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Randal Smith
To
steal a joke from Anyang¡¯s match report: next time we¡¯ll have a football
match but for now the Harriers can boast the better water polo team. By
the time things started at 3:10 the pitch in Anyang was already
pock-marked with puddles thanks to a constant drizzle.
Sean Freer scored on 20 minutes. He outpaced his marker on a diagonal run
into the box just as David Shin delivered a waist level cross. Reaching
the 6 yard box Sean leapt in mid-stride and with his instep deftly popped
the ball past the charging Anyang keeper.
Just before half Anyang won a free kick when two Harrier defenders
attempted to drown one of their strikers. A wall / dyke was assembled then
the kick was taken. Sean was at the edge of the wall and the ball
deflected off his chest. Harrier keeper Hoyoung Lee parried the shot to
Joel. An alert Justin Lewis, Anyang¡¯s man on the spot, headed the ball
back at Joel hitting the defender¡¯s shoulder and landing in the net. 1 –
all.
Heads were down at the half as the Harriers took shelter from the
elements. For once the team was passing well but the score just didn¡¯t
seem to reflect their efforts. Recriminations, slander, pointed fingers;
the players were on the verge of all out civil war till defenseman Randal
Smith recited some choice words from the Tony Robbins tapes he had been
listening to just that morning. A hush fell over the assembled as they
listened in awe. When the whistle blew for the second half the Harriers
stepped back on the pitch with a renewed sense of purpose, Randal held
aloft on their shoulders. He had saved the day¡¦ well, ok, it didn¡¯t happen
quite like that, but Randal is still our hero. We want to be like him but
we can¡¯t because he¡¯s too cool.
The Harrier¡¯s second goal resulted from a long high ball from Didi at the
half way line. The pass landed in front of Daniel who chased it down,
turned away from his marker and easily scored from within the box.
Lawrence then had a long ranger hit the post and rebound to Dave who took
a quick shot that the Anyang goalie somehow managed to redirect, only to
see it fall to Evan who converted; 3-1 to the Harriers.
The timing of Evan¡¯s goal couldn¡¯t have been better. For the most part,
the Harriers are a team of geezers and by this stage a number of their
midfielders were knackered from chasing balls through puddles; they began
sitting out plays and leaving gaping holes in midfield.
So it was reassuring to have a two goal buffer. Anyang players were making
inroads into the Harrier¡¯s area. Lanky Anyang midfielder Stu Reed was the
mastermind, expertly distributing to his strikers. Particularly
threatening was Martin Simpson-Scott who weaved his way through the
Harrier defense only to be frustrated by the small lake at the mouth of
the goal.
The rain definitely favored the Harriers. Anyang¡¯s Gil Coombe and Justin
Lewis had several counter-attacks down the right side cut short by puddles
which had the farcical effect of stopping the ball dead while the player
in question was still in full flight.
With 10 minutes left in the game Evan came careening towards the Anyang
box. He was challenged several times but managed to keep the ball at his
feet. Once he reached the 6 yard box his marker had had enough and brought
him down. The ref caught the infraction and blew for a penalty which Evan
scored comfortably. Games played in inclement weather can get pretty messy
so full credit to the ref who did a great job keeping a lid on things.
Was it Blake Young, captain of St. Pats, who said at one of the SSFL
banquets that the three reasons for his team¡¯s success were: ¡°Attitude,
attitude, attitude¡±? If that¡¯s the key then Anyang has a great future in
the league. Unlike the Harriers, they never bickered among themselves,
even when they were behind. They played just as hard with 10 minutes left
and the score at 4-1 as when it was 1-1 and they still had a fighting
chance. Apparently they have yet to receive a yellow card this season
(though Lawrence has generously volunteered to give them a clinic in that
area).
Together the Harrier defenders – Kevin, Alain, Joel, and Randal – played a
tight game, for once passing up the pitch instead of launching the ball
into the stratosphere. Nevertheless, it¡¯s Didi in midfield who is man of
the match this time around. His long, accurate passes and relentless
running and dribbling were a big reason for the Harriers success on the
day.
Scorers: Evan Hale (x2), Sean Freer, Dan Aliaga
Man of the Match: Didier Balistire |
