Points Stolen From Langy Again
Posted: 8 August, 2008
| Dandy Thunder | 2 | — | 0 | Langwarrin |
Round 18: Dandenong Thunder v Langwarrin — 2 August, 2008
After last weeks thumping of Clifton Hill at home, it was time to be ‘welcomed’ by Dandenong Thunder and their band of cheery supporters for the next chapter in the Langy - Dandy rivalry.
The job unfortunately would be made that much more difficult in the absence of Bres due to suspension.
But if any team could do it, it would be: Jonesy in goals. Defence: Ben Caffrey as sweeper with Cullen and Libba picking-up. Midfield: Shane, Cam, Boris, Tommy and Adam who had a blinder in his first senior start against Bentleigh. This left the big boys Karl and Caleb up front.
As the crowd gathered, the anticipation started to grow. The Thunder cheerleaders took their place behind the goal and went about trying start a chant.
But not to be outdone was the blue army which assembled down the other side of the pitch.
As the ref blew his whistle both sets of supporters roared and away we went. From the first few minutes it was clear that this was going to be a tense encounter as the tackles flew in from all directions.
Some good work from Cam in the middle of the park freed up Shane on the wing, he took a few touches and swung in a cross that found Caleb but the header was just misdirected. Close stuff.
Next it was Dandy’s turn. A cross was only partially cleared, the ball going this way and that inside the penalty area until Cullen swung a boot at it and alleviated the danger.
Soon after the Thunder were at it again, playing the ball around in their attacking half, pulling our boys this way and that. The move culminated in a cross that was heading for one of their strikers until Jonesy leaped into the air and took the ball off his forehead.
Moments later Langy went into attack, this time Adam ripped his opponent with some silky feet, took it to the by-line and cut it back, his cross being cleared but only as far as Boris who took a touch and hit it. Unfortunately the shot was at the keeper who got down well to save it.
After 40 minutes things were looking good for Langy who were more than matching there big-spending opponents. But in the final minutes of the half Langy took a blow. Libba, who had made a more than successful return from injury this season was forced off the pitch with a torn calf muscle. His presence on the pitch both in this game and the rest of the season will be sorely missed. With that Gus threw on the Jamie ‘Gooner’ O pushing him up front with Shane taking over marking at the back.
So Gus would have a bit of work to do at half time for this one.
The second 45 seemed to start as a bit more of an open affair, though the passion had far from left the pitch with the ref penalising a few harsh tackles from both sides. Sadly it was Dandy’s intensity that broke the deadlock. Some great play through the midfield saw the ball played to the byline; a Thunder striker got onto the end of it and cut the ball back where his partner was waiting to tap in from 6 yards. 1-0 to them but plenty of time to go.
Langy then received another blow when a on field scuffle broke out between both teams. It took nearly 5 mins for the referee to bring it under control and when he did he a gave Cam Leopold a straight red card. Dandy also lost a player to a red card. It was now 10 v 10.
Langy again tried to get something out of this match. Caffrey took the ball and went on a run (more like a slow jog) taking it past the halfway he put his foot on the ball, looked up and played a long ball into the box. The ball was flicked on to the back post where the Gooner was waiting. He hit it on the half volley, a low, hard strike that was going in until it was blocked on the line. Unlucky lads! From the resulting kick out the keeper stepped outside of the 18-yard-box and was penalized rightly so.
Up stepped Caleb, placing the ball on the 18 yard line and taking a few steps back. His short run up was followed by an absolute thunder bolt that cannoned off the cross bar that’s probably still shaking. The ball flew up in the air and dropped. The keeper came for it but instead of going for the ball, he grabbed Boris by the neck and pulled him down, a blatant penalty kick? Obviously not as the ref waved play on.
From there the Thunder killed the game off, a shot from the edge of the box hit the cross bar and came down bouncing just over the line. 2-0 to Dandy.
After that Langy poured forward in search of a consolation. Adam continuously skinned his opponent that looked double him in age, but far behind in skill. Although we had a couple of half chance we were not able to finish the move off.
So 2-0 it ended up but we were by no means made to look silly, in fact if a few decisions had gone our way we would walked away with some points. But, it wasn’t to be so we look forward to playing back at Lawton Park next week against the Royals. See you there!
Team: Jones, Caffrey, Cullen, Rasimi(O'Donaghue 41), Tagliaferro, Leopold, Ovcin, T Ahmadzai, A Ahmadzai, Cochrane, Nicholes.
Subs not used: Powell, Hodgson, Smith
