Rd 3 - 18th April - Uni Scarfies 0 WU Elite 3

Round 3 Report - 18th April 2014

 

Uni Scarfies 0 WU Elite 3

Scorers: Paul, Andrew and Nik  

 

Write up by Jase

 

This week’s second game saw Elite following up the undeserved loss of Monday night away to the (Ahem.. Cheating, we all know what happened last year) university scarfies, the kids from Glee or whatever performing arts academy passes for a university in this town. This season’s student team turned up for football instead of a sleep in until midday or a trip taking the laundry home to mum. (I remember my student days). The game day team submitted, color of the shirt not withstanding, passed mustered and was acceptable to all that play Cap 7.

The weather had been pretty wretched all week. Rain had done for all levels of capital football. As it happened Corey didn’t have to harden up after all, a beautiful day in the capital, can't beat Wellington on a… an all that… gave us sunny and somewhat hot conditions for play on a Good Friday at Wellington College.

 

This week I was the lone straggler reluctant to get there on time. This can be put down to the midday kick off, a new Titahi Bay lifestyle and a commute without use of a train on a public holiday. The Elite squad was already on the artificial pitch, we were back to being in the not so new Agent Orange kit. Nobody likes the all whites.

 

The warm up complete. The team talk complete. I got to the pitch in time to get changed as both teams set up for kick off. We welcomed back Chapman for a first and hopefully not last appearance of the season. A slightly up side down team sheet this week had Stevo in behind the front two.

 

We kick off. The early going was pretty even and the kids from Glee had the best of the early possession. They didn’t give it away as much as you would hope. The elite stretched the game in behind the opposition. A couple of edge of the box attempts, some very good play from the back but a final touch or a final ball letting us down. We would have hoped for better then the song and dance we seemed to make of the early chances to take the lead.

 

Stevo obviously not used to playing upside down in the attacking third had run about a bit too much a bit to early and stretched a hamstring, game done. Paul subbed on and well at least we had sorted the referee for the second half.

 

The Elite did absorb some periods of pressure in the main mid way through the half. We were giving the ball away to easily. We were making hard work of it… however as it progressed we settled kept the ball a little better passed through them better. A sharp passing move from the back and ball over to the left saw Andrew swoop in and proceed to hit, in front of a relatively open goal, a thumping finish onto the bar all in all a pretty good miss.

 

Half time arrived just as we all felt the pace on a hot day but we knew what we were about. We had made it much harder then it needed to be. We need to keep the ball. Press the opposition in the midfield and squeeze the game from halfway towards the opposition third of the field. We would get on top.

 

Team talk done and the second half begins. Defenders pressed forward to get closer to the holding midfield players and this in turn closed the space we allowed them in the first half, the rewards duly arrived for the midfield, front and wide players.

 

Once we kept possession, the performance improved.

 

Goal - Paul makes it one nil - some good football. The second half is barely some minutes old when we attack, some neat passing and movement off the ball and a fine shot is hammered past the opposition goalkeeper.

 

Goal- The second arrived, a free kick played into the box and Andrew’s first time shot, sweet as you can get connection with power, accuracy and timing all in place, the ball was sailing into the net. Great finish and 2-0.

 

The university moaning picked up a pace, with, a center back trying to referee the game and a team intent on calling foul at every strong challenge. Elite continued to press in attack and defend well.

 

Chapman solid, the backline neat and tidy in possession and picking out opposition runners while drifting into good defensive positions, Cory winning lots of ball in the middle and both wide players operating in the kind space we denied the opposition forwards and with the kind of energy that was impressive on a hot day.

 

Goal- The third goal arrives after more neat play and this time a cross come shot from Nik catches the Goalkeeper, who had taken the hipster approach to keeping without use of the traditional gloves and with shin pads being optional, out. the ball hits the back of the net.

We are now enjoying our football. 

 

Changes are made to freshen up for the final stretch, our new midfield partnership of Adam, Johnny and Yaya Gainsey Toure putting in a excellent effort protecting the back three. Paul has had to sub off after putting a head to a high ball in the box. Finding a boot where a boot should not be, a dangerous overhead kick attempt connects flush with our man, blood on the pitch, stitches needed. An unfortunate ending to a hard fought win. The game plays out without incident.

 

A clean sheet for Dave and well earned, with a couple of excellent saves during the second half. A well deserved win with a dogged first half team effort followed by a very composed second half performance with some classy individual moments. Left wing play is a piece of “phish” for Jinky Jessiman step overs and running to edge of the box in our best left wing ginger traditions, Johnny a back heal in the defensive third will always work and is always a good idea. We do like to play from the back… Really MVP points are a hard pick this week.

 

 

MVP Points

 

3 points Dave, some good all round moments a punch clearance, one finger tip save over the bar and one save at length that got me off the hook. Clean sheet.

 

2 points Nik, right wing hard running, scores one, made one and on a hot day a nightmare to play against for any opposition defender.

 

1 point Damo, backing up a solid defensive performance on Monday with a solid defensive performance on Friday. Not much gets past our left edge at the moment.