Match Report – O35.1W – Game Date: 11/08/2019

BMFC O35.1W: 1
vs
BMFC O35.1B: 3

BMFC Goal Scorers: Skinner

Player of the Match: Fate

Match Report: Ah, the drama of last match day! All games today being played at the ungodly hour of 9am, with the heroic O35 Whites sitting 3rd, but a loss and other results could see us 5th and bundled out of the Finals.

And what a more dramatic way than to play in the 2nd leg of the Old Man Bragging Rights Cup (or ‘El Geriatrico’ as the locals and pundits alike now call it) against our evil step-brothers, the BMFC O35 Blacks, currently leading the series by 1.

The team bus arrived covered in snow due to the polar storm/antarctic blast/sharknado, whatever you want to call it, but with all seats filled spirits were high, even Macca decided to turn up 20 minutes early which was a welcome change, but we lost Rusty late again as he is seemingly allergic to pre-midday kick offs.

The question on everyone’s lips – was the weather a sign that it would be a White Winter or would it suit the Blacks cold dead hearts?

An early pitch inspection and Ian Chappell’s key could hardly penetrate the surface – there would be plenty of Knapsack bounce and swing, and after winning the toss the Blacks elected to bowl from the Paddington end.

A real arm-wrestle as always is the case in these games, with our pre-game strategy of ‘marking,’ ‘passing,’ ‘defending’ and ‘attacking’ really paying off, the ball firmly planted down their end of the pitch.  Andre also realising after his 4th corner attempt in a row that the ball needs to be at least directed at a teammate and somewhat off the ground – things were looking up.

Blacks scored on a counter.

We continued to apply the pressure with our sub rotation and supreme fitness earned from that 1 training session 3 months ago we all showed up to really coming to the fore.  Skinner, Felts, Andy and Anth defending from the front and JB (Thor’s stud marks now barely visible on his face), Macca, Dirty and Crussel mopping up at the back.

Blacks scored on a counter.

Halftime and Dre elected to move us away from the ladies toilet block for his speech this week so as to avoid the Blacks in their change room and due to complaints from previous weeks. “More of the same,” was this weeks instructions.

Second half and we picked up where we left off, creating plenty of chances, but just missing the target or getting denied by post and crossbar (yes, another cultured lob by Dre hitting woodwork and yes we will be hearing about it for a while).

Our midfield rotation of Ads, Rod, Marty and Ghost were pushing hard on transitions and their industrious work soon paid off, Ads sneaking in from the blindside to pick Archie’s pocket then slotting Skinner through with his weaker right foot, Skinner overcoming Stage 5 man-flu and fear of coughing up not only a lung but also another team fine for missing a 1-on-1, calmly finding the back of the net.  2-1, game on!

Blacks scored on a counter.

With time running out and no word as yet from the ground announcer over the loudspeaker as to the results of the other matches, our intensity lifted to levels higher than any other moment in our season – so, roughly 7 out of 10.  Ads had his tail up and found the ball sitting up nicely on his favoured left hoof at the top of the box, but strategically elected to find touch instead, under the guise of a half-volley shot, his brilliance not unnoticed by teammates and opposition alike.

Dre decided to lead by example soon after, sliding in a little Gascoigne-esque on Zap and what followed can only best be described in canine terms: Zap had a bark and a nip at Dre; Dre submitted and rolled on his back with his paws in the air to let Zap know he would not bite back; Anth saw his pack-mate in a compromising position, so had a bark and a nip back at Zap; Zap’s attention was now on Anth, so Dre crept away with his tail between his legs … luckily the ref was on hand with a few Schmacko’s, and after a few pats on the head we were all let off our leash for the rest of the day.

3-1 final score and still no word from the ground announcer, which was frustrating as we really needed to know whether to start Mad Monday now or not…. then the Whites section of the grandstand erupted upon news the unthinkable had occurred – 4th and 5th place had also lost.

Tickets then proceeded to sell-out immediately for an all Blueys semi final next week – El Geriatrico III – while club owners knew a Blueys team guaranteed a spot in the grand final would surely hurry along the new carpark and grandstand.