Another double header, another early start, another set-up, and another visit to our picturesque second ground, Gannons 8, for our first clash with table-leaders, ZSC. A game to provide us with the ideal litmus test of our 2013 performances thus far. Slightly less boggy than the previous weekend but only marginally, the grass was without frost, and seemed to have been recently mowed (rabbits maybe?), but there was still plenty of dirt on the upper plateau.

Role reversal was the order of the day. Wilko, resting a groin injured through a bizarre pirating accident, took over the reins as Team Manager from Commander Dizzy, with great relish. Almost too much relish, some would later say. Simon put the short pants on for a change, and Nick reverted to the goals. Herbie, took to centre stage for Wilko and Al Loft got another start, with Diz partnering Rochie at the sharp end.

We were without: Wilko, of course; Cookie, who was still trailing the Lions around the country in the manner of a teenage One Direction fan; Martin, who is now officially AWOL; and Rob, whereabouts also unknown. Ronnie, did make an appearance, coincidentally just as the last steel rope-post was being driven into the ground to complete the set-up. He kitted up, optimistically, despite the war wound. And so, with 3.5 subs we were looking good for keeping fit over two days.

The first half started brightly. Gav began where he left off the week before, controlling the midfield beautifully, with soon-to-be-a-daddy-again Herbie circling like the large hadron collider, and Brad solid at the rear (down, Wilko, heel boy!). For the first half an hour we were all over the opposition like the ebola virus, having good field position and spending a lot of time in their 18-yard box, with Dizzy and Rochie busy.

A gusty southerly helped our cause by pushing every ZSC goalkeeper punt into Nick’s arms and a large proportion of their goal kicks that way as well. Shane, Steve and Mark, playing deep, gathered the through-balls with casual ease (almost disregard, really) to the point where they held the ball just that part-second too long and gave the Hurstville forwards a glimmer of possession.

At the other end, while possession was weighted towards ASOW, our ability to convert to goals was severely restricted by the fact ZSC played 16 across the back. In frustration, Wilko subbed 9 players at once, a move some later questioned. So, with not a decent shot among us, the score remained locked, until a dead-ball kick was Bent like McLennan into the top right corner, as called by Rochie from the sideline, to open our tally. Sadly, a brilliantly taken ZSC corner, 2 minutes from the break, was deftly slotted – by an opponent climbing proficiently – into Herbie’s groin and he stumbled awkwardly backwards over the line. The Hurstville players hollered to a man, the ref dithered, spoke to the linesman, awarded a goal, then produced a yellow for Herbie (explain that one). Halftime: 1-1.

Half Two began with the original 11 taking the pitch, following 3 minutes of active discussion to determine exactly who the first 11 were. The contest had notched up a tier, with ZSC bringing on an old foe from the A’s, and their goal had intensified their effort. With a firm instruction to not ping the ball long, we pinged the ball only a medium distance, sufficiently short of “long” to turn a no-hope pass into a 50:50 chance. The contest ground away, until Braschie, contrary to the standard guidelines issued to 7-year olds, played a goal kick across the goal to Herbie in space – the only problems being: (a) Herbie realised the pass was meant for him as it passed him, and (b) its line was such that a ZSC player had a 50:50 shot at nicking it. And he subsequently did, rounding Herbie, playing to a free centre forward, who, deciding that his Best Shot of the Season should be played at that instant, flicked a left-foot curler to the same corner Gav used some half an hour earlier.

ZSC 2 ASOW 1 and into slowdown mode we went. Claiming to have 5 players away on the day, every trick in the book was employed, apart from the old sudden-cramp-with-5-to-go-fall-onto-the-back-and-get-a-teammate-to-lean-on-your-foot trick. The best play being the right back putting two throw-ins out with subsequent attempts, earning a yellow for time-wasting. Must remember that ploy for the finals. ZSC multiplied their backs, with the original 16 bolstered by a further 9 – and with 25 players to get through in their box, we were going nowhere.

Fulltime ZSC 2 ASOW 1. One that got away, a point would probably have been a fair result. The best news being that we meet them again in Round 18.

After both teams very respectfully paid a minute’s silence in honour of John’s mum, the Sans Souci side came out firing and we were flat. The ASOW team management blamed the slow start on Braschie not running the pre-game kick-around, which was in turn put down to having a delayed set up (including photo session), as the Substitute Keeper of the Key kept the key too well, having attended and partially set up the wrong ground, which the ASOW ladies were subsequently quite thankful for (No names mentioned, Buccaneer). ASOW, were missing only three players – Ronnie, attending to his chaps; Martin, with miscellaneous ailment; and Cookie aka Pegleg, who was leading the Lions Supporters Group on a pub crawl through Perth at the time (precisely that time). So, with 16 available, Herr Diz had a wealth of options, and on paper, we should have been strong.

Gannons 8, despite no recent rain, was holding water like a pregnant fishwife, and had a fecund cover of clover on the lower steppes. The chopped nature of the turf did nothing for our passing game and consequently we were up against it for the first half. Sans Souci were keen, enthusiastic and physical.

For ASOW, Gav was industrious, Herbie was working hard to make chances in traffic on the right, and Rochie was keen to move around and get the ball. Nick, up-front and partially comatose, was surrounded by backs, effectively taken out of play for the half. Al Lofts, returning from a 6-week World Discovery Tour, manned the left side, ankle deep in clover and struggling to get decent ball. Mark was tidy at left back and Steve saved the day on numerous occasions but the standout for exuberance was Simon, travelling slightly more distance than half the team combined, charging around (and out of) the box with gay abandon (settle Wilko, settle). Including one run AT the opposing forward wherein he missed the ball and took out the forward – thankfully just outside the box.

Braschie, on Simon’s lead, managed to later bring down another forward with a knee to the ribs, a remarkable feat in itself, exceeded only in its astonishment by retaining his position as a participant, without even so much as a warning – although he did cop some dirt in the eye for his efforts. But overall Sans Souci made the better of the ground and conditions (lets not mention the foul count)…

After an inspiring half-time talk by Dizzy, and some equally motivating changes, the second half started well, with the ball moving into their half for the first 5-10 minutes. Without being able to trouble the keeper, we then fell flat again and the equilibrium shifted, with Sans Souci matching and maybe bettering us once more – certainly they put more shots at goal. Simon pulled off a brilliant save, deciding mid-air to not bother using his hands, bringing two knees off the ground to volley a 20-yard shot across the face of goal past the outside of the left post. One for the video tape. Unfortunately, following a series of comical rebounds 10 minutes later a much lamer shot along the ground found itself dribbling off Simon’s knee into the corner of the net. Not the first time something had dribbled off Simon’s knee, we suspect.

Despite a frantic and urgent last 5-10 minutes, that was ASOW gone for the day. The foul count rose, Mark even managed a yellow from the bench (some effort that) and 0-1 was the result. The only positive being that Sans Souci had suffered a few war wounds, which would tell on Monday.

At the post-game discourse a few blamed the “hangover” of the prior Wednesday night’s entertainment, including a video presented by former ASOW player, now Panania Pigeon Captain, Stormin’ Vaughan – and a couple of “outboard motors” (whatever they were).

This was game 2 for the weekend. It was our second home game for the season and we did it!

“We scored a goal” in the opening minutes. Great team work with Alana passing to Mia who scored. The girls played a well structured game and held off Oatley RSL for the rest of the game, with the score remaining 1-0 in our favour!

Superb defence by Charlie and Gabby down near the goals and some great saves by Bella. Fantastic teamwork by Peta and Tash to bring the ball back up the right hand side. Sarah was fantastic also and seemed to appear from nowhere to kick the ball.

There was some fancy footwork by Ellie, Beth and Katie plus a great header by Alicia.

Right on full time Alana nearly scored as ball dribbled precariously into the goal but didn’t quite make it.

Coach Peter’s halftime comment “Fantastic First Half” was reflected in the second half by continued hard work. The pep talk at halftime spurred the girls on after Peter said they were getting a bit tired and “buzzing around likes flies at a BBQ”. Needless to say there were many happy faces amongst both the players and the parents!

Points were Meg (3), Charlie (2), Alicia (1)

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Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors

On a very warm morning the boys played well against a determined SGFA COE side. First half was dominated by the ASOW with 3 goals and some great keeping by Evan. William had a great game in the first half with his first attempt at goal from halfway just missing. Aiden K got the team’s first goal with a great pass to give him a one on one with the keeper. William then got his next opportunity for a long range goal and this time it did not miss and we went 2 up. We then had a few opportunities with AJ and Lachlan just missing. William was obviously not happy and decided to take another long range shot that beat the goal keeper and went in. Later SGFA got a few shots on our goals with Evan making some great saves to keep a clean sheet for first half. 2nd half was tougher with SGFA coming out very determined, but the boys did very well to defend the attacking raids. Lachlan and Harry were a standout in defence. SGFA did manage to put 2 in and looked to threaten for a draw. We had few unlucky shots by Gabe and Antony, who fired a screamer just to hit the post. All the boys played well to get away with a hard fought win. Goals William (2), Aiden K(1)