Banana Smoothies

D'OH! 3 Junior Bananas 8

Embarrassing. Would have been worse but for late strikes by Plaino and Sadds, but even at the end the scoreline had us blushing. A huge anticlimax in our heralded rematch against one of our oldest adversaries. They came into the game complaining of being in a lowly spot on the ladder and here were we pushing to the top. How are the mighty fallen. We were outplayed and were suddenly back to the darkest days of our final season in Division One where everything we tried turned to rubbish and we had a defence like a colander.

In contrast they looked a polished outfit and cam up with some stunning finishes, particularly in the second half and poor Euge was trudging to the back of the net all too often. The sort of performance we have to put behind us especially as we play league leaders Bulldogs on Monday night at 9.20pm. We need another form reversal. On the positive side Sadds tried all night to get us going but it wasn't to be. The rest of us played but that was about it. Bob had an outstanding game in nets but still conceded a Plaino double so will be angry with himself. At least he didn’t score this time - I'm not sure we could have coped with his celebrations on a night when so much was going wrong for us.

They had pretty much the same line up that we were used to and so did we - but we were so far below our recent best it wasn't funny.

Anyway, see you on Monday I suppose?

(21-APR-08)

Cruising

D'OH! 7 Lightning Strikes 2

To only concede two goals when Euge was not playing is a good effort, and one of those was a deflection off the ample backside of one of their players so even Euge would have struggled with that one. The other goal was a pretty smart individual effort but otherwise they hardly tested our stand-in keepers. We took control of the game early. The boys worked it wide to Lobby who let fly with his left. Strangely the keeper turned away as the shot came in, in the way the scared kid in the school team does so that he ends up with his back to the shot facing the net. Of course the goal was scored. Then we saw Sadds drive one in and then, in attempted and creditable imitation, Plaino struck one crisply from 5 metres out into the bottom corner. The question is, will he continue to surprise us with his finishing?

Lobby followed up his opening goal with another couple to complete a second hattrick in a row and Sadds added to his first half strike for a nice double. Sadds worked out that the best way to attack was to play a one-two and he showed again and again how effective this can be against a sub-par defence. Others were rewarded for his efforts but we cruised to the win despite Kev and the skipper not troubling the scorers.

This weeks game is at 10.40pm again but the incentive is that it is against Junior Bananas - a team we have played a million times, but not since 3rd July 2006.

Let me know if you are available.

(14-APR-08)

Vivid memories

D'OH! 9 Columbia FC 5

It might have been two weeks ago but aspects of this game are vividly etched on the brain so it seems like it happened just now. There was the start for example. Plaino touched to Lobby who shot and the ball went in the bottom cormer without the keeper doing much to stop it. One of the fastest goals ever. Then in the second half there was Euge hurling the ball to Lobby who nodded it on to Plaino. That Plaino controlled the ball with apparent ease and then slotted it, is a source of amazement even now.

Thank goodness Damian was on holiday here and available, for without him we would have been down to 4 men. The big man did his job and so nearly scored his 105th goal in his 105th game. It was a Euge bowl out again and Damo turned his man on the half way line and let fly with his left from the edge of the court. The ball sizzled past the far post. With the last touch he almost managed to get a shot away but it was not to be and the siren went.

Having discovered that their keeper did not know what he was doing, Lobby terrorised him with shots all night. Finishing with 4 goals he was our top scorer, with the skipper picking up 3 and Plaino 2. It was a shocking performance from their man between the sticks and obviously the difference between the teams. Euge had a good night - keeping them out despite a defence that was fairly leaky at times. A normal day at the office for him.

The good news is we have strung a few results together without Trev being around and missing Sadds and Kev last time out. With the boys back we can look forward with optimism to tonight's 10.40pm kick off. Did I say "optimism"? Probably not the right word for the prospect of a late night kick off on the first night of the working week. Never fear - I am sure our opponents - Lightning Stikes - will be more worried than we are.

Let me know whether you are playing.

(31-MAR-08)