Another quintuple header at Fortress Glenunga saw five opposition sides visiting who, after seeing the state of the pitches, would have arrived believing that they could definitely cause trouble for the five dominant OISC sides. The OISC 'G' Grade side, better known as Gleeson, would bring their physical brand of football up against our A Grade and B grade squads. The best of the rest from Adelaide Uni (3) were challenging our C Grade and D Grade teams, whilst the formerly league-leading rocking-horse loving lads from Birdwood, aka Torrens Valley, were up against a very determined E Grade. Our F Grade were visiting second-placed Flinders (2) in the deep and dirty south (kudos to those members of the squad that returned....alive). The significantly large crowd that turned out, helped by a strong contingent of both Gleeson and Uni faithful, were treated to 35 goals in 5 matches and some sumptuous football. Once again Fortress Glenunga proved impenetrable, with OISC treating the home fans with five home wins and five renditions of the club song, none sung with more gusto than the one led by the club President with a rocking-horse at its helm. Only 5 points have been dropped at home league fixtures this season by our leading 5 sides, a record that all away teams are very much aware of when they visit the Superdome.

The A Grade defeated Gleeson 5-1 in a very spirited encounter. The conditions meant that we could not play our normal passing game and struggled to find any rhythm. After a goalless first half, Mark Ciccarello opened the scoring from a corner, tapping in a James Kitching (via Michael Manou) header that was saved on the line by a defender. Gleeson equalised almost instantly, teaching us a lesson about playing to the whistle, as the ball had clearly crossed the byline in the leadup but was not spotted by the referee or his assistant. This spurred us on in the final 25 minutes, and we punished our younger cousins with a glut of goals. Ciccarello added a second to give us the lead, before Peter Barone scored three times in ten minutes to steal all the plaudits. We remain top of the league with a 10 point advantage over Allstars United, an 11 point advantage over Comets, and a 12 point advantage over MA Hawks with five rounds remaining. We could be crowned Champions next week with a win against Cougars and if the three aforementioned teams drop points (with Allstars United losing).

The B Grade comprehensively destroyed Gleeson 8-2 in a convincing display. We were up 3-0 within ten minutes, thanks to some silky football by Michael La Vista and Andy Sabatino down the left wing. La Vista nabbed two of those goals whilst Andrew Rossi was the beneficiary of excellent midfield service. We unlucky to concede an own goal before half time, but this did not stop the goal glut in the second, with Rossi bagging another three, Luke Rayner getting on the sheet, and Ryan Dew surprising everyone with a diving header. The six goals added to our goal difference is a significant figure that will only assist us in our chase for the Championship. We remain in second, 3 points behind MA Hawks (who we play in three weeks), but with a goal difference advantage of six goals, with 5 matches remaining.

The C Grade put their loss last week behind them with a thumping 8-2 victory over the in-form Adelaide Uni (3). We got off to the perfect start, up 2-0 within twenty minutes, only to allow Uni to snatch a goal. After putting away a third, we allowed Uni to score again straight from the kickoff, making it 3-2 at half time. After some stern words from Coach Pendes, we put in a virtuoso performance in the second half, giving the students a lesson on how to play beautiful football (I'll be here all week, try the veal on Thursday). Dali Drazetic and Branko Ripa both scored twice, whilst Davide Cavuoto, Darcy Kari, and Adrian De Rito all scored singles. The on-loan Man Utd striker TOG popped up again for another goal, his third in the C Grade this season. We are now on top on our own after results went our way, 1 point ahead of Flinders (2) and 2 points ahead of Red/Blue Eagles with six matches remaining.

The D Grade continued their title defence with a solid 5-1 win over Adelaide Uni (3). Iordan Kostadinov was the star, bagging four goals in a brilliant all-round display - scoring one with his left, one with his right, one with his head, and the fourth with a nutmeg. He was provided excellent service by the hard-working Adam Kangas, Luke De Simoni, and David Leach in midfield. Mark Williams managed to get forward at a corner and bag his second goal of the season. We remain on top, 1 point clear of Flinders (2) with five matches (and a bye) remaining.

The E Grade won the 'battle of the ages' 2-1 against Torrens Valley in a slugfest between the powerhouses of Saturday Division 6C. The match started in disaster with Torrens Valley taking the lead after 22 seconds, the referee waving down an incorrectly waved offside flag by the OISC treasurer/linesman. However, we did not drop our heads and slowly worked our way back into the match. Rob Balestrin scored in the fifteen minute mark after breaking free of his defender and hitting a shot that deflected off the defender's boot and bamboozled the TV keeper. The next period of the match was a slugfest on the difficult pitch with chances hard to come by. Neither side really created openings or opportunities to score and it was with some luck that we took the lead. Dean Ciccarello swung in a corner from the right hand side which bamboozled two TV defenders, our onrushing attacker, and the TV 'keeper. We held out for the remaining 25 minutes even though we could have (and should have) pushed forward to kill the game. We now go clear on top, two points ahead of MA Hawks, and three points ahead of Torrens Valley, who have two catch-up games to play. There are 5 matches remaining.

The F Grade put in a solid performance going down 0-3 to a determined Flinders (2). With our regular goalkeeper unavailable, David Moseley put his hand up and performed admirably to keep our second-placed opposition at bay. Unfortunately, our inexperience shone through, with the three goals that we conceded as a result of defensive errors as opposed to the superiority of our opposition. However, the leaps and bounds that we have shown in the early stages of the second half of the season indicate that we can put some scoreboard pressure on the other teams in this league that aren't called OISC (2). We remain in ninth, but are determined to finish in the top eight.

Next week the notorious Cougars visit Fortress Glenunga in what should be another spiteful Division 2 double header. The C Grade face off against bottom-placed Dragon Rangers, whilst the D Grade have a tricky assignment against third-placed Flinders (3). The E Grade host Comets and need a win to keep their momentum going, whilst the F Grade are away at Strathalbyn and are a good chance of victory. This will be one of our best opportunities this season to record six wins in a day. How sweet would it be if that was accompanied by promotion and a Championship?

Daily Top 5

1. Unbelievable stuff for the neutral supporter: 5 games, 35 goals, 5 OISC wins. Fortress Glenunga reigns supreme.
2. E Grade justify their hype with an enthralling 2-1 victory over the previously unblemished Torrens Valley
3. Andrew Rossi and Iordan Kostadinov can't be separated: both bagged four goals in their respective matches
4. Peter Barone scored his tenth goal in his last four A Grade matches a part of his hat-trick against Gleeson
5. The C Grade returning to form with a thumping 8-2 win over Adelaide Uni (3)

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The SAASL drew the Quarter Final round of the Challenge Cup and the Reserve Cup tonight at headquarters. This round will be played over the weekend of 7-8 August 2010. The full draw is:

Challenge Cup (2:45pm kickoff)
(S) Adelaide University v Salisbury Florina
Parafield Gardens v Old Ignatians
Beograd v Elizabeth Downs
(S) Adelaide Villa v Elizabeth Vale

Reserve Cup (12:30pm kickoff)
Salisbury Inter v Hahndorf
Fulham v Ingle Farm
Modbury Vista v Salisbury Florina
Para Hills East v Old Ignatians

(S) denotes the match is to be played on a Saturday. The first-named team is the home team.

The A Grade was drawn away to Parafield Gardens in the Challenge Cup. Parafield Gardens are (at the time of writing) currently 2nd in Sunday Division 1A. This match will take place on 8 August with kickoff at 2:45pm. The A Grade last played Parafield Gardens in Round 2 of the Challenge Cup in 2007, losing 1-2 away from home. We hope to avenge that defeat.

The B Grade was drawn away to Para Hills East in the Reserve Cup. Para Hills East are (at the time of writing) currently 1st in Sunday Division 2B on goal difference. The match will take place on 8 August with kickoff at 12:30pm. The B Grade defeated Para Hills East 3-2 at home in the Quarter Finals of the Reserve Cup last year. We hope that history repeats itself.

As the two respective grounds are approximately 10 minutes apart, it would be great to have as many OISC supporters at both matches as possible.

Should both (or one) of the teams triumph, the Semi Final round for both competitions are due to be held at Hindmarsh Stadium on 12 September. The Final for both competitions will be played at Hindmarsh Stadium.

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It is with great pleasure that OISC announces that former player Takumi Takahashi (pictured below) has been offered a trial with Adelaide United Football Club.

Takahashi began training with AUFC on Monday after being spotted playing in the South Australian Super League for Western Strikers by AUFC Assistant Coach Phil Stubbins. Whilst he was best known as a striker or right-winger at OISC, Takahashi reverted back to the position he played in his native Japan, goalkeeper, when moving to the Strikers.

Takahashi was at OISC in 2008 and 2009. He played the first 5 games of the season in 2008 in the B Grade before returning to Japan, and played the full season in the A Grade in 2009, winning the Player's Player of the Year award. He was also a member of the B Grade squad that lost the Reserve Cup Final, playing up until the Quarter Final stage in that competition before he returned to Japan and unfortunately missed the final two rounds.

Takahashi is second former OISC player at AUFC, following in the footsteps of former OISC and AUFC goalkeeper Daniel Beltrame. We wish him all the best in his trial and hope to see him lining up at Hindmarsh soon!

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Five of six OISC teams were on the road this weekend as the season moved into its concluding weeks. The A Grade, B Grade, and E Grade were all visiting FC Adelaide, whilst the C Grade and D Grade were at Adelaide Red/Blue Eagles. All the games were 'must win' encounters for the five teams competing for their respective championships. The F Grade were initially due to host Hazara at home, but a midweek forfeit by our opposition saw the F Grade record their first victory of the season. In a stroke of fortune, Vipers C2 (Saturday Div 6C) were available for a friendly match after their opposition in their scheduled fixture also forfeited against them.

The A Grade defeated FC Adelaide 6-0 in a comprehensive performance. With a significant breeze blowing against us in the first half, we took an early lead through a well-taken goal by Daniel Ricci. The defence held firm for the rest of the stanza, and we could have taken a larger lead into the break with some clinical finishing. Adam Carbone scored a delightful lob minutes after the restart, and with the wind behind us, our opponents essentially 'threw in the towel'. Carbone and Ricci both scored again, Michael Manou notched his second of the season after rounding the 'keeper, whilst Michael La Vista came off the bench to score his first goal since Round 4. We remain ten points clear of Allstars United and eleven points clear of Comets, with six league matches remaining.

The B Grade suffered a shock defeat at FC Adelaide, going down 1-3. Our opposition gave us a lesson on 'taking chances', only creating a minimal number all match, and punishing our mistakes to the fullest extent. We went behind midway through the first half after a long ball was not dealt with by the defence, and the opposition striker clinically lobbed our 'keeper. They took a two goal lead into the break with a wonderful long-range goal. We came out firing in the second half and Joel Ortner pulled one back early, but some dallying on the ball saw us get caught out at the back and behind by two goals. We had an opportunity to drag ourselves back into the match, but missed a penalty with about 20 minutes to go. We have now slipped to 2nd, three points behind MA Hawks, but with a three goal advantage in goal difference with six league matches remaining.

The C Grade lost the battle of first and second, capitulating late in the match to go down 5-2 at Red/Blue Eagles. We went behind early, but fought our way back into the match and took the lead after goals by Davide Cavuoto and Darcy Kari. However, after we made substitutions in the second half we took our foot off the pedal and our opponents overran us with four goals in a ten minute period which effectively killed the match and threw the title race wide open. We remain on top, but are now level on points with Red/Blue Eagles and only one point in front of third-placed Flinders (2) with seven league matches remaining. However, we have a ten goal advantage in goal difference which may prove crucial in the run-in.

The D Grade ground out a hard-fought 3-2 win at a much-improved Red/Blue Eagles. After failing to deal with a long-ball we found ourselves behind early, but battled hard to take a 2-1 lead into half time. David Leach put on a clinic, providing as assist to Paul Murray for the first goal, before a vintage solo run and finish just before the break. The second half was another slugfest, as the wind at Grange and a determined opposition put us under a significant amount of pressure. They eventually equalised with ten minutes remaining, before Leach again stepped up to 'save the day', with a long range left-footed shot shocking our opposition. We are still on top of the table, one point clear of Flinders (2) in what has become a two-horse race for the title with six league matches remaining.

The E Grade punished a lacklustre FC Adelaide 6-1 in a good warm-up for the crunch match next week against Torrens Valley. We were superior all over the park and despite a slight slip-up which allowed our opponents a late consolation goal, the warning signs are ominous for our opponents from Birdwood. Dean Ciccarello continued his amazing run of form by bagging a lazy quadruple, whilst Rob Balestrin and John Smith (from the penalty spot) continued their excellent form. After MA Hawks suffered a shock defeat to Mt Barker, we are now second on the table, three points behind Torrens Valley but with a fair superior goal difference. However, Torrens Valley have a match in hand against FC Adelaide which will be played in the next Cup round. We have six league matches remaining.

The F Grade, after 'recording' their first win through the forfeit by Hazara, were fortunate to have Vipers C2 become available for a friendly. A feisty encounter followed (as are all OISC v Vipers fixtures), which ultimately finished 0-0. Thanks to the Vipers committee for allowing the match to go ahead at such short notice.

Next week Glenunga hosts what will be the first week of three consecutive home matchdays. The A Grade and B Grade will battle against relegation-threatened Gleeson, whilst the C Grade and D Grade both require victories against Adelaide Uni (3) to maintain their spots at the top of their respective ladders. The E Grade will battle against Torrens Valley in the match of the day, this fixture having been built up since mid-April. The F Grade are away to Flinders (2) and will be hoping to put a dent into their title hopes.

Daily Top 5

1. The A Grade record their third consecutive clean sheet in league football for the first time in many, many years against FC Adelaide
2. David Leach 'turning back the clock' (again) and inspiring the D Grade to victory with a double and an assist against Red/Blue Eagles
3. Dean Ciccarello keeping the pressure on his brother as the 'highest scorer in the club' with a lazy 4 goals against FC Adelaide
4. Adam Carbone's superb lobbed goal against FC Adelaide
5. The F Grade record their first 'official' win against Hazara and back it up with a solid performance (after being out of action for a month) against Vipers C2