Langy Boys Green with Envy as Bentleigh take the points
Posted: 28 July, 2008
| Bentleigh Greens | 2 | — | 0 | Langwarrin |
Round 16: Bentleigh Greens v Langwarrin — 20 July, 2008
The Langy boys travelled to the Kingston Heath Complex to take on high flying Bentleigh Greens, who were sitting nicely in 3rd position. Langwarrin were sitting in the unusual and uncomfortable position of 3rd from bottom and in the relegation zone, so maximum points were going to be vital to both teams.
Making it extra tough this week was the loss of 4 players, Lirim Rasimi, Simon ODonnell and Boris Ovcin were all serving suspensions picked up the previous week, and young Jamie O'Donoghue who injured his ankle during the week when he looked set for a long awaited return to the starting line up. Into the squad came 5 boys who had played their recent football in the reserves, Ben Caffrey, Adam Ahmadzai, Matthew Hodgson, Luke Burgess and Hayden Shippers.
Both teams started brightly, with Bentleigh trying to get it up forward to their big striker Stopellis but he was being well marked by Ben Cullen. Ben Caffrey, who was back in the side at sweeper, was cleaning up anything that was missed by his defenders, and was able to set up many Langy attacks through his vision and passing range. Young Adam was doing well in the middle of the park, and looked very comfortable in his first senior start at only 15 years of age. Out on the left Shane Tagleferro was making some great runs, one which took him past 2 players and when he went to go past the 3rd he was blocked just outside the penalty area, which resulted in a yellow card for the Bentleigh player and a free kick in a dangerous position. Caleb took the free kick and unfortunately for the Langy boys the wall did its job. Langy were beginning to make use of their territorial advantage, and won a number of corners in a row. A great corner swung in by Thomas was only partially punched away by the Bentleigh keeper, Cam Leopold headed back towards goal and whilst it was cleared off the goal line, it landed straight on Cullen's head who powered his header off the crossbar. This passage of play summed up Langy's season so far, very unlucky.
Langy didn't have it all their own way, and Bentleigh looked dangerous when they did get forward. When a ball was only partially cleared to the edge of the box, Bentleigh midfielder Mitch Pino hit a cracking volley that had Jonesy beat, but luckily the crossbar came to his defence. As the game appeared to be heading towards half time at nil all it was Bentleigh who broke the deadlock with 3mins of the first half remaining. After some good work down the left hand side, a low cross was dummied by the first striker and Strapelis was able to power home a strike from 6 yards out.
At half time Gus moved the two Ahmadzai brothers around, with Adam taking on the wide right position. The move appeared to have paid off dividends within 10 minutes of the second half when Karl Cochrane took a quick throw on the right hand side, Adam managed to beat his defender and get to the goal line and knock a great ball across the 6 yard box, but unfortunately big Caleb couldn't get a touch to the ball.
Langy were really putting on the pressure now looking for that equaliser with both Adam and Thomas getting down that right hand side continuing to knock over some great crosses, unfortunately the Langy strikers couldn't make connection's with them. Bentleigh were still dangerous on the counter attack as they broke very quickly at every chance they could get. But luckily for Langy Ben Caffrey was in fine form and cleaned up everything.
Langy again came close with 15 minutes remaining. Shane again mesmerised his marker down the left hand side and he sent in a great cross that fell to Cam Leopold who had his back to goal. With a quick shimmy Cam was able to hit a shot that beat the Bentleigh keeper but unfortunately not the upright.
It was too prove costly with 10 minutes remaining as Langy went man on man at the back. Bentleigh broke out of defence quickly and sent a long ball up to there Striker Strapellias, he managed to get away from Ben Cullen and was able to hold off Adam Poole as he powered into the penalty box and slotted the ball past Chris Jones, leaving the score 2-0 to Bentleigh.
The Langy boys still never gave up and Ben Caffrey who was pushed up front for the last 10 minutes went on a mazy run beating 3 defenders (nut megging 2 of them) and as he closed in on goal hit his shot which was cleared by the desperate Bentleigh defence. Whilst there was Langy men in the box, Caffrey could have cut it back to Cochrane who was on his own in space but went for the shot instead which was saved by the keeper.
So that's how it finished 2-0 to Bentleigh and heart break again for Langy. Langy deserved something from the game but were guilty again of not finishing their chances. It means they are 4 points off safety with 6 games to go and playing Clifton hill who are just above them at home this weekend. Hopefully with a couple of boys back from suspension and with a bit of luck the Langy boys can turn the corner and get a win on the board, and if the boys continue their form from the past couple of weeks a win must surely be only around the corner.
Best: Ben Caffrey, Adam Ahmadzai & Thomas Ahmadzai
Team: Jones, Caffrey, Cullen, Breslin, Tagliaferro, Leopold, A. Ahmadzai, Poole (Hodgson 81) , T Ahmadzai, Cochrane, Nicholes
Unused Sub: Thomas, Shippers, Burgess
