A good defeat

D'OH! 1 Van Basten 2

A courageous defeat this one and quite a puzzle how we failed to win it after making so many clear cut chances. A couple of things worked against us. Plaino pulling out after a kitchen mishap was an early blow and meant that no-one was going to get a breather during the game. Euge coming back from a nasty dislocation of his little finger (grossly omitted from last week's report) meant there was plenty of concern around the team and plenty of tape around Euge's fingers. How would he go? Would he be OK? Then Trev pulled up early in the second half after tying to run off a leg injury so our main strike force was out of action. So we were struggling just a bit. It didn’t help that their keeper played a blinder and that some of our shots hit woodwork or side netting.

The sides were well matched and they made mistakes just like we did. Kev's dinking run close to goal set up the chance for Trev to scoop in our only goal of the night but not long afterwards a quick break and a first time shot beat Euge and they were level. In the second half it took a nice turn and a low shot to the corner to beat Euge again and really there was not much he could have done about either, even with a fully functioning right pinky-finger.

When Trev admitted himself into nets to rest his injury it looked as though our last hope had gone, but it had the consequence of letting the Euge run free! Now the stage was set for some drama. Running cross-field to accept a kick in, Euge took a swing with his left foot …. and missed, much to the disappointment of everyone who knows him. Having seen him bury his only previous chance with considerable aplomb a couple of years ago, it was a shame to see the great man flunk the chance to let fly at the goals especially on a night when we needed a spark.

Next thing the ball clangs up into the roof and dislodges a light fitting. As the fluorescent bulb slides from its moorings and heads to inevitable oblivion on the indoor soccer court, Euge steps in and catches the flying light one handed and with a flourish. The delay while the fitting was reconnected was nothing to that which would have occurred had Euge dropped the bulb or let it smash on the ground. Perhaps on the night this was the high point for us? Sad really.

You could not question the effort, though as always there were question marks over the fitness and sometimes the skills. Everyone tried something and it was amazing that nothing came to anything. One of Lobby's shots was scrambled away via the upright. Kev fed a superb ball through for the skipper but only the side netting was hit. Trev came out again despite the leg but it just wasn't quite happening. A pity not to do better on Trev's 150th appearance for D'OH! Trev is the 5th and youngest player to reach the milestone. Talking of milestones, the skipper points out that last week was his 450th game - as you can guess the first, oldest and creakiest player to reach that point for D'OH!.

So we ran out of legs and time and finished at least one goal short.

Next week Lobby is away, so we need Sadds. The 8.40pm kick off against Raumplan should suit everyone - a sort of Goldilocks time - not too early and not too late.

(19-MAY-2008)

The Deluge

D'OH! 13 The Reds 5

A couple of weeks ago there was no trouble recollecting our goalscorers. There were none. This week there was a deluge of goals and it was a lot of fun. I'll try and remember them. Lobby got on the board first when he worried the 'keeper and a sheepish defence into letting one in. Next up Euge hurled the long ball to Kev's advantage and as the ball dropped over his shoulder Kev expertly deposited it into the far corner with a single touch for a goal well worth the celebration. The Skipper took on the defence and got a goal from each side of the pitch as we started to have a comfortable lead. Then it was Trev's turn to show his wares as he drifted forward with the ball stuck to his boot and slid it past the keeper in clinical fashion. Then he did it again. Just before half time the skipper was one-on-one with the keeper and slipped it between his feet and we had 7 to their 2.

In the second half we continued to torment them, but with less control over our finishing - the game became a bit scrappy and our pledge to keep a second half clean sheet was broken within a minute. Lobby put one up into the top corner for the best goal of the half and the skipper got another when they all stopped for a substitution. Trev got two and Kev the last for our baker's dozen, but how they came about escapes me. We conceded a couple as well but with such an advantage on the scoreboard, it was always comfortable for us.

Euge picked up his customary bruises and had a bit to do but was always in control. Plaino was disappointed not to get on the scoresheet but saw more of the action than normal. All in all a good day for the lads.

Next week the game is at 6pm against Van Basten. Let me know if you are showing up for the early kickoff.

(12-MAY-2008)

Back to winning ways

D'OH 5 ALBERT PARK RANGERS 4

It took 27 seconds for the lads to wipe the bitter memories of last weeks failure to score clean from our minds.

From this point on, our opposition tightened up in their defence and made it difficult for us to score. At the other end of the court, our defence was proving strong in terms of being able to force the error and turn the ball over. On the half time buzzer, the score was 2-2, we were playing some good football, however we knew we still had a tough game on our hands. Trev ended up with both goals before the break.

The second half, Lobby scored a customary goal to see us go up 3-2, with 10 mins to go Albert Park started a mini revival, adding two quick goalsto go 4-3 up. Trev scored the next to get his hatrick and we were back on level terms and complete the win Kev scored a cracker for 8 mtrs out which rocketed into the top corner.

With the final siren sounding, we knew we fought out a tough win. With Saddles still on the injury list and The Skipper standing down for a week to rest his knee (or was it to recover from the Logies and Kate Ritchie's big win) we did well to run out the whole game without any substitutions. Trev walked away with three goals, whilst Kev and Lobby both managed a goal each. Plaino hassled his opposition and managed a number of turnovers whilst Eugene was again solid in defence. The opposition made many attacks and it was Euge who managed to stop their forwards from scoring where many would not have been close.

7.20pm game this week against The Reds. As usual, please advise the skipper of your availability.

(05-MAY-2008)

A New Low

D'OH! 0 Bulldogs 5

We failed to score. 517 games into the life of the club and for the first time we did not find the back of the net. The opposition did of course which means we lost the match. The defeat we can handle, but surrendering one of the longest held records will be hard to stomach. It is not as if this was the best team we have ever played, or that we were undermanned (the loss of Sadds to injury notwithstanding), or that we played hopelessly. In fact, we played alright, made plenty of chances and had numerous shots on target which is not always the case with us. We just found a keeper at the height of his form a stubborn defence and all on a night when things did not go our way. Still hard to believe that nothing we did resulted in a goal.

We let them score a few easy ones after being turned in the attacking area and Euge did not have one of his better days. None of us did. Still we would have done enough to score a few times under normal circumstances. Trev was back and he and Lobby peppered the goals in the first half with no reward. Kev battled hard without giving a freekick away, hardly, and Plaino worked from end to end without having a lot of impact. The skipper hammered a few freekicks into the wall so that some of their players would have had something to remember the night by and a lot of huff and puff was expended. The sub did not help us and the lack of sub did not hinder them.

Tonight's game is at 10pm but this is the last of the late kick offs for us for a bit. We are playing Albert Park Rangers and we are hoping to score. Then we are hoping to win.

(28-APR-2008)