Six of the best from the reserves
Posted: 25 June, 2008
| Southern Stars | 2 | — | 6 | Langwarrin |
| J.O'Donahue P.Ferguson K.McAlister (2) A.Ahmadzai H.Shippers |
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Round 12: Southern Stars v Langwarrin — 21 June, 2008
Away once again to the Stars on a cold, blustery, rainy afternoon on a pitch that was definitely not going to make for quality carpet football.
The team for today: Sean Skelly between the sticks. At the back: Sean Smith, Brenton Smith & Matthew "Scud" Hodgson. Midfielders: Luke "Burgo" Burgess, Anthony "Famo" Famularo, Adam Ahmadzai, Kevin McAlister, Hayden Shippers. Up Front: Ben Caffrey & Jamie O'Donahue. On the Bench: Liam George, Daniel Biondo, Peter Ferguson, Nick Thomas and back from a long injury spell, young Joe Iline.
The match started with a real Bang! Six minutes into the match and Scud hit a long ball straight down the middle from deep in his own half, the Star center back totally misjudged the flight and it landed behind him with Jamie O'Donahue taking off like a bullet, one on one with the keeper and defenders nowhere to be found, Jamie snatched his effort and his disappointment was felt around the stands as his shot missed the target.
We didn't have to wait too long before another opportunity presented itself. This time Brenton powered through the middle and produced a hot shot that the Stars goalie could only parry and with Ben on the follow up, the keeper scrambled on all fours to regain possession right at his feet.
It was now our turn to be on the defense. Their wide right striker managed to get in behind us and sent a fierce low shot in on goal. Sean made a super save to his left and kept the score at 0 - 0.
Star seemed to be growing in confidence and soon they got their reward, if only a bit lucky. A pass out of the Langy back line was intercepted close to the half way line and the Star player quickly slipped the ball into space behind us. Sean in goal was left totally exposed and that was it! Too easy for them. We were caught cold and were 1 - 0 down.
That slip up was followed closely by a free kick against Sean Smith for hand ball right on the edge of our penalty area. Our defensive wall held and we cleared the shot and survived another Star attack.
We hit back immediately with Famo working his way passed two defenders and producing a hard low cross into the Star box. Ben stepped over the ball, which surprising his marker who could only watch the ball pass him en-route to Jamie O. However Jamie O's defender was able to get his foot in first to clear the danger.
Famo was really motoring on the right side, another good run and cross ball. This time Jamie was on to it in a flash with a header that firstly, the keeper palmed out, which then produced a mad scramble by defenders to dig it out and clear away from of the danger area.
Our equalizer came after a period of sustained attacking football. Another Famo cross was half cleared by a desperate Stars defender only to find Hayden lurking about 10 meters out from the goal. Whack! That left foot shot was never going anywhere else but the back of the Star's net. 1 - 1
Stars came at us with a swift raid that almost caught us napping again! Sean Skelly once again saving us with a great dive low to his left, which he held on to, no mean feat on this bumpy surface.
Our next threatening attack was via Jamie O, he took off and skinned the first defender around the right side of their defensive line, a quick look up and his cross ball could only be nodded on by a defender into the path of Ben waiting at the back. Ben's first time volley smashed into the side netting. Unlucky!
We were certainly making far more opportunities than Star and all we lacked was just a little more composure in front of goal and the goals would surely come.
The 38-minute mark found us 2 - 1 down, what we Over the Fence Mob considered, totally against the run of play!
A Star throw in deep in our half was headed towards our box and slipped over Sean Smith's head, a Star striker was first to react and finished with a hard volley that Sean Skelly could do little about.
The game seesawed, end to end for the remainder of the first half, but we could not break through for that second goal.
Half time 2 - 1. Much of the break was spent by the 'Over the Fence Mob' talking about the playing surface and how difficult it was for our boys to produce decent football. But, it is the same for both teams and we were confident that the lads would get back on terms.
The second half started like we'd finished the first one. Plenty of trusts into enemy territory, plenty of pressure and on 48 minutes we got our just reward. Famo took a free kick and whipped it into the box; Jamie O held it up and dropped it back to Adam who simply drilled it into the net from 20 meters. 2 – 2 and another fine finish by the dynamo, Adam.
That goal seemed to take the steam out of Star and our overall game was appearing too powerful for them as wave after wave of Langy attacks was sapping their strength and resolve.
Scud won a great 50/50 challenge just inside our half and came away with the ball. He finds Famo and again his run and final ball into the Star danger area was quality, Kevin McAlister literally, stroked the ball effortlessly away. A quality build up with a quality finish. 2 - 3.
We were now stamping our authority on the match; Ben was next to produce a bit of goal line magic near the right hand corner flag. Spinning off a Famo throw in, he hit a right foot shot low towards a gap at the near post. He almost squeezed it into the net! A grateful keeper saw his defender get a toe on the ball to deflect it off the upright for a Langy corner.
We were soon celebrating our fourth, as Kevin got free in their box and headed a neat goal. Not so! The ref saw something that we had missed and the goal did not stand. We weren't sure why. Offside maybe?
Never mind lads! There were still more goals to come from the 'machine'.
Sean Smith played a wonderful long ball down to Ben on the right edge of the Star box, he shook off two defenders as he zeroed into the penalty area and unleashed a right footed cross-shot that the Star keeper managed to get a hand on and slowed it down. Unfortunately for Star, not well enough, as Jamie O tapped in almost on the line. 2 - 4
The next one again came from Ben jinxing through the defense and slipping the ball off to Kevin who hit a firm right footer… (Yes folks! A right footer) into the net 2 – 5. Well-taken Kev!
The first sub of the day, at the 65 minute amrk. Burgo left the ground after a solid performance and was replaced by Peter Ferguson.
Coach, Jamie Skelly shuffled the pack as Jamie O went back into midfield and Peter joined Ben up front.
Just when you think we are cruising, you get a surprise! A Star player at least 35 meters wide on the left rips over a 'hit & hope' ball. It came at pace and was so high that it cleared everyone, including a surprised Sean in the goal. Thankfully the ball hit the bar and bounced out. That could have been very embarrassing!
Peter, since coming on looked very lively and was soon getting in on the action, he slipped his marker with a run that saw him getting one on one with the keeper only to see the goalie smoother his advancing dribble.
Sean Smith picked up a leg injury that sent him limping off and was immediately replaced by Daniel Biondo. Another quick shuffle by coach Skelly, this time Adam moving back into the back three.
We continued to attack almost at will and after close misses by Jamie O from 25 meters and Peter, once again proving to be a handful for the Star defenders. Peter's persistence paid off with a fine finish from a throw in on the right hand side of the penalty box as he slipped inside, leaving defenders standing watching as he neatly placed the ball away for a 2 - 6 score line.
Time for the final sub of the day, Joe Iline on for the industrious Hayden who had worked tirelessly all day.
Star had their final fling for the afternoon, an excellent left footed 25 meter free kick which flew just wide of our goal, followed closely by a corner kick that was half cleared by the Langy defense to a Star player not more than 10 meters out. His volley was goal bound until Sean pulled out a brilliant save.
That was it for the day. Once again folks, the young blokes did us proud. Final result 2 - 6.
A tremendous performance from everyone and once again, well worth the trip. From the Man Over the Fence, cheers till next week… at home against the White Eagles.
My 1-2-3: Adam - Kevin - Ben
Team: Skelly, S.Smith (Biondo 70), B.Smith, Hodgson, Famularo, Shippers (Iline 81), Burgess (Ferguson 65), McAlister, Ahmadzai, O'Donoghue, Caffrey
Unused Sub: Thomas, George
