| Vintage Match Report _ Sat 13th June 09 |
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Saints Vintage V Narara After two weeks of washouts and a long weekend off, we were keen to get back on the park and continue our unbeaten start to the season. Saints Rockets had just played their best game of the season so far, holding table leaders Wyong to a 2-2 draw, so we knew a win today would put us clear table leaders. Selection headaches for Astro and Dash as we had 4 players out - Adam, Jugsy and Jonesy were unavailable and Mick was a late scratching. Luckily Kenny and Pommie were available from the Rockets after their sensational game so we had 12 players raring to go!!!... Starting line up was Karl (GK), Dags (RB), Rosey (Sweeper), Kenny (LB), Tom Hanks(Stopper), Jazzy (RM), Zac and Astro (CM), Noellie (LM), Dash (Forward Mid), Matt (Striker) for our usual formation of 4-4-1-1 with Pommie on the bench. Our opposition Narara were placed 4th on the table so we knew this would be a tough game, especially with Paul Adams and Steve in the centre of their defence (although I was happier to see Steve there rather than causing his usual havoc upfront). Saints kicked off and from the very start we were holding and passing the ball quite well, despite Narara giving us very little time on the ball. A couple of attempted through balls from midfield didnt quite come off but prompted Narara's little midfielder to shout out "Come on guys they got nothing but the hopeful long ball" which I found very amusing considering that was basically their major tactic for a lot of the game! Our continued pressure and possession didnt really amount to any clear cut chances though as Dash was being heavily marked and space was hard to come by down the middle. Against the run of play their forward got on the end of a long ball and managed to get it up and over Karl from the right side of the penalty area for a nicely taken goal. 0-1 but we'd been in this position before so there were no signs of any panic. Pommie came on into Centre Mids and Astro shifted over to Left Mid while Noellie took a breather. We continued to dominate possession and won a couple of corners, one of which found Astro's head only to narrowly miss the left post. We were getting the ball a bit wider as the half progressed which stretched their defence and after a nice series of passes the ball fell to Matty a couple of metres outside the box. He cracked it low and hard and, with the slightest of deflections, the ball flew past the keeper into the bottom left corner.. GOAL! 1-1 was the score at half time. We knew if we could try and get the ball wide in the 2nd half and create some more chances we could go on and win the game. The second half started and Narara came out strong enjoying a bit more possession and looking especially dangerous with a couple of very long throw ins into the box. It was from one of these throws that they flicked a header on into the six yard box which we failed to clear and the loose ball was finished off from close range. 1-2 down but in usual Saints fashion, we didnt panic. Astro came on for Pommie and it was around this time that the game really opened up (probably due to the extra space we were now giving them in the centre mids!) Dags was making some great runs forward on the overlap and Jazzy was working hard making some great combination passing and it seemed that the right hand side was going to be our best route to goal. Plenty of crosses were coming in from the right and Zac was also getting some good through balls down the middle bringing Dash and Matty into the game more and more. Dash had a superb shot brilliantly saved by their keeper but not long after Matty crossed the ball into the box directly onto Dashs feet and with his back to goal performed his trademark turn and shot finishing it nicely GOAL! 2-2 and right back in the game! The game became pretty much end to end with both sides creating chances, Narara perhaps wasting 1 or 2 opportunities to retake the lead and Matty at the other end had a brilliant run foiled by their keeper. Time was running out, legs were getting tired but Saints continued to push forward. With less than a minute to go, Jazzy got the ball on the right and, after nearly losing possession, managed to get the ball in to Zac or Matt in the centre. ( If I remember correctly) The ball was then played through to Dash in the box who again turned and shot under the keeper. The last kick of the game and it was a GOAL!!. 3-2 Final Score Tough luck on Narara but the never say die attitude of this Saints team paid off in the end. A thoroughly enjoyable game and a great result that puts us 2 points clear at the top of the table. Special thanks to Kenny and Pommie for helping us out this week.. Both played really well..Thanks boys! Captains comments: Our passing at times was awesome, we played the ball around really well. We just have to be careful putting ourselves under pressure sometimes at the back. If there are no options for an easy ball then hit it long! |