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“THE
DEN” – Match Report |
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Game 19 Mosman Alan Border Oval |
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First Grade – Late Victory at AB Oval Score: 2-1 Goal Scorer(s):
Joerg Dierkes ’35,
Fred Verduin ’87 Match Report:
Alan Border Oval… hard, bumpy and tough on the legs. A grave yard for
many teams over the years and the scene of a tight battle between the Tigers
and Mosman. With the usual centre square/cricket pitch area of AB Oval
as hard as a rock, it was difficult to control the ball in the bouncy
conditions. The ideal way to play on this pitch was down the flanks and this
is where Rich and Tim Smithies played well. Townsy
and John had the unenviable task of playing in the middle with the other halves
enjoying better conditions out wide. We got on top early with our forwards seeing plenty of possession
without creating any clear cut chances. It was against the run of play that
Mosman took the lead when one of their forwards made an innocuous turn just
outside the box. With Birdy in close proximity there
seemed to be little danger but the striker hit an un-saveable left foot shot
into the bottom left corner from 30 yards. This sparked the team into life and not long after a
delightful ball to Joerg left him with a lone
defender to beat. He ran at him, cut inside and hit his ensuing shot directly
at the keeper. The keeper hardly had to move but as he fell to his lright to cover the shot the ball took a horrible bounce
off the bumpy pitch and skipped up over his hands into the net… 1-1 at
half time. We continued to dominate play in the second half with
several long range chances to Joerg and John but
neither could convert. Rich was playing well wide left and also had some good
opportunities with his best chance coming from a cross far post, but a nudge
from his opponent was enough to put him off. We seemed to be camped down the Mosman end but could not
put the ball into the back of the net. John and Ash were winning plenty of ball in the air against some tough opposition with Townsy picking up the scraps in the middle and creating plenty
of space for himself. The game seemed destined for a draw after a clear chance by
Joerg, who somehow failed to get a shot on goal after
rounding the keeper, was forced wide of the posts but was eventually awarded
a corner. Nick Rainey had come on in the last 10 minutes to add some spark up
front and met the ball beautifully at the near post only to see the keeper
make an outstanding save from his header. Fortunately the ball rebounded off
the crossbar and was nodded home by “You Know Who” from an almighty
distance of 1 yard out with only minutes on the clock and much to the relief
of Joergy. The boys survived a last minute push by the Mosman team but
it was all too late. A rare Tiger’s victory at Mosman but was well
deserved none the less. Man of the Match: Rich Cuthbert Reserve Grade – Reserves Keep Rolling On Score: 2-0 Goal Scorer(s): Joe
Kotevich ’25, Adrian Ogg
(PK) ’60 Match Report: Mosman
have had a good run in recent weeks which was highlighted by the fact they’d
moved into fourth place after beating second placed Pittwater, and conceded
late to draw with third placed Dee Why. This meant we were in for a tough
game against Mosman and an even tougher second successive double-header
weekend with Reggies started with the same line-up as the previous week
with Joe and Dill providing a solid combination in the middle of the park and
Nick Rainey regaining much needed fitness and match practice up front.
Defensively we were the same with the ever reliable combination of Charlie,
Lenny, Oggy and Kane doing their duties without
much fuss. We started well once again but our communication and chat
is still not what it should be. This is the major difference between playing
Reserve Grade and being able to take it to the next level. Even so we are
still winning week in and week out so what does the coach know! We were unlucky not to go one up in the first few minutes
as Nick Rainey beat his marker and headed a bouncing ball past the oncoming keeper
onto the post. It seemed like an age before the ball was cleared and somehow
managed to stay out of the Mosman goal. Mosman had a chance to take the lead
not long after but were unlucky to hit the cross bar with the ball rebounding
out to safety. Our first goal came from the unlikely source of Joe’s
boot once again, who has now doubled his season’s tally in a matter of
2 weeks! An attacking throw-in was flicked on at the edge of the penalty box where
Joe made a telling run. He somehow got a foot to the ball first with his
marker in hot pursuit and curled it into the top right corner with the inside
of his toe! The result was sealed beyond doubt in the second half after
a soft penalty decision was awarded to the Tiger’s after a suspected
push in the box. Oggy stepped up and calmly slotted
the penalty in the usual spot to ensure a comfortable 2-0 victory. Man of the Match: Lenny Sorbara |
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