Match Report – 15.2 – Game Date: 29/07/2017

BMFC 15.2: 2
vs
Lowland Wanderers: 1

BMFC Goal Scorers: Gus Langworthy and Aidan Monaco

Player of the Match: Aidan Monaco

Match Report: Having finished fourth after the season proper, for the first match of the Championship Round it was a home game against sixth place Lowland Wanderers who have proved to be a bit of a bogie team for us. It is always a tight contest against the boys from the Hawkesbury.

The game quickly settled into a tense battle. The dust flew (literally!) as both teams moved the ball from end to end and side to side! Our defence held strong and Robbie made excellent choices in coming off his line to counter their ‘long ball’ play. Some very good passages of team passing gave us some good go forward without creating any quality goal scoring opportunities. Jacob and Luke D worked hard at the back and Gus and Heath challenged the Lowlands defence on a number of occasions.

With a nil-all score line at half time the coach was devoid of any ideas or earth shattering advice, other than to ‘keep playing our team passing game’ and try to control more of the midfield. However the boys’ talk was positive and Captain Gus urged the boys to remain determined.

The second half also settled into an arm wrestle. We had slightly the better of the play and momentum was starting to build for us.

Strict but fair refereeing was the order of the day and Lowlands were awarded a free kick in a handy position but still some distance out. From the set piece they scored a superb goal despite a valiant attempt by Robbie to make another exceptional save.

After a short period of ‘heads down’ the boys took their play to another level and dominated with fine passing and ball control. Heath, Zach S and Lachlan Bowe controlled the midfield while Aidan, Gus and Lachlan Jones pressed forward. For the last 25 minutes we certainly had the better of the possession.

Lachlan Jones was rewarded for getting into the box to shoot when a penalty was given. Gus stepped up to the mark with confidence but struck the ball too well, sending it over the cross bar. Lowlands’ relief was short lived as the boys continued to pile on the pressure.

Much to everyone’s relief, after more than two hours of goal-less football, over two matches, against a strong Lowlands defence we were rewarded with two fine goals in the last 10 minutes to clinch a satisfying win.

The first was a superb free kick from Gus that didn’t look like missing from the time it left his boot. This fine goal is an indication of our captain’s great character and composure when under real pressure.

The second was a terrific goal started through an excellent goal kick interception from Lachlan Jones, followed by a skilful interchange with Lachlan Bowe who sent an expertly placed pass the Aidan. With still a lot of work to do, Aidan used his outstanding ball control to cut through the defence and place the ball past the keeper for a brilliant finish.

We saw out the last 3 minutes through good team play and possession football.

A fine come-from-behind victory that was based on team play, passing football and a strong resolve to believe in each other.

A relieved ‘Gary’ (or was it ‘Alan’ or ‘Steve’) declared that the result was, “Never in doubt!”

Congratulations to Lowlands on playing the game in the right spirit and challenging us every time we’ve played them. Special compliments go to their defence that gave us little room to move and repelled us on many occasions.

Aidan Monaco just pipped Will Cooke and Will Foreman for man of the match honours. Aidan’s match winning goal, terrific runs down the left, some fine ‘defence in attack’ and excellent headers earned him the nod! Will Cooke was brilliant at the back, often making excellent choices as the last line of defence. Will Foreman won lots of close challenges and made many incisive runs to bring the ball from the back to the midfield and beyond.

We have a week ‘off’ to fine-tune our game before taking on the season proper table-toppers Glenmore Park, at Mulgoa Rise. Heath is all the better for the run today after a break and with Chris, Luke Springett and hopefully Zach Kingsford all back for the next game we’ll have our full squad.

Some solid (read tough!!) training sessions over the next two weeks will ensure we are as prepared as we can be to take on the next challenge in an already successful and thoroughly enjoyable season!