Triple treat for Robinson
Posted: 7 May, 2007
| Frankston Pines | 0 | — | 2 | Langwarrin |
| Nick Robinson Liam Swaine |
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Round 4: Frankston Pines v Langwarrin — 5 May, 2007
For the third time in as many games Nick Robinson opened the scoring as the reserves maintained their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 win over Frankston Pines at Monterey Reserve last Saturday.
It was a strong reserves line-up featuring five senior squad players in Matt Hakvoort, Ian Callaghan, John Jovan, Liam Swaine and Niall Mitten and the ever-alert Robinson put Langy 1-0 up after robbing a defender and finishing in style in the 5th minute.
Callaghan, playing in an uncustomary role up front, slid in and tackled a defender in the 21st minute. Big Dave Jurisic, pushed into midfield for this clash, squared the ball to Swaine whose rising drive just skimmed the crossbar.
The young Pines reserves outfit were causing a few problems though and Mitten’s recovering challenge cleared the danger two minutes later.
Swaine gave Langy a two-goal cushion in the 30th minute after a great run was rewarded with a superb pass from Jurisic. Swaine rounded the keeper and although a defender slid down and tried to block the ball he was helpless as it nestled neatly in the back of the Pines goal.
Just before the interval Robinson could have put the game out of Pines’ reach when another good ball by Jurisic saw the blond-haired striker free on the edge of the area but Robinson’s strike flew wide of the far post.
Five minutes into the second stanza, Langy keeper Sean Skelly charged off his line but couldn’t get to the contest. Under pressure from Mitten, the Pines striker shot wide from a tight angle.
Reserves coach Jim Morrison effected a few changes. Mathew ‘Scud’ Hodgson replaced Jurisic and started wide on the left with Kevin McAlister pushed inside to take on a more central midfield role.
Callaghan miskicked from close range a minute later and in the 45th minute young sweeper Sean Smith was replaced by debutant Fraser Cameron, signed from Frankston Strikers in the off season. More positional changes were needed and Cameron played wide on the left with Jovan dropping back to sweeper and Hodgson in central midfield. A few minutes later Jovan pushed back into central midfield after McAlister had been replaced by Stevie Hill and Hakvoort took over as sweeper.
Jovan twice went close with headers from set pieces before Mitten intercepted the ball from a Pines foray into our area. The ball rolled back to Skelly who chose to collect it in his hands and the referee ruled that it was an intentional backpass. Langy massed defenders in front of goal but Pines missed the chance to get back into the contest as Mitten charged down and blocked the shot from the resultant free kick.
In the 63rd minute Swaine broke through and chipped the keeper only to watch in dismay as his attempt rolled wide of the upright. Two minutes later a great move should have resulted in a third goal as Robinson set up Callaghan who skied his point-blank attempt.
In the 67th minute Pines blew a great chance to score when Langy defenders failed to attack the ball from a corner but the Pines player missed a virtual tap-in. However, four minutes later a fine one-two by Pines saw Mitten slide in and although he looked to have contacted the ball he also contacted his opponent. The referee pointed to the spot but Skelly threw himself to his left to pull off a great save and maintain a clean sheet.
