O 35's v Fencibles

 

 The first half started with Fencibles playing down the bank and wind behind giving them quite a strong advantage in the extreme heat. It was the opposition who started out playing the game very simply and before long creating numerous chances, though to be perfectly honest, not really troubling our defence or keeper to much. They wanted it more than us at the start and this showed.

 

 

Anyway the midfield of Dave Bernard and Russell Evans worked tirelessly trying to undo all the easy work of our opposition but it was exhausting work in these conditions. After 20 or so minutes we started to get a little more possession and hit the opposition down the flanks with the pace of Pete Clark, found by some excellent play from Mark Edwards the only problem was when we got to the by-line we needed to knock the ball backwards but numerous times we went square and made it easy for the oppositions keeper.

Then mid-way through the first-half, a ball was slotted through the Fencibles defence for me to run onto, took 1 touch as their keeper came out to close me down quickly, making a great save as the ball rebounded past the post for a corner. This taken superbly by Graham Spinks with the outside of his right foot and found myself perfectly unmarked at the back post and yet again another save from the Fencibles Keeper.

We went in at half-time 0 – 0 and knowing we now had the hill and wind in our favour it was our turn to put the pressure on, as we know Fencibles would tire.

Starting the second half, Graham knocked it to myself and all of a sudden a great space opened up in the opponents half, we knocked the ball into the space, beat about 4 Fencibles players to it, knocked a through pass to Marty Mercer on the flank, who put back across their goal, to Graham running in, the defence and keeper beaten and as Graham looked to smash the ball home it just skimmed over the bar, great chance but still 0 – 0.

We now started playing some good attractive football, now we wanted it more than they did, we knocked the ball wide down the flanks, through the middle when needed, but still couldn’t score.

Then a great break from Marty Mercer, beating the keeper and the last defender, getting to the by-line with me awaiting at the back post with an empty net, any ball played back below head-height was 1 – 0 Puke, but Marty, in all honesty got too good a connection on the ball and it cleared my jump by several inches and the danger was cleared.

We nearly caught them on the break several times with some huge goal kicks John Mclaughlan, coming down in the oppositions 18 yard box, but nothing quite fell.

The second half was all Puke as the first half was all Fencibles, then in the last few minutes, a Fencibles attacker broke through, but due to quickness of thinking by Andre, rushing out of his box, to collide with the attacker making a great challenge, resulting in the eventual danger being cleared. Then with seconds to go a great dipping shot from Davy Bernard was just millimetres from giving us that deservered lead and 3 points.

All in all we could and should have won but a draw was a fair result, there were some great performances from Davy Bernard, Russell Evans, John Mclaughlan, Mark Edwards and Martin Mercer, but this week player of the day goes to Davy Bernard, some great leadership, tireless running, work rate was second to none and attributing to the main voice out there. Well done Davy not forgetting the final dipping shot that could have earn’t us the 3 points.

Player of the Day:   Davy Bernard

 Don’t forget training has now changed to 6.30 pm Mon and Wed and next week we are home to Eastern Suburbs 2.45 kick off.