Caffrey, Ahmadzai settle it
Posted: 14 May, 2007
| Langwarrin | 1 | — | 0 | North Geelong |
| Thomas Ahmadzai | ||||
Round 5: Langwarrin v North Geelong — 12 May, 2007
A piece of Ben Caffrey magic and a clinical finish by Thomas Ahmadzai were enough to give Langwarrin’s first team its second 1-0 win of the 2007 season at Lawton Park on Saturday.
Caffrey played in an attacking central midfield role with Steve Vernon partnering Tim Paton up front. The side had much more balance than previous games. There was more movement up front and as a result Langy created more chances in the first half than it had done in its previous three games.
As early as the fourth minute Langy sounded a warning to the visitors from North Geelong. Paton crossed from the right to Caffrey who neatly laid the ball off for Ahmadzai and the teenager’s superbly timed volley smacked off the crossbar.
Three minutes later Brian MacNicol got into the act. His low, well-struck free-kick was deflected but the North Geelong keeper reacted superbly to get down and turn the ball wide of the far post.
Langy looked sharp and up for this contest. In the 25th minute Vernon did well to win the ball on the right side of the area, only to blast his left-footed shot well over.
In the 42nd minute Vernon should have opened the scoring. He struck the ball on the bounce and although he cleared the keeper he also was wide of the near post. The sighs of disbelief from the Langy supporters were audible.
Two minutes later Caffrey cleverly jinked past his opponent wide on the left but his excellent cutback was met by Vernon on the volley and the ball flew well over the bar.
Two minutes into the second stanza Langy received a reminder of North Geelong’s threat but the shot from the edge of the area sailed well over keeper Chris Jones and the bar.
The decisive moment in this hard-fought contest came in the 49th minute. Caffrey wriggled clear of two challenges in midfield then slotted an inch-perfect through ball to Ahmadzai. The Warragul-based teenager kept his composure and neatly slotted the ball wide of the advancing custodian and inside the far post.
Shane Tagliaferro had done well on the right side of midfield and in the 58th minute he cut inside and shot on his left foot. The North Geelong keeper saved at the second attempt.
With 60 minutes gone Caffrey was replaced by John Jovan and for all North Geelong’s pressure, the Langy defence remained firm. Chris Quinn and Matt Hakvoort had fine games with Karl Cochrane looking more at ease as sweeper.
Darko Djuric replaced Vernon in the 73rd minute and Davie Breslin, who had worked his heart out wide on the left of midfield, was replaced by Ian Callaghan in the 80th minute.
Just on full-time, Jovan stole into space at the back post. MacNicol spotted him and sent over a pinpoint cross from the left but Jovan’s header was straight at the North Geelong goalie.
The final whistle confirmed a valuable three points to the home side which has been involved in four consecutive 1-0 scorelines this season. The signs were positive though heading into this weekend’s big derby clash with Cranbourne. As coach Gus Macleod has been at pains to point out this greatly revamped first team will take time to gel.
Not that Ahmadzai has taken any time at all to come to terms with the demands of first team football at First Division level. Those in the know speak highly of this youngster and fans at Lawton Park on Saturday had those opinions confirmed. Simply stated, Ahmadzai was superb.
