Langy Lose Opening Game Of The Season
Posted: 15 April, 2010
| Langwarrin | 0 | V | 1 | Western Suburbs |
|---|
Round 1: Langwarrin v Western Suburbs – 10 April, 2010
The first game of the season was played at Lawton Park on a crisp, sunny day. The new season brought a new team with Gus MacLeod chopping and changing not only the formation but players too.
Unfortunately the fresh changes were not enough to secure the first three points of the season. A late goal for the Western Suburbs in the 88th minute allowed the visitors to leave with the victory.
The team was organised in a 3 4 3 formation with Jonsey in goals and Ray, Joe and Ben Cullen in defence. Danny, Chris Driver, Boris and Simon took care of midfield while Buzza, Caleb and Matty Durand played up front. Caff, Reha and Mladen were on the bench.
The spectators were treated to some old magic between Caleb and Buzza with the two trying to create early opportunities with small, neat passing. The resulting free kicks, however, were not fruitful with shots off target or efficiently defended.
In fact, both sides began the match slow – often attempting to string passes together but failing. The ball yo-yoed up and down the field ending up out most of the time, disrupting the flow of play.
Caleb tried heating things up, working well to take control of an airborne ball. He brought it down and passed it back to a waiting and perfectly positioned Chris Driver. The crowd waiting with breath held – was disappointed to see the resulting shot sail over the goals.
A Suburbs striker was next to treat the crowd to a near miss with a speedy attack, dribbling around the Langy defenders and crossing the ball in. The shot taken hit the top cross bar and landed straight back down – centimetres outside the goals.
Western Suburbs went on to miss a number of chances off the back of free kicks, often awarded to them right outside the box.
The boys attempted to play the ball around with Simon to Ben, Caleb to Boris then back to Simon. They were unlucky but it was a pleasure seeing the boys build an attack by passing to one another rather than sending the ball long each time.
Simon, Caleb and Matt had some chances up front. All three placed promising looking shots on goal but each time, they were just wide.
Langwarrin’s defence held up with Suburbs’ attacks being blocked in any way possible. Their corners were efficiently taken care of and Jonsey was making some spectacular saves to keep the ball away. The score remained level at 0:0 when the whistle blew at half time.
The start of the second half brought much of the same play from both sides. Simon and Matt tried to attack early but the ball was efficiently taken care of by the Suburbs defence.
The Langy boys were back quickly to the delight of the supporters, this time Buzza and Driver working together. Buzza crossed it in but Matty couldn’t get a head to it so the ball sailed through untouched.
Suburbs brought the ball back into their attacking half in no time taking two shots in quick succession. Jonsey – as nimble as ever – was there to take care of the first one while the boys in defence took care of the second.
Jonsey was on the move again a few minutes later when Suburbs launched a series of passes and placed yet another shot. He timed it to perfection and ran out to meet the ball bringing their attack to an end.
Defenders on both sides were forced to take control of crazy airborne balls – leading to fumbling and clumsiness. Strikers for both sides were unable to capitalise on these opportunities and so the ball yo-yoed up and down the park – the beginnings of the second half a mirror image of the first.
A corner for Langwarrin brought the boys a chance a short while after. Taken by Buzza, a touch by Caleb to Simon who took a shot was not enough to put a score on the board as the ball was deflected out by a defender. The boys failed to build on the two successive throw ins awarded to them as the ball was taken care of the Western Suburbs defence.
The 65th minute saw Boris come off for Mladen. Suburbs’ subsequent corner was efficiently taken care of with Matt shooting a ball up the line to Ray. Ray placed a shot on goal on an awkward angle from the right hand side of the box to the left hand corner of the goal. It was taken care of by the Suburbs keeper.
Minutes later, Matt caused a commotion in front of the goal when he got his head to an already bouncing ball. A Suburbs defender nearly scored an own-goal in his attempt to clear it to safety – but it sailed over the goals mere seconds later.
Soon after, Danny sent a long ball through to Ray who speedily took it up again and placed a shot. The keepers were doing their jobs well however, and the ball was collected yet again.
Langy seemed to pick up momentum late in the game with Mladen and Matt stringing short quick passes together. The ball made it into the box to Caleb’s feet where he was taken down – but denied a penalty.
Another controversial decision by the referee saw the Suburbs awarded a free kick outside the box. Despite their fancy tactics, though, the Langwarrin wall did its job and the ball deflected out to safety.
Caleb, Buzza and Simon tried repeatedly to make something of the passes up front but it was to no avail.
Minutes before the end of the match it was Ray to Mladen, Mladen with a precise long ball out to Buzza on the wing. Buzza managed a cross but it was met by the keeper.
The 88th minute saw Western Suburbs finally benefit from one of their many free kicks. The ball was blasted down the line and crossed in. A striker sprinting down the left hand side of the pitch met the ball and sent it flying into the back of the net. The Langy defence could do nothing but place their hands on their hips and shake their heads in disappointment.
The boys tried their best to level the score with some promising looking plays by Caff and Reha and some skilful free-kicks coming off the boots of both Reha and Mladen. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be and when the whistle blew signalling the end of the match the score remained 1:0 for the Western Suburbs.
Team: Jones, Donaghy, Cullen (Ulusoy 68), Markley, Black, Driver, Ovcin (Kustura 60), Mur, Nicholes (Caffrey 76), Gordon, Durand
