Friendly (R9 A?) VS Scarfies, Newtown Park 2, 3 June

Cap 6 Friendly
 
Elite 0 Vic Uni Scarfies 0
 
Write up CJ
 
Well a lovely sunny winter’s day greeted the early arrivers to Newtown No.2 with a lot of pre-match banter around Chrispy’s random Friday night texts to Dave including how he was referring to himself as Jesus and how a MVP needs an invite for a guest appearance!
 
CJ looked to shoot this down quickly by explaining how he was at a loss as to how Chrispy with his lady-like hands could have ridden a mechanical bull for 26 secs the night previously and hence the source of his random message to Dave.
 
All the while, everyone was wondering if Vic Uni were even going to turn up for the friendly and that Harry (sorry Henry) was to be fined for yet another Saturday morning bail out for being hung over (sorry sick) for the 2nd week in a row.
 
As the late comers slowly arrived, so did the opposition so it was game on!
 
This week we had Tim putting in an appearance as keeper to allow Niall another chance to pop his outfield cherry for the season.  I was informed that Tim had even been out to the park earlier in the day for some keeping practice in anticipation of his stint between the sticks! 
 
This early morning warm up was to pay dividends later  but was on display during an outstanding warm up effort which saw Tim throwing himself around to deny anything less than an unstoppable effort on target.  If we knew then what we did post-match, Tim may have let a few in to give our strikers some confidence come game time :)
 
Captain for the day Greg won the toss (take note Adam) and we turned around for a Uni kick off.
 
First half saw the Elite trying to play football out from the back, feed our wide men and play our strikers in. We did this fairly well and created a number of chances.  Unfortunately a lot of these were snatched at or dragged wide. 
 
Niall did have a chance with a set up volley which we would never have heard the end of if it went in - which it nearly did.
 
In the meantime, Uni looked to pack the midfield and play through balls all half which the defence and a sweeping Tim did well to defuse.
 
Other first half highlights, CJ with another clearance falcon, a Clem / Declan nut off (not sure if either understood the other) and a Declan nutting off at the opposition due to the numerous substitutions during the half.
 
Half time and 0-0.
 
Second half saw Tim retained in goal, Niall off for a spell and a sick lame Ganesy coming on at left back.
 
Again, the Elite were having the better of the chances and play in the second half, which was at one point argued to be incorrect by the opposition, who were running rings around us.  Not sure anyone else saw it that way.
 
Unfortunately our woes in front of goal were to continue with Nik especially guilty of not popping his goal scoring cherry for the season with one effort sailing over the bar from 6 yards with the keeper nowhere to be seen.   It’ll come Nik!
 
However he wasn’t the only one, with a number of chances being missed by the team (refer warm up comment).
 
The Uni lads meanwhile were persisting with their through ball play which the defence continued to manage well. 
 
They did have one good chance from a corner which was blocked and then cleared by Ganesy, which he claimed all credit for even when CJ pointed out Declan had also throw himself to the ground to block.  Ganesy was having none of it which led to Dave calling arrogance fine on Ganesy!
 
Other second half moments, CJ off with a pulled groin, Ganesy turning his ankle again (but playing on as CJ was in the showers) and Declan looking like he had given himself a season ending injury, only to pick himself up with a slightly pulled groin to play on for the rest of the game.
 
As the game drifted to a 0-0 draw, in the last minute of the game Uni attacked on goal and had 2 or 3 chances on target but were to be denied a winner with Tim resolute in goal and ensuring the draw was played out.
 
Overall a game the Elite should have won by a good margin, even as a friendly.  However we will need to find our clinical best if we want to have a stronger second half of the season.
 
MVP Points:
 
3 – Tim – Outstanding outing in goal! From his display in warm up, sweeping his area well, good goal kicks and great saves to keep the Scarfies goalless especially in the final minute.  May have found another position for you Tim J
 
1 – Declan – Can’t fault the effort and passion from our own Irish Terrier. He even carried on playing with a pulled groin to finish the match.
 
1 – Damo – Sandy’s man of the match from the sideline. Tackled like a demon and won his 60/40 tackles all game.
 
1 – Clem – Ran his butt off all game at left midfield before his 5 month trip back home.