Match Report – O35.1 – Game Date: 9 August 2015

BMFC O35.1: 2
vs
Penrith R.S.L. FC: 1

BMFC Goal Scorers: Paulie, Iceman

Player of the Match: Young Sean Burns

Match Report:

It was a beautiful winters day at knapsack as we entertained Penrith RSL who were promoted after winning division 2.
Numbers were a bit thin due to suspension injury etc although we had 13 to start’ which was a step up on Saturday where the app only had the bare 11 available.
Dave heyman. still suffering the effects of last week’s game. attempted to influence one of the selectors on Friday night by plying them with whiskey in an attempt to be selected up front. His cunning plan backfired when he told Brad he would be no good for tackling and Brad said that’s great you can play sweeper instead of me, Dave started at sweeper, Pirate and Joey up front.
Given most of us have played with or against the Penrith RSL players at some point there was great discussion amongst the back 3 on one of their strikers with a tendency to go down in the box very easily. They resolved to be extra careful when he was in the box.
The game started well for us with some nice passing movements and a couple of opportunities. Some lax marking allowed their vertically challenged striker to get into the box unattended Zapps charged out and leant on the striker who fell over. (Note to back 3 include goalkeeper in on discussions about strikers )
Penalty to RSL which was placed low and to the corner but hit the post and was cleared a let off for the Blues.
The penalty and some wayward attempts to play offside resulted in the weekly Pommy/ Dave discussion on offside and junior lines people which continued after full time, the upshot was Iceman got unfairly blamed.
Joe decided to introduce a player returning from injury Cartman who immediately got involved and tested out his injured shoulder by getting cleaned up in the first tackle. After that settler he played song beautiful cross field passes which we could not convert. Nil all at halftime.
The talk at half time was to keep the ball and make Penrith work to wear them out as their average age was 47 .This went well until we allowed their other striker space 30 yards out to which he turned and scored a trademark goal over zapps outstretched hands.
Corey came on to fulfil his guest appearance contract despite being injured and with the flu. At one nil down we were in a bit of bother which was compounded when Micky C was sent off for a second offence after getting his finger trod on which may contest for the serious injury category.
With backs to the wall and time running out that sparked the Blueys and some neat passing from Sean to Brad beat the offside trap and Brad roasted the keepers hands the ball popped out and Paul pounced on the rebound to rattle it home. We kept pushing for the winner and were rewarded with a penalty as Paul unceremoniously upended in the box.
Cometh the hour cometh the Iceman who cooly slotted it home despite the keeper going the right way.
With ten men and ten minutes to go the selection panel hatched a plan to rub salt into Dave h by bringing on Marty as a lone target man a role he has never played before.
He did a tremendous job holding the ball up and slowly running down the clock.
A good result by a team slowly being depleted by injury as the season goes on.