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Reserves v
Riversdale
A
glorious day welcomed us to our home ground on Saturday to face a
solid Riversdale side that were sharing top spot on the ladder. Our
inform defender, Jack "The Barbarian" Coenen was a late withdrawal
after sustaining a finger injury playing "silly ball" at school.
This left us with only two fresh bodies on the bench. The lads were
presented with their new strip before the game, and all were
excited. The game started with Monbulk making most of the running.
Josh picked up where he left off last week, and terrorised the
opposition with some great runs, and quality balls in the box. Our
defence yet again looked solid, with Owen having to fall back and do
the important job as cover for Jack. Riversdale rarely threatened
which was testament to the hard work of Monbulk. Az and Shano were
playing really well and along with Richo provided excellent
leadership to the young fellas. Jack Kirkham started wide on the
left, while Norman was solid all day in the middle. But as has
happened in every game this season, a lapse of concentration at the
back, saw Riversdale score a very soft goal, after Ozzie failed to
hold a ball from close range, albeit an acute angle. Monbulk were
behind once again. But the fighting spirit was still there and they
battled back. Constant pressure with balls in the box, and some
great through balls to Jezza and Dane had Riversdale on the back
foot. The equaliser was inevitable, and came through the excellent
Jezza from close range, after a goal mouth scramble. Mobulk pushed
for a second, but some dodgy offside decisions thwarted our
attempts. A great header by Dane looked a certain goal, but the
linesman's trigger hand went up once again, and the goal was
disallowed. With 5min to go, Dane turned his player inside out, and
hit a dipping shot from about 35 yards, only to see the Riversdale
keeper pull off an extraordinary save to keep his team in the game.
The
second half started the same way the first ended. Monbulk pushing
hard for the very important next goal. Jezza was brilliant all day,
and his pressure was telling. A fantastic through ball found Jezza
one on one with the keeper, and he coolly slotted home from 18 yards
to put the lads in front. It was the first time Monbulk had led in a
game all season. 25min to go and the boys were holding tight.
Riversdale started to gather some momentum, and were putting some
pressure on the Monbulk backline. Simple clearances were being
messed up, and Riversdale were trying to capitalise. Case was
working hard, and was holding firm. Alex came on for Jack so we
could get some much needed fresh legs out wide, and that seemed to
stem the flow. The last 10min saw both sides create very little as
the warm weather was taking its toll. Nigel cam on for the last 8
minutes to provide some grunt, and give Norman a rest. Overall a
great first win of the season for the boys. Its puts us above mid
table, and a big game against Monash awaits. Two in a row is a must.
Seniors v
Riversdale
The
senior lads had had a great week on the track, and was looking
forward to 3 points against Riversdale. 3 weeks without a win was
not good enough, and everybody new the importance of the game. The
pressure was on for all the players, as anything but a win, would
put a lot of players on notice about their positions. Taury's injury
provided a headache for the coaching staff, and with Danes
serving the final week of his suspension, Choc got the call up to
start wide on the right. Wellsy was back up front, and Andy Cowie
was playing the big role just behind the strikers. The early stages
saw Riversdale come out hard. A few crosses were coming in from both
sides of the park, but the defence of Monbulk stood firm, and there
was no real threat. Apart from this early pressure the rest of the
half belonged to Monbulk. The Bras brothers at the back won every
header, and constantly put pressure on Riversdale as the ball was
kept in their defensive half. Noodles and Chrissy were controlling
the middle of the park, while Cowie's runs were confusing the
opposition. Johnny Kennedy, making his first start for the club was
solid, and knocked some brilliant balls in to the box from the left
that Monbulk failed to capitalize on. Choc was working hard on the
right, and his long throws were causing headaches as Wellsy and
Cowie kept getting the flick ons. But for all the pressure applied
by Monbulk, the scoreline remained at 0 all at the half.
The
halftime speech was short and direct. Keep doing what we are doing,
and the goals would come. Riversdale failed to have a shot on goal
for the whole of the second half, thanks to the brilliant Bras
brothers, and the excellent communication of Nick Hurleston. Wellsy
and Brechan were providing great targets up front, and it was only a
matter of time before the fantastic play of the midfield would
present one of them with a chance. Ball after ball was being knocked
into the area, with Riversdale struggling to hold out the work rate
of Monbulk's attacking players. Right on 70min, a nice ball into
Brechan's feet saw him turn his defender in the box, only for him to
be brought down with a silly challenge that stemmed from
frustration. Brechan stepped up and put the ball away, the keeper
getting a hand to it, but not being able to handle the power. Weasel
came on for Choc, who was a spent force, to provide extra run out
wide. Monbulk continued the pressure, and with 15min to go, a magic
solo effort by Johnny Kennedy, saw him beat two players, and hit a
dipping shot from about 30 yards that nestled right into the top
corner. Just reward for an excellent debut. He was replaced by Sammy
in the last 10min, while Cowie earned a rest, being replaced by
Simon. There was no danger to Monbulk who totally outclassed
Riversdale, and could of gotten further in front through Wellsy who
was unlucky not to score with a header. A much needed 3 points for
the boys, who are now hungrier than ever to back it up next week
against Monash.
Written
by Paul
Psathas (Choco) |