Round 6 Saturday May 15th 2010.
St Michaels 8 vs Lane Cove 0
Blackman Upper
Result Win 3 – 0
Goal scorers : Matt M 2, Paul Bowd 1
Sydney in autumn is a special time. With just a hint of cool breeze and the Sun shining, the contrast creates special days, which brings a smile to locals and is the envy of the tourists.
The autumn weekend of the 15th/16th was also a special time for many other reasons. Jessica Watson completed her circumnavigation of the globe, the half marathon was scheduled for Sunday, with a few of STM’s finest participating, the Tahs won and Peter Grantham passed another milestone in his Sporting Endeavours’’…..Kayaking Sat morning, 2 games of football on Sat afternoon, Boundary runner for AFL Sunday morning and 2 games of football on Sunday afternoon….well done Pete.
However there was one other significant event to surpass all others, the local derby when St.
Michael’s take on Lane Cove for the “Master of their Turf Award” …. Or more dust as the turf has all but disappeared from Blackman.
Arriving at Blackman both teams followed the custom of setting up camp in their traditional locations. LC in the shade out of the sun to protect their “soft” skin and the boys of STM five or is it six metres from the half-way line. If you look closely you will find a secret “X” marking the spot.
As is customary for the STM crew the plan is to appear disorganized by arriving in dribs and drabs, casually going through the motions of donning the uniform, rubbing every exposed area with Dencorub before a couple of casual kicks to indicate the warm-up has commenced.
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Then as if a switch is hit the team assembles for the customary strategy review, final selections and stretch, the games faces appear and the “force to be reckoned with” is ready for action.
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The whistle blows to mark the start of yet another battle with LC.
True to form STM dominate early possession with deft passing and raids on both flanks. LC never a side to be taken lightly, counter, making our midfield and defence work hard to retain possession. The early pace and intensity of the game is noticeable from the sidelines.
Then out of the blue 15-20mins into the first half Matt finds himself in space after
R.O.H.I.T slips one through the pressing defenders, momentarily confused by
R.O.H.I.T.’s choice of Lane Cove socks.
It’s one-on-one, with the LC troops heading back to help in a hurry. As if time momentarily slowed
Matt went right, then left, then right before the LC goalie, a defender,
Matt and the ball appeared to be in the net, Goal 1-0.
The rest of the first half saw both teams lift (as did the dust) with very few real scoring chances either way.
Half time gave the STM boys a chance to clear their dusty throats and take on board the words; we are going well but…… we need to win more of the 50-50 balls. With nods of agreement it was back to the action.
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Running with the sun at our backs for the second half the play was again fast and furious. STM were using the width searching for the last remaining patches of grass and slowly but surely maintaining the momentum of the earlier period.
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Mounting another raid down the right the ball passed between many sets of feet (
Goodman,
Smith,
Fitzgerald,
Middleton and then…and then….and then…
BOWD who with skill and precision many of us mere mortals aspire to, hit the sweetest of shots, first time…no need for trapping, controlling…..just BANG into the back of the net. Goal 2-0.
No more than 10 minutes had passed before once again the STM boys found themselves with another attacking opportunity. A corner from the Left by
Bowdy to the far post, headed back across by
Marc B to the waiting head of
Matt. Goal 3-0.
It is at the is point in the report I should acknowledge that 70 minutes had been played and the STM defensive line had held, denying LC any real chances for an effective shot on goal. Time and time again the combination of Sayle, Baker, Hill, Fitzgerald, Murphy, with the assistance from Bowd, Bineham, Hughes, Smith and R.O.H.I.T prevented the ball from reaching the back of our net.
With 20 mins to go it was observed that the play was now all in the LC half, allowing Mr Sayle an opportunity for a new PB…….in pushups…..at least 3 sets of 10 and still no opposition in sight.
And then The Final Whistle…… time to reflect, beer in hand and with sausages cooked on the new team BBQ (thanks Marc).
Stewart W