Harris the Hero as Langy Get Back on Track
Posted: 28 July, 2010
| Langwarrin | 1 | V | 0 | Whittlesea Zebras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.Harris | ||||
Round 15: Langwarrin v Whittlesea Zebras – 24 July, 2010
A quality solo effort from Joe Harris has seen Langy put a disastrous two weeks behind them and return to winning ways with an excellent one nil win over the Whittlesea Zebras.
With the promotion of Alex Van and Brendan into the senior squad for the remainder of the season, Gus sent an unfamiliar Langy side out on the park. Jonesy was in goals with Alex, Brendon, Quinny and Joe in Defence. Harris, Mur, Reha, Botemps and Driver in the middle, leaving Durand up front on his own. The bench consisted of Caffrey, O’Donnell, Thomas and Andronicos.
Langy were first to go close and were a little unlucky not to take the lead within the first ten minutes. Some good interplay between Vinnie and Joe saw a deflected through ball fall to Chris Driver, his run and shot being saved by the keeper and rebounding just behind Simon Mur who was running into an open net.
Five minutes later Driver left his marker for dead with a quality turn before whipping in a cross that was heading for Matty Durand before the Whittlesea keeper got a punch on it.
Reha then tried his luck from distance, hitting a rocket that hit the keeper on the chest with a thud that resounded around the ground, though the Zebras keeper, who was keeping his side in the game, did well to hold it.
The Zebras ventured forward and produced a save out of Jonesy when they took a shot from 30 yards, though it didn’t trouble the Langy legend who got down comfortably to collect it.
It was good to see the two young boys, Alex and Brendan, holding their own and forming a good unit with Quinny and Joey Junior down back.
Down the other end Matty Durand got his foot on the ball in the box, turning and taking a snap shot that was charged down by the Whittlesea defence.
Joe brought the first half to a close with one of his signature mazy runs, skinning 3 players before hitting a cross that just missed Simon at the back post.
Into the second half, Joe began where he left off, receiving from Quinny on the wing before gliding past three defenders like they were standing still and producing a cool finish past the keeper. It was a classy effort from the midfielder who has become one of the most exciting players to watch for the Langy faithful.
1-0 down, the Zebras tried to push forward in search of an equaliser but were thwarted time and time again by the experience of Quinny and the quality of Junior, Alex and Brendan. Though they all had Jonesy to thank as late in the game a Zebras striker cut out a clearance on the edge of the box, sizing it up and hitting a daisy cutter that was heading in before the Langy keeper got down smartly and parried it away.
He was called into action just moments later as a dangerous cross was floated in towards the back post, though Jonesy came through with a punch and cleared the danger.
Vinnie almost killed the game off as he played a one-two with Driver and unleashed a left foot effort that just rose above the bar.
Not to be outdone, Driver lashed a left foot effort from all of 30 yards, though it went just wide of the up right.
For the remainder of the game Langy played a bit of possession football as the Zebras unsuccessfully tried to equalize, though it just wasn’t their day as Langy ended the horror of the past few games and ran out 1-0 winners.
Team: Jones, O’Connell, Van Heerwaarden, Quinn, Donaghy, Harris (O’Donnell 85), Bontemps, Driver, Mur, Ulusoy (Caffrey 80), Durrand
Unused Subs: Thomas, Andronicos
