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UniLaterals 1 - 2 Hammersly Rovers Always an interesting fixture, Hamersley visited the turf of the Mac, hosted by the Laterals, coming off 3 league wins. A long-time bogey team, maybe it was time for the Laterals to sting it together and notch a victory over Hamersley. The early play from Uni was impressive, with Kenny making the most of the space he was afforded up front, and some excellent ball fed though from the midfield. With Kenny menacing up front, it wasn’t long till he found himself unmarked at the penalty spot. He couldn’t finish, but Brandy deservedly opened his account for the season with a great shot that would still be going upwards if it hadn’t hit the roof of the net. An early celebration for his 21st birthday tomorrow, perhaps. Laterals looking good, 1-0. The home side continued to control the play through first half. Bernie and Andy looked comfortable in the air and were rarely troubled at the back. Jarrad, Rowley and Mark were at the centre of some quality passing movement. Brad was working hard up and down the left wing, and with a great ball from Nev was through on goal. Outpacing the defenders, Brad cleverly squared to the unmarked Kenny, whose strike was denied by one of many fine saves from the Rovers’ ‘keeper. Bastard. Dan was running round without having his customary impact for much of the first half, which was probably for the best as he was refereeing. Suddenly, though, Dan was much more involved as Kenny was brought crashing down in the area, and Vivs pointed to the spot. Some questioning of the interchanged Kenny a few minutes later revealed that “yeah, he got the ball”. Obviously feeling guilty, Kenny came off a run-up shorter than Chris Gayle’s delivery stride and put the spot kick deep in a horse enclosure. Probably justified on this occasion, but the Laterals really weren’t making the most of a heap of possession and chances, with Rowley shooting wide and Mark having a solid shot well saved on the line. Hamersley were pressing forward from time to time and did look dangerous from their corners. Another set piece saw a free kick from 20 yards very well taken and leave Pitty with no chance as it sailed home. Somehow it was 1-1. Soon after it was half time, with a couple of Laterals calling for the sunscreen and the shade. Despite the fact that it’s June. This doesn’t happen where I come from. Does noone else find this strange in a winter sport? The second half was a more even affair, with play more squarely divided. Dan and Nev marshalled the defence very effectively, winning headers galore and providing some thrust out of defence. Finding himself free on the right, Jimmy’s bellows for the ball were heard by the kids in the outdoor swimming pool at Challenge, but the ball didn’t spill his way. Keep shouting, Jimmy. Al Mac and Putu were linking up for some dangerous play when Putu’s day was ended with a hamstring twinge. Clear cut chances were much harder to come by, with Stevo’s header sliding wide the Laterals needed to find a way through up front. Hamersley had played much of the game with men behind the bally, and were employing some long balls and counter attacks. Nev cleared a goalbound shot off the line, Pitty made some solid saves but eventually the curse of the Rovers returned and they scored a second. Pitty scored a knee to the neck. 1-2 Rovers. The Laterals kept working overtime, even though Bernie had been heard to say that it was ‘only social soccer’. An Al Mac cutback was met well by Jarrad, but somehow the ‘keeper was again in the right place and made the save. The Laterals fought to the end, but will have to wait until our return leg at the imaginatively-named Carine Open Space for another crack at the Rovers. In the meantime, the Laterals can only lament another one that got away, and hope that Kev and others have worked out how to study with a disappointing match on their minds. *Quotes have been taken out of context and are probably wrong, but you’re all big enough to deal with it. |
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© University of Western Australia Soccer Club 2009