Ressie's Break St. Albans Resistance
Posted: 9 July, 2008
| St Albans Saints | 2 | — | 4 | Langwarrin |
| K.McAlister P.Ferguson M.Blake B.Caffrey |
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Round 14: St Albans Saints v Langwarrin — 6 July, 2008
This week it was over to the other side of town for the return leg against St. Albans for the reserves. The home encounter earlier in the season ended in a 2-0 victory for Langy in what was a hard fought win, and though the Saints find themselves languishing in the bottom half, all indications pointed to another tight struggle.
The line-up for today: Big Sean Skelly in goals with Sean Smith, Brent and Scud protecting him. Then there was Fammo, Burgo, Kev, Joe (coming in for his first start of the season) and Biondo thrown across the midfield. And up-front: Ben 'Sumo' Caffrey and Peter Ferguson.
On the bench would be Alex Mackie, James Cullen and Mitch Blake with Liam George on the sidelines and our talented winger Hayden out due to work commitments. Ian Mackie would be filling up the bottles and explaining just how he managed to win the cross bar challenge during the week while it would be left up to Jamie Skelly to orchestrate yet another victory.
The pitch was shocking and the weather terrible but the boys knew exactly what was needed of them. So with that in mind, the game began and it was Langy making all the early running. Pete played a ball down the right wing to Fam who took a touch, played it back to Kev, a cross, and Pete's first time volley was just blocked in time by some desperate defending.
Moments later and the ball was down the right wing again. This time it was Caff who held it up just long enough for Fam to run past him. Another ball down the line found the winger who crossed it to the penalty area. This time it was Kev rushing in on the half volley, though unfortunately it was straight at the keeper. Great play from the young boys.
Now it was Danny Biondo's turn to create some havoc down the left side, his run taking him past one defender, he looks up and hits a left foot cross which just cleared the awaiting heads in the box. Caff receives the ball 18 yards out, dummies a shot to take him past the first defender, another to take him past a second. It was magic until the third dummy which made him trip over the ball and fall over. Superb play all the same from big man.
Langy almost had shouts for penalty not long after. Fam took it around two defenders and was brought down just inches outside of the box. The ref was quick to award the free kick, waving away any light hearted pleas for a spot kick. From there the ball was played to Kev who hit it with his left, low and hard but into the keepers hands.
Finally St. Albans managed to find their way into Langy's defensive half. A long ball from the half way line landed at the feet of their striker, he tried to turn but found Brent there who hit him hard, the ball landing at Scud's feet and being cleared immediately. Firm play from a defence that has held strong all season.
And it was from the back that the opening goal started from. A penetrating run and ball from Sean Smith found Caff's feet. He held it up beautifully, played it to Biondo who took a touch and was taken down inside the area. Up stepped Kev who now copies a penalty that he saw Cristiano Ronaldo take once. With his back to the keeper, he turns and hits it to the right. The man with the gloves guesses the right way but is powerless to stop it. 1-0 to Langy. Well done to Kev who continues his prolific patch which has seen him score a bag of goals in recent weeks.
Just minutes later it could have been two. Another Biondo cross was cleared by the Saints defence, the ball landing at Joe's feet around 35 yards out. The young Englishman, who is known for his venomous right boot hit a fierce shot, low and powerful. Again if it had gone anywhere else it would have been a certain goal, but sadly it was a little too accurate rocketing into the keeper's hands who did well to hold such a vicious hit.
But the crowd didn't have to wait too long for the second. Kev raided down the middle of the park and played it to Pete on the edge of the box. The Scotsman took it past his man and played what everyone thought was a cross; that is until it lobbed over the keeper and into the net. 2-0 to Langy and another quality toe-poke from Pete.
That was just about it for the first half, or so we thought. St. Albans humped yet another long ball into the box, this time it missed everyone and went to the back post where one of their midfielders had lost his man and was waiting to tap in from 3 yards. 2-1 at the break and a flattering score line to the home side.
The second 45 began with a substitute by Jamie. Burgo off for Mitch who partnered Caff up front. Pete dropped back into the middle of the park, and it seemed to click immediately. Pete exchanged some short passes with Kev and then played it to Danny on the left. Biondo crossed it and it landed to Caff who finished from 6 yards with his left foot. 3-1 to the blues.
Before the crowd had stopped cheering it was 4-1. Again it came from the left side, this time a cross from Kev landing at Mitch's feet who hit it from the exact same position as the one before. It hit the back of the net and the three points were in sight.
But as we see in football time and time again, dropping a gear will lead to danger. The Saints won a corner, one of their players whipping it in to the penalty area. Big Sean Skelly did everything right, running out and punching it away. Unfortunately it landed to a St. Albans player waiting on the edge of the box. He hit a sweet left foot volley that lobbed everyone and landed in the back of the net. Not much we could do about that one.
As the half went on, both teams started to tire, so again it was time for some changes. Alex on for Kev and James on for Biondo. The game was reduced to Langy sitting back and soaking up long ball after long ball that Scud, Brent and Sean dealt with quite easily. Niether side had a decent chance until the 85'minute. A home striker received the ball on the edge of the area, turned and hit a fizzer with his right boot. We all thought it was their third until it just missed the bottom right, hitting the back fence instead of the net.
That was the final piece of action from a very entertaining game. Another good win by the reserves who remain top and look to stay there this week in the big round 15 clash: Langwarrin vs. Sunshine Georgies at Lawton Park. Hope to see you all there.
Team: Skelly, S.Smith, B.Smith, Hodgson, Famularo, Biondo (Cullen 75), Burgess (Blake 46), McAlister (Mackie 82), Iline, Ferguson, Caffrey
Unused Sub: Thomas
