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Peggy Snr posted on August 15, 2010 09:32
With this fixture looming, we were already short of our steely right back Shaun who was away, but were then reduced by another 3 players as they pulled out on Friday night and Saturday morning. As a result, some quick dealing with the 3rds and Reserves coaches allowed us to use Karl and Madison, leaving us with just the one sub for the game. Having heard the rain overnight and watched the downpour Saturday morning, I was more than expecting the game to be cancelled and so was continually checking the web site. However, come 11am it still showed our game as being on, so off we travelled to Waikaraka Park to face Onehunga Sports. In the previous game at home we had battled to a 1-1 draw against a very physical team and I was expecting much of the same. On arriving at the ground, we were met by an official referee and I was shown the pitch. To be fair, water wings would have been better as the only semi firm ground was out wide. For the rest of the pitch and in particular, the goalmouths, you were able to splash around. Still, the game was to go on so we started with Stuart in goal, Karl, Thomas, Grant and Kyle at the back, Brett, Dave, Coster and Shane in the middle and up front Roddy and Madison. On the bench was Gareth. Given the conditions, it was clear we could not use our pace up front and that the only place to play was out wide and to stay out of the quagmire in the middle and so, those were the instructions.
Kicking off, it was clear that not only did we not listen to those instructions, but we were not really in the game. For the first 20 minutes we were under the cosh, unable to pass the ball and giving it away unnecessarily. Physically we were weak and second to nearly every ball, allowing Sports to come at us at will and pepper Stuart's goal. We did attempt, on a couple of occasions, to put their keeper under pressure, but I cannot recall him having to make any saves of note throughout the game. As the match progressed, the pitch cut up badly and it was clear that the team that was more physical and determined would win. Then, as the half progressed, the inevitable. A corner by Sports (One of many), game in and was cleared to the edge of the box. Stuart shouts to his defenders to move out, but two stay on the posts as Sports attack down our right flank. In comes a hard low cross which the Sports striker back heals beyond Stuart and into the net. 0-1. Nothing Stuart could have done and it was a good goal. However, if the lads had listened to their keeper and moved out, the striker would have been in an offside position. A lesson to be learnt! Listen to your keeper! Still, it was only 0-1 and we have been there before and come back, so there was still hope. However, due to the increasing pressure at the back, I moved Madison to right back and brought on Gareth up front, with Karl taking a breather. With just the one sub, it was going to be a long game for some of the team, whereas Sports had the luxury of continually rotating 5 subs.
Halftime came along and, I make no excuses, it was time to light a match. We needed to start waking up, fighting for the ball and getting stuck into the opposition! We had to keep the ball out of the middle and get it onto the flanks where I know both Brett and Shane can cause problems. With that ringing in their ears, we took to the field. Kicking off, we went straight on the attack down the left wing with Brett, who took the ball past the Sport defenders and with a wonderful finish, put it past the advancing keeper. 1-1! It was the goal we needed and we started to play again, actually putting the opposition under pressure. However, a few minutes later, disaster hit us. A speculative shot/cross was not picked out in the centre, and the unmarked striker was in the right place as the ball hit his chest and flew past a stranded Stuart. It was a fortuitous goal, but they all count. From that moment, it was clear our heads were down and so was our will to fight. Despite Stuart's heroics in goal, our poor defending, particularly at corners cost a further 5 goals against us and I was glad at hearing the final whistle. As a performance, it was by far the worst, although the conditions did not help. The YDS have become a passing team, but sometimes you need to be physical and today, we were not. Still, we now have two more games to show what we are made of, with Mangere away next week, followed by our final home game against Onehunga Mangere.
Man of the match went to Shane for his commitment, although Stuart ran him a close second. Thanks for the supporters that came along and good luck to whoever is cleaning the kit this week. Don't forget photos are this week lads, so be at the club on Wednesday by 6pm.