As was the case the previous week, the drive out to the opposing teams home ground was delightful and the scene was set for a fantastic football fight.
Rosewood United has shown this season already that they are contenders for the finals and it was up to the Dragons to get on top of them early, keep piling the pressure on and don’t let them back in to the match. United are a well drilled team, have lots of pace and a good defensive line.
This was demonstrated in the first 5 minutes with them scoring a good goal and looking like continuing their form through another match. 0-1. However, instead of losing confidence like the early goal did last match, the Dragons shrugged it off and played like a team again. It was a ding-dong battle with lots of contested ball, good tackling, apt passing and of course solid goal keeping. It was quite a fast game and although not the usual end-to-end action, rather side-to-side & between the two 18 yard boxes, it was tense with all players were putting in big efforts with lots of running. Rosewood were united in their attack and defence, with the Dragons having to defuse many raids.
JPC2 did a great job keeping in the first half but he couldn’t have done it without:
· TR11 who was showing good pace and anticipation to negate the effect of the strikers;
· RC9 for booting the heck of the ball when needed & marking the strikers tightly so as they had limited chances;
· RW3 for rolling up the sleeves and chasing the ball all day and clearing it whenever possible, plus getting close to goal on occasion;
· HD4 for being the defensive mosquito he is – although he was playing midfield he always got back to help;
· SF15 for another workman-like effort ranging from defence to up front – again skirmishing for the ball and trying to pass it to players in a better position
· WM13 for having the reddest face on the team after a big effort of running for the ball, tackling and barging his way through the field – great game!
After a few failed attempts to break the United defensive line and put a good shot on goal, LB7, CS12 & JH14 finally got the better of Rosewood with a one-on-one chance for LB7 was created, with him duly slotting the ball into the back of the net. 1-1. The Blackstone faithful were full of voice now & wanting their chargers to keep bringing it. The Watts family cheerleaders definitely brought the noise and it was great to hear! All of a sudden it was like the penny had dropped for the Dragons and they started to cash-in on their chances, with great teamwork not going unnoticed by anyone which led to the next two goals that LB7 scored. Again, the ball got to him in good position and he used his speed to get in behind the defenders + beat the goal keeper. 3-1 and a second hat-trick for the season.
Half time was a welcome relief for all eleven Dragon players, as only one reserve was available for the match.
However, that reserve had forgotten to bring his shin guards so spent the first half sitting next to Coach M in the technical area – a suitable punishment! Coach M had nothing but praise for the lads and again all were raring to go and got back on the field quickly after well-deserved hydration. As seems to be the game plan now, JCP2 came out of goals into midfield & JH14 donned the stoic orange jersey of the keeper in the second half. The shin guards turned up just as half time was over and AB8 got his chance to wreak havoc on the opposition – big thanks to the Byrne Posse for going home and retrieving the now infamous leg apparel. The second half was a carbon copy of the first and you wouldn’t know that one team was ahead by two. It was a super effort by all and the Dragons managed a clean scoring sheet in the last 20 minutes of play. The Dragons closely marked the opposition, threw the ball in down the line into attacking contests, booted the ball (finally) to the sidelines when the opposition strikers were threatening to score against them and the midfielders hassled all match.
After another run away LB7 goal, confidence was high and all Dragonians were enjoying the game, but United keep rallying and moving the ball forward, creating good play and chances. But of course, we all knew Rosewood! 4-1. Again, for the second week in a row, HD4 showed his tenacity & grit as he was felled in a heavy collision with a United defender & had to be replaced after his already bruised leg took another hit. Coach M had to carry him off the field again to a good clap from the crowd. With about 6 minutes of play remaining, JCP2 hammered the first nail into the Rosewood coffin by chasing up the ball into the penalty box and capitalizing on a keeper error. 5-1. Rosewood keep coming & coming but the Dragons stuck strong & repelled all challenges. The final nail in the coffin was a fifth goal for you-know-who. It was a trademark run, strike + the game was the Dragons!
A super effort + the Dragons first win for the season was in emphatic style. 6-1.
Honourable mentions:
· MT6 had his best game for the season with good runs forward, tight defence, lots of interaction and even a run down the sidelines;
· AB8 after a slow start showed some desperation and was always near the ball and didn’t allow the strikers to get behind him;
· JH14 for another good solid effort in the first half as striker with some incisive runs, some passing and then proving he is one of the best keepers in the competition with a faultless display;
· CS12 who had the second reddest face on the pitch after a lot of running, dribbling and passing up front as he was shifted to right wing/striker, plus he played with an injured back too.
The team captain JL5 was unfortunately absent from the match as he was down the road laying down some black rubber at Willowbank in his dragster, but he would have been proud of the stand-in skipper JCP2 who won the Man-of-the-Match honours.
He single-handedly redefined the term ‘Pocket Rocket’ and we can’t wait to see him in action again next week.
Next match is against the St Cats Black team at the Dragon’s Lair.
Blackstone will need all their players firing on all cylinders again to compete with the top of the table team & try to reclaim some pride from last season as the Cats won all matches.