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

S.A.A.S.L. Round Five Saturday 10th May 08

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DIV 1 FIRSTS 2 v 4 GLEESON

Ripa (1), Stenta (1)

Takumi, Ciano, Matthews, Siklich, Kari, George, DeIeso (Manou), Sawicki, Stenta, Rossi (Drazetic), Ripa

It’s getting harder every week to write these match reports.  Losing is bad enough, but to have to sit down and write about it every week is beginning to frustrate this OISC player to no end.  Saturday’s match against the ‘soccer club formerly known as Iggies’, was again one which promised so much and delivered so little.  It was a case of ‘groundhog day’ at Glenunga as the Wolves again looked quite good in patches, especially going forward, but for the third match in a row threw away a lead and lost the match.

We couldn’t have asked for a better start as 10 seconds into the match we were awarded with a penalty.  From the kick off, Ripa fired a long ball deep into Gleeson’s half.  DeIeso, showing his now trademark pace, managed to chase down the ball before any Gleeson player and made his way into the box with a typical mazy run before being fouled.  Ripa stepped up confidently to convert the penalty and the Wolves were on their way.  Gleeson didn’t have to wait long to equalise though, especially with the referee looking to square up his early decision.  A seemingly innocuous ball was played into the box where Ciano was caught flat footed.  The ball proceeded to bounce off of his body before striking his arm and the spot kick was awarded.  A harsh decision perhaps, as it was unintentional, but we’ve all seen them given before.

At 1-1 the match was very evenly contested with both sides not really doing justice to our sport’s title as the ‘beautiful game’.  Though it was scrappy, the competitiveness was evident and the match began to resemble a keenly fought fencing bout with both sides parrying and thrusting, trying to find a way through.  The Wolves created several good chances and only an outstanding first half by Gleeson’s keeper prevented us from taking the lead.  Stenta put Rossi through with a neat little ball that set the Iggies marksman on course to claim his first for the season.  With only the keeper to beat though, Rossi was unable to convert.  Shortly afterwards, Sawicki capped off some good work down the right by delivering an inch perfect cross onto the head of Stenta.  From just inside the box ‘the new Manou’ saw his header bound for the top corner and for a minute dared to dream only for the keeper to pull off another fine finger-tipper.  A third good chance came after George made a surging run into the box and saw his cut-back cannon into a Gleeson midfielder and head goal ward.  Another superb reflex save was made by the keeper to again deny the Wolves.

Despite Iggies best efforts, it would be Gleeson who would go into the half one goal to the good.  Another long ball from the Gleeson defence managed to clear ours and land awkwardly between Takumi (in goals) and Siklich.  Takumi first called for the ball to be cleared (we think) before coming out solidly with a fierce attack on the ball.  Unfortunately he missed the ball and cleaned up Siklich in the process leaving the bewildered Glesson forward as the last man standing and with a simple tap in.

Down at the half, the Wolves still believed they could get something out of this match.  The introduction of ‘the old Manou’ for his first game this season seemed to pay off as he added some much needed bite and skill to an Iggies side that was beginning to look devoid of ideas.  Gleeson however would extend their lead mid-way through the half.  A botched Takumi clearance went straight to a Gleeson midfielder whose pace burned off the Iggies defence.  His low shot from just inside the box did the trick.  That goal did not cause us to drop our heads though and, in what turned out to be an unbelievable spur, it was what finally fired up the previously tame Wolves.  For the first time in the match we actually looked like we wanted to win.

Iggies pulled a goal back soon after to set up a frantic final 10 minutes and it was the best of old and new.  Manou lobbed a long throw into the Gleeson box and found Stenta unmarked.  He steered his header into the net and it was game on again.  The Wolves could be considered unlucky not to have found an equaliser by the end of the match as we tirelessly peppered the Gleeson goal.  However, it was a case of too little, too late.  Drazetic, George, Kari, Manou and Ripa were all involved in the setting up or taking of many half chances, but we could not find the killer blow.  Throwing men forward recklessly towards the end would cost us another goal with Gleeson scoring on the fast break just before the final whistle.

By the games end, Coach Romano was left to lament another patchy performance when he correctly noted that, ‘20 minutes of hard at it, desperate football was not enough to win a match’.  This must be noted, as the only way this author can see OISC salvaging this season and remaining in the top flight is if we play with the desperation we finished with today for the full 90 minutes.  Until we want to win and believe we can, we will not!

DIV 1 RESERVES 1 V 2 GLEESON

Goal:

DIV 3 FIRSTS 0 V 5 VIPERS FC

Lineup: Hurt; A. Rossi, Williams, Caeran (Lai ’45), G. Bolognese; Kostadinvov, J. Kitching, Cosentino, Balestrin (Ventura ’45); Woods, Al-Hinai.

Although, last week’s performance was extremely disappointing, this week demonstrated that we can match it with the best teams in our division – for 45 minutes, anyway.

We entered the game with a bit of confidence – some quality players had returned to the lineup and Vipers were an unknown quantity.  A number of the team decided to partake in a new pre-game ritual involving Red Bull, but unfortunately none of us grew any wings.  The purchase of the Red Bull required a visit to the local Centro Arndale, where Woods and Kitcho couldn’t resist the temptation of a $3 meat roll from the Arndale Bakery – quality!!  The only things cheaper were the local hookers…but Coach Woodhouse of the 3Bs forgot to give us his small change!

We focused pre-game on the same things that we have talked about every week – learning from our mistakes, keeping our concentration in the early parts of the game, and backing each other on the field.  We started encouragingly, in the sense that we didn’t concede a goal in the first 10 minutes.  Unfortunately, slack marking in the 15th minute allowed a cross from the left wing to get to a striker who tapped in from 4 yards out, ghosting between our two central defenders.

The next 20-25 minutes of the game were ours for the taking.  Cosentino had a significant impact with his long throws and talk in the middle.  The majority of our play came through the left wing combo of Balestrin and JD.  Our best chance fell to Kitcho, who received a long throw from Cosentino 10 yards out, but an awkward bounce, pressure from the defender, and the relentless beating of the sun meant the ball was never destined for the back of the net.  It was an indication of our finishing this year; although we maintained a significant amount of pressure, the ‘keeper was rarely tested, nor required to make a save.  With Jimmy Sourdin now overseas, Woods and Al-Hinai, two natural midfielders, were required to play up front.

The last fifteen minutes of the first half were probably the most disappointing minutes of the season, which should demonstrate their significance.  We conceded four very soft goals, all from within 8-10 yards.  Danzo only made one save in the first half, and picked the ball out of his net 5 times.

Kitcho cut sick at half time and the reaction from everybody after the break was significantly improved.  We vowed NOT to concede at half-time, and we finally pulled through!

The commitment to the cause was best evidenced by Kostadinov, challenging every ball and attacking every header, despite being hacked down on numerous occasions and copping a boot to his head.  Danzo again wasn’t forced into a save, but likewise our only proper opportunities came from set-pieces.  Ventura was unlucky with a well-placed free kick in the dying minutes.  The back four of A. Rossi, Williams, Lai, and G. Bolognese played solidly, not taking any risks, nor allowing any significant opportunities.  The only blight in the second half was the number of questionable refereeing decisions (both ways) which threatened to boil-over as emotions and tempers flared.  The restraint from players on both teams was remarkable, as ‘handbags’ were had on numerous occasions!

Needless to say, some positives came as a result of the second half of football which can be taken into the home game with Murray Bridge this week.  With both teams on 0 points and 5 points from safety, this is the most crucial game of the season by far.  Hopefully, the spirit and determination shown in the latter stages of the match will carry over and allow us to secure our first points of the season.  Certainly it has given us the confidence that we can at a minimum match a number of teams in our division.

(Endnote: following the end of the game, the result became meaningless as the news filtered through of the passing of one of our founders, Frank Spinelli.  Our condolences are with the Spinelli family).

DIV 3 RESERVES 1 V 2 VIPERS FC

Goal: Leach