but we fought (literally at times as the game got more heated) and were rewarded with Heman controlling well in the box and getting the magical fourth.
A good game with three more players getting their first goals of the season, making it 10 goals from 7 different players. Now outright first on the table. Booyah

NW