Langy Proves another Point
Posted: 25 June, 2008
| Southern Stars | 0 | — | 0 | Langwarrin |
Round 12: Southern Stars v Langwarrin — 21 June, 2008
So that was it for the first half of the season, every team has been played and there's little need to say that Langy is far from the position on the table that it should be. Much misfortune coupled with a few ordinary performances is the reason for this, though a strong defensive performance against Westgate last week earned a much needed point, giving Langy supporters something to cheer about. This week was the return leg against Southern Stars, the team against which Langy opened their season with a 1-1 draw in a spiteful but entertaining home encounter. The game would be played in Noble Park, on yet another average surface that would cause problems all day long.
The boys in blue came in with Jonesy as keeper, Quinny, Libba and Cullen in defence and Shane, Pooley, Cam, Karl and Bres spread across the middle of the park. Boris moved to an attacking midfield role with Sodder playing the lone striker. That left Jamie, Caleb, Tommy and Sean Skelly on the bench. Sadly the mercurial Barry Tulloch was still out injured for this one. Southern Stars also came into this fixture needing some points after there season has taken a turn for the worst following three defeats in a row.
Again the stands were a much larger shade of blue when the ref's whistle kicked-off the match and it was Langy who had a glorious chance to break the deadlock in the opening 15 minutes. Some good work from the new Langy midfield eventuated with the ball at Shane Tagliaferro's feet. The talented winger knocked it past his man and hit a gorgeous cross deep to the back stick where Sodder was all alone. The striker took a touch but almost had too much time on his hands, missing the target from 6 yards. It was a chance missed, but yet more encouragement that this ever improving midfield will create openings for the boys up front.
It was Langy that continued to put the pressure on its opponents, with it all beginning at the back where the defence was a brick wall that the Stars never looked like passing. A quality challenge from Libba dispossessed his opponent, the ball landing to Quinny, a short pass to Cullen, back to Quinny and the ball was played long up the line to the feet of Sodder. The striker took the ball on the run, checked inside his man and played it to Boris who hit it first time from 25 yards. It was a great shot matched by an excellent save from the Stars no.1.
Just as the week before, whilst Langy attacked and produced some good chances, the opposition was unable to trouble Jonesy in goals, restricted to dead ball situations that were dealt with easily. Anything else was mopped up by the keeper ensuring the Stars would have to create something special to hit the back of the net. With that never looking like happening it was nil all after the first 45 minutes and Langy playing the better football.
Gus sent out the same 11 for the second half in the hope that they could find that elusive goal and third win of the season. It was still Langy that was taking the initiative and attacking their opponents time after time. A good run by Bres on the left was followed by a cross that just missed Sodder in the box, clearing his head by mere centimeters.
Some quality work by Cam in the middle set up another chance for the tireless Sodder. A crunching tackle from the former pines captain left his opponent on the deck wondering what had just flattened him whilst Leopold calmly took the ball and played it to Karl who knocked it to the feet of Langy's striker. Sodder turned and found himself one on one with his opponent, dummying this way and that before he knocked it to the right and had a hit. Unfortunately he scuffed the shot, the ball rolling into the arms of the keeper.
Next it was Shane's turn to go on one of his trademark runs down the right. He skinned his opponent before cutting inside, taking it past another two players and having a dig with his left boot. He got the accuracy but couldn't generate enough power from his opposite foot, the shot being saved by a busy Southern Stars keeper.
On one of the home team's forays forward a dangerous cross was cut out by Jonesy who threw it to Leopold. A great cross field pass put Langy on the counter with the Stars stretched. Karl took the ball down the right with Boris making a marvelous run through the middle, his man left behind, and a paddock of space in front of the attacking midfielder. Cochrane spotted the run and tried a low cross to his feet, but it was cut out by the stretching leg of an opposing defender. It was so close the faithful could do nothing but applaud. Jones had a scare soon after when a corner which wasnt cleared was sent goalward by the Stars midfielder, but an alert Poole was on the line to head it clear.
Gus decided to change things around by throwing on Tommy and Caleb hoping the fresh legs could make a difference. It almost did immediately. Bres collected the ball inside his own half and cut in. He rolled the ball to Caleb who was one on one with his defender in the exact same position that Sodder had been earlier on. Caleb too went to the right, this time his opponent blocked the shot, the ball going out for what should have been a corner, except the ref had other idea's and pointed for a goal kick.
We were nearing the final whistle when the home side threw themselves forward searching for a winner. The ball was taken by their right winger who took it round Libba and rolled a dangerous ball across the six yard box. The Langy crowd went silent, praying that this wasn't to be a repeat of the Kingston game. The Stars had two strikers on the penalty spot waiting to steal the three points only for Jonesy to come out and dive on the ball. The roar from the crowd was followed by the final whistle, another point for Langy and hopefully a result that can spark a run of wins for the second half of the season.
It's back at Lawton Park next Saturday against Springvale White Eagles, a team that we beat last time, here's hoping for a similar result. So let's have everyone down there to support a Langy side that have to win their first home game of the season.
Team: Jones, Quinn, Cullen, Rasimi, Tagliaferro, Leopold, Ovcin, Cochrane, Breslin, O'Donnell (Nicholes 82), Poole (Ahmadzai 68).
Best: Ovcin, Leopold
Unused Sub: Skelly, O'Donoghue
