Match Reports Season 2008
Division 1 Firsts / Reserves | Division 3 Firsts / Reserves

Bianco Cup Preliminary Round Saturday 26th April 08

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DIV 3 FIRSTS 6 v 2 GREENOCK TOWN


Goalscorers: Al-Hinai (2), Woods (2), J Kitching, Soudin

Lineup: E. Ciccarello, Condon, Williams, Lai, A. Rossi, Al-Hinai, J.Kitching, Leach, Balestrin, D. Ciccarello (Woods 45’), Sourdin

For many of the division 3 players, this was their first foray into cup football, and it proved to be one of the most memorable days in an OISC shirt.  With all three other teams in the club being awarded byes into the first round, this was an opportunity for the 3A team to play before a large(ish) home crowd – the 35 or so that came along and braved the conditions under the two big tents (provided by St Ignatius College) were brilliant, and added to the atmosphere.  Greenock Town were an unknown quantity (half the side had no idea where Greenock was), coming from Sunday Division 6, having played in Sunday Division 4 the previous year (with a reserves side).  We knew their pitch was a big one, which is why Andy decided to play on the wider, yet shorter second pitch at Glenunga.

It’s often said that what happens in the changeroom stays in the changeroom, which is fair enough, but what ‘happened’ in our changeroom prior to kickoff could be smelt and heard in Glenelg (cheers Wills!).  I pity the cleaning lady at the GSSC.

On a sidenote, it was remarked afterwards that the 3As are probably the best supported team in the club – managing to pull two Adelaide E-grade celebrities (a prominent ‘footballnews.com.au’ forum poster and the CEO of Adelaide United!).

Lining up in a 4-4-2, we often reverted to a 4-3-3 and this contributed to us finding ourselves behind 1-2 at half time.  Despite the scoreline, we had dominated the first half and had a range of chances from set pieces and open play.  The Greenock ‘keeper is to be commended for a fine display in the opening stanza, consistently denying the attacking trio of Leach, Sourdin (two or three good saves) and Deano. 

Midway through the first half we made the breakthrough we felt we deserved.  Kitcho made a ‘hard-ball get’ in the middle of the park, flooring the Greenock captain in the process.  Leach received the pass at the top of the D and flicked it to the left side of the field to the running Al-Hinai, who squeezed the ball under their ‘keeper from 10 yards.  Our celebrations were short-lived as Greenock equalised within minutes – slack marking from a corner allowed a simple near-post flick to breach the last line of our defence.

Greenock lifted their intensity for the rest of the half, but were unable to trouble Emmo in the tricky conditions.  There were plenty of warning signs, however - we were often stretched with their crisp passing through the middle, having pushed too many people forward and leaving the back 5 with too much work to do.  This led to their second goal, which was also from a set piece.  A clumsy challenge from a chasing Kitcho saw a Gleeson freekick awarded right in front of our supporters, 25 yards from goal.  The in-swinging cross-cum-shot bamboozled everyone, and snuck into the far corner, silencing our tent.  We were lucky not to be 1-3 at half time, after Emmo pulled off a brilliant reflex save with what was one of the final moments of the half.

Woody came on at half-time for Deano, whose ankle was the size of an elephant’s testicle.  We vowed during the break to focus on two aspects of our game that were letting us down: not playing the ball to feet, especially to our more technical players, and maintaining our 4-4-2 spine.  What followed was a virtuoso performance which may potentially transform the season for the 3As.

Within a few minutes, we were level, and the tent was loving every minute of it.  Throughout the second half we focussed the greater majority of our play down the left side of the pitch and completely exploited the gaps in the Greenock defence.  A beautiful six-pass move that started and ended with Kitcho, and involved Leach, Rossi, and Balestrin (who laid on the through ball), resulted in a sweetly-timed left footed shot that curled around the ‘keeper and inside the left post from a 12 yards.  Jurgen Klinnsmann inspired the celebration, but would have surely dived in the box instead of hitting the back of the net.

Kitcho had a chance for a second within a few minutes, as great play down the left from Leach saw the ball sit nicely on his left again, but the ‘keeper was up to the task the second time.  The interplay between Leach, Rossi, and Balestrin down the left side of the pitch was, for lack of any other adjective, simply beautiful, and created all of our chances.  Often involving Woodsy, Sourdin, or Kitcho, we played ourselves into a number of superb positions but were unable to crack the Greenock defence.  It was a matter of time however, before we took the lead.

On the hour Leach was tripped 20 yards from goal, right on the corner of the box.  Spotting Kitcho lurking 25 yards out and completely unmarked, he played him in only for Kitcho to completely miss the ball with his shot.  However, the ‘dummy’ completely sold the Greenock defender who was closing him down, the ball fell to Condon who rifled in a shot which their ‘keeper got a hand on, and Woodsy tapped in the crumbs for a 3-2 lead.

Big Wills reminded us that the game was far from over and we put our heads down and made sure of it with some more scintillating passing play.  Five minutes on, another great run down the left, this time from Balestrin, culminated in a corner.  Leach swung it in and Al-Hinai beat his man to the ball at the front post, flicking it with the back of his heel into the roof of the net.  4-2 and we were having a laugh!

Having been bored on the right-hand side of the pitch, Condon, Lai, and Al-Hinai decided to get themselves into the act, and all were involved in the build-up to the fifth goal.  Al-Hinai ended up dribbling from right to left, to the opposite touchline and around the ‘keeper.  It seems that they don’t actually teach people how to shoot in the Middle East, instead Woodsy was to benefit from the Omani’s masterful display, tapping the ball into an empty net.  Woodsy often reminds me of Pippo Inzaghi; a striker who does nothing but run and miss easy goals, but has made his career out of tapping the ball into an empty net.  With Al-Hinai, Leach, and Balestrin behind him this season, Woodsy will probably end up with 20 of them!

With 10 minutes to go and the game a formality, the dulcet tones of President Uren were heard for many a mile chanting “Que sera sera”.  Unfortunately the tent were not as enthused (or drunk?) as our great ninja warrior.

Sourdin had been working hard all day and desperately deserved a goal.  He scored the best of the game in the last 10, with a sublime chip from 20 yards out.  Having received the ball from Leach, he turned his defender and did what he does best!  6-2, and the song was sang loud and proud.  On today’s performance, it will be heard many more times this season.



QUE SERA SERA, WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE, WE'RE GOING TO WEMBLEY, QUE SERA SERA