Round 2, Masters Vs Ashburton

Def. 2 - 3

With torrential rain an hour before kick off we were greeted by a howling wind and a pretty greasy surface - except for the middle that was more reminiscent of a Sunday league game in the English mid winter. Grit and application required rather than our usual silky passing game.

Honours even in the opening exchanges. Ashy with the wind probed the flanks but we held up well.

At the other end Lars went close with a half chance on his left. Then disaster, an innocuous shot was stopped by Nathan but his clearance went straight to an Ashy player who tucked it away.

The arm wrestle continued for the rest of the half. Hard tackling, Neil Rodaway helping the ref with his decisions and getting a yellow card for his trouble.

With Shane off with a calf strain Paul Karak made a fine debut at centre back. It looked like 1-0 for the half until an Ashy break saw them win a penalty. Cubbo tucked it away and it was back to the sheds 2-0 down at half time.

Renewed purpose and playing down the slope saw us start the brighter in the second half.

Rani was composed through the middle and linked well with Wayne and Klotzy. When he found himself on the edge of the box he hit a shot that would have burst the net if the Ashy defender hadn't got a block on it.

At the back Big Dave and Shay switched the play beautifully and I lost count of the number of man and ball sliding tackles Big Dave executed (appropriate term).

Gerry added some extra run up front and his overlap down the right saw him whip a cracking ball which Neil headed home from eight yards out.

With the momentum our way John K was flying around the middle and making room for Aaron down the left. A sweet move saw Lars turn the ball inside for Gerry who cut back across the edge of the box, outpaced two defenders and slammed home the equaliser with a curler into the bottom corner.

We chased for the winner but their keeper somehow kept us at bay. Then from nowhere we found ourselves outnumbered at the back. A nice finish saw us 3-2 down.

Cracking game, we couldn't come back this time and lost by a goal.

Much to admire as we really gelled in the second half and played some great football.

Big test against Fitzroy at home next but if we repeat our second half form we should start as favourites.

GO Central Park

Round 1, Thirds Vs South Yarra

def. 1 - 2

A new season it was then, complemented by a host of new faces for Central Park's 'youth' side in the 1pm curtain raiser. In Ranger's parlance, "strong pre-season form" once meant the traditional 'get-to-know-ya' piss up for the lads - not this year though (which i really struggled to adapt to...). The energy buzzing through the side during our Sunday kick abouts and practice matches signaled a change of the guard which one couldn't help be excited by. (I just hope this new 'guard' at least keeps a hip-flask on him...).

The lads arrived switched on, newly appointed club secretary, Brian quickly finding out the gig isn't all long lunches, beer and skittles, as he took the initiative and laid out the game plan.

Rod warned us early that his output would be in limited supply after he got a bit carried away on the hawker style street food amid his Eastern sojourn to 'Nam. Meanwhile, Nick 'Canonball' Jones picked up where he left off last season - on a hat-trick of Player of the Year trophies, which now threaten the shelf space of his coveted REIV Real Estate Agent (*cough* scumbag) of the Year award. (Sorry Nicky boy, i just sold property - terrible experience and i've lost all faith in mankind....).

Rangers had only beaten the Yarra once in their entire history - the last fixture, and it was a fittingly cracking game from the get go. South Yarra ex-pat Tim, in goals for Rangers, dished out the curry to some former team mates, and minutes later was nearly left red-faced as a goal mouth scramble found the Central Park no. 1 totally at sea. The perfectly weighted South Yarra lob sailed over Tim's head and goal-ward toward an empty net, only the post saving Tim's derriere as the ball bounced to safety. Close call!

Meanwhile, the diminutive Yarra striker was at his yappy best, and new boy Adit did a fine job in paying him close attention and playing the offside trap to perfection. The Rangers back four held well, Rowland taking no chances in hoofing the ball to safely and playing the General role nicely.

It was then that South Yarra rolled a through ball into the box - far too well weighted, as Tim in goals watched it trickle toward the bi-line. Rowland couldn't believe his misfortune, and yappy-yarra his good luck - who was barely in the penalty box, and accidently clipped by the burly Rangers centre-back. The big man's unfortunate penalty streak would continue, as would Tim's, who could only rue the spot kick that crept under his body. 1 nil.

The cracking pace meant regular changes, and Rangers took the opportunity to unleash their wild-card Marcek (spelling!!?!?). Hardly the most petite little thing, Marcek, with his knuckles seemingly scraping along the ground was pivotal in dragging Rangers out of their own half and putting South Yarra on the back foot with his aerial dominance and fortress like presence. Coupled with Canonball, the spaces began to open up nicely for the sweet pairing of Gaz and debutant Brendan up front.

A wave of corners and long throws (courtesy of Marcek) had South Yarra on the ropes, an errant bouncer finding it's way to Stu who desperately lunged from point blank range only to see the ball elude him."

Something had to give, and up stepped Canonball to show us all how it was done, as a goal mouth scramble fell Canonball's way, who clobbered a volley through the sea of bodies who could only look on as the ball kissed the post on it's way in for the equaliser. 1-1

Ranger's foot was well and truly on the throat of South Yarra, they just couldn't bloody 'squeeze' and help themselves to the lead, which clearly frustrated the lads. Then disaster would strike. Lamenting another missed scoring chance, a swift South Yarra counter attack down the left found poor old Adit outnumbered, Tim in goals advanced but was beaten for the second time. In she went for South Yarra's second.

Minimal changes seemed necessary at the interval and the optimistic atmos felt bigger than the rose coloured glasses of it Round 1 is famous for lulling us with. Rangers were quick of the blocks in the second stanza, Marcek and Canonball an almost comical site as they dwarfed the pride of Stonnington and owned the midfield. Ian did some shadow boxing of his own on the way to frustrating a well beaten South Yarra winger, and linked up well with come-lately James, another Rangers freshman welcomed to the side. 

Come from everywhere the new boys did, Jordan (who for some odd reason i can envisage ending up with a stupid nickname like 'disco' or similar) played out of his skin and ran all day. Out wide, Anthony also donning the blue and white for the first time, was dangerous all day and quickly made an impression on not just the wing but his new team mates too. 

I'll get my hand off it for now though, and jump back to the football....

The corners, long throws and even the odd back-pass free kick lended themselves as genuine scoring opportunity's and it seemed just a matter of time - and when Canonball's next strike on goal missed the target, yet ended up in Camberwell, South Yarra were on red alert. 

Central Park were then forced to shuffle some things around, as Rod pulled something - a thigh? Rod, remind to tell you the story of how i once (and only bloody once) ate frog, hawker style, off the street in Vietnam and the 9 hour flight home the next day. Oh i've distracted myself again....

Suddenly down a man, the lads showed great versatility to fill the void left by Rod's departure, and pushed on in search of a goal

But for all the battles the Rangers lads won, South Yarra would hang on and win the war. Shame. Alas, every cloud has it's silver lining, and with the much needed new blood on board, victories aplenty are assured as the team continues to gel.

Solid start lads! 

Crowd Pleasers:

Marcek

Canonball Jones

Adit

Jordan

Round 1, Masters Vs Clifton Hill

2 - 2

Bit of a breeze for the first game of the season against Clifton Hill but as always the ground was lush and bathed in sunshine.

Having forfeited the opening round in the last two seasons Clifton Hill tried a new approach and turned up.

We welcomed debutants to the blue and white with Shay, Shane, Phil, Rani, Aaron and Richard joining the club

A bright start to the game with Lars and Neil tormenting their defence coupled with surging runs from Dave N and Aaron on the flanks

Last ditch defending and some errant shooting kept us goalless. At the back Stevie J and Shay were cleaning up everything whilst we corralled them out wide

A few sharp runs had us under pressure but Shane out wide and Wayne and Rani through the middle had their measure

Lars went within inches of putting us ahead and then from nowhere a toe poke from the right wing caught the breeze and sailed into top corner to put Clifton Hill ahead.

On the stroke of half time Stevie J got on the end of a neat through ball and tucked it past the keeper only to be given offside. 1-0 half time

It was all blue and white in the second half. Lars shot low saved by the keeper. Aaron found space - keeper again. Rani hit one but again the keeper denied us.

A great ball from Gerard found Neil front post but his outside of the boot flick went just wide. Dave Neal found space but somehow they blocked another goal ward bound shot

Finally yours truly beat the keeper only for the ball to bounce out off the underside of the bar - no goal line technology required sadly

When it looked like one of those days a long throw found Neil Front post and his flick across the edge of the six was volleyed home by Aaron.

With all the momentum going our way we had a string of corners. At the fourth try a front post header ping ponged around and found its way into the net to put us ahead

Clifton Hill dug deep and a goal mouth scramble looked to be cleared but somehow ended up being poked home

Despite pushing for the winner it ended up 2-2. Thoroughly entertaining game and with a bit of luck going our way could have been three points

So were off and running and remain unbeaten for the season

Next week we have Ashy away in the local derby

GO Central Park