Round 4, Thirds Vs Monash Uni
Def. 1 - 3
Following last week's skinny defeat against the Chilean samba-boys of Frankston, the lads went in with a sniff against a Monash Uni side much more south of the ladder.
Gallant efforts aside, last week's match had come at a significant cost with Arash (broken ankle down-graded to Brazilian World Cup sojourn) and Brendan (snapped Achilles) casualties from the contest and out of Sunday's side. In fact the stocks were again lean, with only the two on the bench - once again Paul Davies would use the back half of the Thirds match as a warm up and play himself into form for the Master's 'twilight' game.
There sure was a jovial mood in the sheds pre-game, which i reckon was a nice change to see - leave it up to Gaz, like a kid in a toy store who dished out the curry with his tits'n'arse banter and seemingly endless plethora of politically incorrect jibes at the lads.
Monash were equally adolescent in every manner of speaking, which guaranteed us one thing - speed. (and by 'us', i mean 'them'). From the get go, the likes of Adit and Ian on the back flanks - no slouches by any stretch, were put on red alert by the zippy Monash forwards.
The rain had ceased to tumble, but left it's mark all the same as both sides slogged it out in an effort to control possession on a greasy pitch. Monash, with their pace were well on top early, requiring reliance in the form of phone-a-friend Nick and Rowland at the back, who provided a solid defensive aerial spine as a flurry of crosses and corners were finding their way into the box for Monash scoring opportunities.
Young Tom Davies saddled up for his first outing in Central Park colours and didn't disappoint as usual. Like a contortionist or karma sutra guru (the lad's of legal stature now, so i can say that without the wrath of fatherly consequence), Tom's long and looping throw in's were a weapon in themselves and almost always found a Rangers noggin for a deft flick on, or even chance at goal.
Monash were proving extremely dangerous on the counter, a couple of times going end to end for the most unlikely of goal's, which had the boys that little more edgy. And when Adit's well intended backpass barely made contact with his studs, a Monash kid was quick to pounce, beat a slow-to-react Tim in goals before rounding the number one and finishing unchallenged for the opener.
The lads seemed rattled, and began to lose a previously steely shape - which Monash capitalised on. Another sloppy turnover gifting the same Monash punk a run at goal, as the second was tucked past Tim in goals for Monash's second. The students tail's well and truly up and preening like a peacock.
Before the opening stanza would expire, Central Park would wake from their obvious slumber, blast-from-the-past Alex Bradbeer a welcome addition to the side, his creative self as usual, holding the ball up well and dishing off to his 'new' teammates Ben and Eamon who battled hard to pull the ledger back.
'Mint' i believe is what the kids these days consider to be a 'good thing' (Tom, can you verify for this one for me son?). and 'minty' is how Monash were cruising. Only luck and some last ditch defending, including Rowland uprooting a post, getting the lads to half time only 2 nil down.
The talk at half time was positive, the message clear - pull one back on these college kids, and they might just wilt like a bag of green in an oj bottle with a piece of hose out of the side of it. Well, it seemed that too is factually (and clearly politically) incorrect, as it only took a couple of minutes for the Monash little man, on a hat trick, to break clear and delightfully lob Tim in goals for a demoralising third. (Little ba$tard was probably on Stillnox....).
A crushing blow for Rangers, but by no means a stake through the heart - the half time break had allowed for changes up front, who reverted to a lone striker which Gaz and Stu worked in tandem.
Alex B would find himself with more possession - only ever a good thing, and it didn't take long for the move to pay dividends. Late comer James was suddenly finding space and instrumental on the right wing in causing all sorts of havoc for a Monash defence who until this point were quite capable.
Several 'heart-in-mouth' moments were snuffed out by Tim in goals who prowled the space between himself and the Rangers defensive line with cat like awareness.
An offside provided Rangers with some respite, and Rowland - who would go agonisingly close to bagging a double from our corners, pin pointed a toe bash (is that even possible?!?) to the feet of Alex B, who with still plenty left to do, smarted his way around several would-be's, and flirted with the sideline. The Rangers spearhead looked up in readiness for the obvious lay off but would see only Monash shirts, so instead summed up the situation, took on a couple more and slotted the finest of individual goals.
Spirits were lifted! An obvious waft of nervousness began to permeate through the Monash ranks, matched by a new found zeal in Ranger's groove. The free kicks and corners were coming in thick and fast, Rowland and Kenji's chances among the highlights as both went close.
Nick at the back continued to totally own any attacker who dared cross his path, but a moments lapse in concentration proved fatal. Nick's strong arm tactics far too meaty for the wispy Monash left winger who collapsed under Nick's tackle like a freshman sculling his first frat house beer bong. Penalty without a doubt.
A rather pessimistic Tim in goals braced for the inevitable - clearly far too accustomed to his own and Rowland's track record to conceding penalties. Things felt different though, the calming advice of Paul who offered: "to your left", with soothsayer like confidence. Up stepped the token college stoner to put the game beyond doubt. The shot was fired hard and at a decent height, and to Tim's good fortune - to his left. Tim's glove found the required amount of inertia on the ball, which ended up hitting the crossbar. With a faceful of dirt and eyeful of bewilderment, Tim dusted himself off and stood to find play had stopped, the ball was nowhere to be seen and a Monash player lay clutching his ankle..... and Tim had saved his first ever penalty!
Such drama upped the tempo that little bit more, and Monash were even more cagey as the Ranger's boys refused to lie down. Fighting all the way to the end, Central Park would rue another poor start and finish the better side but with a loss.
Crowd Pleasers
Rowland
Alex B
Nick
James
Def. 1 - 3
Following last week's skinny defeat against the Chilean samba-boys of Frankston, the lads went in with a sniff against a Monash Uni side much more south of the ladder.
Gallant efforts aside, last week's match had come at a significant cost with Arash (broken ankle down-graded to Brazilian World Cup sojourn) and Brendan (snapped Achilles) casualties from the contest and out of Sunday's side. In fact the stocks were again lean, with only the two on the bench - once again Paul Davies would use the back half of the Thirds match as a warm up and play himself into form for the Master's 'twilight' game.
There sure was a jovial mood in the sheds pre-game, which i reckon was a nice change to see - leave it up to Gaz, like a kid in a toy store who dished out the curry with his tits'n'arse banter and seemingly endless plethora of politically incorrect jibes at the lads.
Monash were equally adolescent in every manner of speaking, which guaranteed us one thing - speed. (and by 'us', i mean 'them'). From the get go, the likes of Adit and Ian on the back flanks - no slouches by any stretch, were put on red alert by the zippy Monash forwards.
The rain had ceased to tumble, but left it's mark all the same as both sides slogged it out in an effort to control possession on a greasy pitch. Monash, with their pace were well on top early, requiring reliance in the form of phone-a-friend Nick and Rowland at the back, who provided a solid defensive aerial spine as a flurry of crosses and corners were finding their way into the box for Monash scoring opportunities.
Young Tom Davies saddled up for his first outing in Central Park colours and didn't disappoint as usual. Like a contortionist or karma sutra guru (the lad's of legal stature now, so i can say that without the wrath of fatherly consequence), Tom's long and looping throw in's were a weapon in themselves and almost always found a Rangers noggin for a deft flick on, or even chance at goal.
Monash were proving extremely dangerous on the counter, a couple of times going end to end for the most unlikely of goal's, which had the boys that little more edgy. And when Adit's well intended backpass barely made contact with his studs, a Monash kid was quick to pounce, beat a slow-to-react Tim in goals before rounding the number one and finishing unchallenged for the opener.
The lads seemed rattled, and began to lose a previously steely shape - which Monash capitalised on. Another sloppy turnover gifting the same Monash punk a run at goal, as the second was tucked past Tim in goals for Monash's second. The students tail's well and truly up and preening like a peacock.
Before the opening stanza would expire, Central Park would wake from their obvious slumber, blast-from-the-past Alex Bradbeer a welcome addition to the side, his creative self as usual, holding the ball up well and dishing off to his 'new' teammates Ben and Eamon who battled hard to pull the ledger back.
'Mint' i believe is what the kids these days consider to be a 'good thing' (Tom, can you verify for this one for me son?). and 'minty' is how Monash were cruising. Only luck and some last ditch defending, including Rowland uprooting a post, getting the lads to half time only 2 nil down.
The talk at half time was positive, the message clear - pull one back on these college kids, and they might just wilt like a bag of green in an oj bottle with a piece of hose out of the side of it. Well, it seemed that too is factually (and clearly politically) incorrect, as it only took a couple of minutes for the Monash little man, on a hat trick, to break clear and delightfully lob Tim in goals for a demoralising third. (Little ba$tard was probably on Stillnox....).
A crushing blow for Rangers, but by no means a stake through the heart - the half time break had allowed for changes up front, who reverted to a lone striker which Gaz and Stu worked in tandem.
Alex B would find himself with more possession - only ever a good thing, and it didn't take long for the move to pay dividends. Late comer James was suddenly finding space and instrumental on the right wing in causing all sorts of havoc for a Monash defence who until this point were quite capable.
Several 'heart-in-mouth' moments were snuffed out by Tim in goals who prowled the space between himself and the Rangers defensive line with cat like awareness.
An offside provided Rangers with some respite, and Rowland - who would go agonisingly close to bagging a double from our corners, pin pointed a toe bash (is that even possible?!?) to the feet of Alex B, who with still plenty left to do, smarted his way around several would-be's, and flirted with the sideline. The Rangers spearhead looked up in readiness for the obvious lay off but would see only Monash shirts, so instead summed up the situation, took on a couple more and slotted the finest of individual goals.
Spirits were lifted! An obvious waft of nervousness began to permeate through the Monash ranks, matched by a new found zeal in Ranger's groove. The free kicks and corners were coming in thick and fast, Rowland and Kenji's chances among the highlights as both went close.
Nick at the back continued to totally own any attacker who dared cross his path, but a moments lapse in concentration proved fatal. Nick's strong arm tactics far too meaty for the wispy Monash left winger who collapsed under Nick's tackle like a freshman sculling his first frat house beer bong. Penalty without a doubt.
A rather pessimistic Tim in goals braced for the inevitable - clearly far too accustomed to his own and Rowland's track record to conceding penalties. Things felt different though, the calming advice of Paul who offered: "to your left", with soothsayer like confidence. Up stepped the token college stoner to put the game beyond doubt. The shot was fired hard and at a decent height, and to Tim's good fortune - to his left. Tim's glove found the required amount of inertia on the ball, which ended up hitting the crossbar. With a faceful of dirt and eyeful of bewilderment, Tim dusted himself off and stood to find play had stopped, the ball was nowhere to be seen and a Monash player lay clutching his ankle..... and Tim had saved his first ever penalty!
Such drama upped the tempo that little bit more, and Monash were even more cagey as the Ranger's boys refused to lie down. Fighting all the way to the end, Central Park would rue another poor start and finish the better side but with a loss.
Crowd Pleasers
Rowland
Alex B
Nick
James
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