Round 13 - 28th June - Elite v UH Saints - 12.30pm Newtown Park

1 Elite v UH Saints 0

Write-up By Marcel
Scorers - Steve-O

10am on the dot and the Gameday FIREUP text came through. It was a beautiful Wellington day, fine, clear skies and no wind. Could our fantastic home ground record continue for another week?

I arrived late as usual to avoid putting up the nets as I am too short to do this task skillfully but I don’t want my team mates to become aware of my vertical challenges for fear of relegation to the bench. Too late it may seem.

The team warmed up well and was ready to go; there was a slight delay to wait for the Saints keeper to arrive. Once sorted, Cory blew to get the game underway.

There was plenty of feeling at the start of the game and keen slide tackles from both slides as the pitch was a little wetter than previous weeks. Nic had an early chance come his way but alas he had too much time and drove it into an arriving defender.

There was a lot of play down the left flank and after a bit of a challenge, Damo lost his cool, calm exterior and pulled a handbag out of his shorts to whack the Saints player repeatedly. Cory, the-super-don’t-mess with-me-haven’t-been-laid-in-months-Ref, blew it up and called the captains in to settles things down.

After a few further exchanges, Dave cleaned up a ball at the back and I don’t know what he had for breakfast (or what he got from his missus Pete the night before) but he launched (super smash kicked) the ball like never before – up, up, up it sailed – down, down, OVER HALF WAY! The whole bench rose to their feet and cheered in open mouthed amazement. This must be a good omen we thought - Dave's biggest kick ever!  It immediately put us down the other end (funny that) and we won a corner. In fact we had a couple of corners in 5 minutes what were almost identical. Elite corner sent in from CJ - Elite jump and miss ball; hit Saints, who head it away to safety. I learnt later, when I was on the park, that the issue was something called the “Sun”. CJ was none too happy after the game about this “Sun” ruining his fantastic corners. It is unlikely to be invited back for the rest of the session. Blame CJ for this.

Further into the half, the ball was worked down the left by Dec’s; Dec’s to Nic; Nic put it into the box but no one got to the end of it and the Saints got away lucky there.

The Saints worked their way into the game a bit and worked the ball well through the middle; they let off a shot from longish range which Dave dived forward to save and got it on the second attempt.

The game got a bit messy at that point with players from both sides guilty of diving in. The Elite defended a free kick and made a quick break; we worked it up field well but Andrew was just caught offside.

Continuing good pressure from the scraps and the 50/50’s, CJ got the ball and tapped a nicely weighted ball into the center; with Elite players running onto it, their keeper picked up outside the box to give the Elite a good position for a free kick. Unfortunately this was smashed into wall.

Neil and decks foul Saints. They foul us. Plenty of yelling. CJ steps up for a free kick; the ball hits traffic on the way in; works back to Neil; his Blocked shot falls to Steve, who with years of experience, back to goal, takes a delicate touch to work it past the defense, before a beautifully weighted right hook to the top right of the net. GOAL!!! All Class.
A few exchanges in the middle then we wander off for half time. (Where are the oranges these days Jessie! We are good again, come back)

The Second half.

Early up Damo and the Saints Italian have a really good smash up on the left flank (Pravda flying everywhere), Cory does the right thing and sends them both off to take a 10 minute to cool down.

The pressure and intensity of the game lifts as it is so close.

Adam has a crack and smashes a good ball towards the top right on the net but their keeper dives full stretch to save.
Nic Fouls, they get a follow up, corner after the free kick and nearly score at the back post.
On the break, Nic makes a great run down the right into space but takes one touch too many before sending it to CJ. CJ blocked.

Saints have a crack down the right and have a good shot but Dave dives to the right and punches it away. Good Save!

The game opens up, they have a shot and then we break and miss in front.

Nic puts a studs up tackle in and there is a bit more yelling.  There was yelling all day really. Cory took control again.

The last action of the game was their wing getting smashed in the balls twice in a row by our clearing kicks. A bit of a laugh for everyone except that poor dude in an otherwise messy, niggly game.

Points are Points though and the Elite Newtown Park fortress holds again. Well done lads, more next week!

3 Points – SteveO – Showing off in front of daughter plays dividends, the goal and now the points.

2 Points – Toddy in the middle – Quietly constant, crime analyzer, nuf said.

1 Points – Dave – That Kick, a diving save and a clean sheet. WoW what a performance.

Honorary mention – The Ref – Cory kept that game under control even though everyone had been watching too much footy on TV. Pleased he was Ref because it would have been crazier if he was playing ;-)
 Just saying.