The Dragons were at home for the first time this season & were looking at putting on a display for the Blackstone faithful. Wearing the new Green alternate kit was a revelation & all players seemed to like it.  It was a striking contrast to the red of the main uniform. St. Cats are the Dragons bogey team, with limited success against all the different teams in the division, so it was time to it turnaround. Let’s skip forward to the last couple of minutes where all the action culminated. 

We will return to the rest of the match later.

What seemed like an eternity, but was only about 12 minutes of the second half, the Dragons were camped within the St Cats half & threatening the goals on nearly every opportunity they had to score. The score was 1-2 in favour of the ferocious felines. I can’t stress how many chances the Dragons squandered or were bettered by the defence. However, this just means they know how to attack & hopefully will capitalize in the matches to come. There were multiple corners, attacking throw-ins, free kicks, storming runs by the strikers & plenty of ball-in-the-air action.

LB7 had cracks to score in the second half, but couldn’t.

JH14 tried his best, but was denied a goal.

JCP2 ran all over the park but was goalless.

RW3 ran riot & booted brazenly but was also without a shot on target.

HD4 tried hard to get the ball away too.

CS12 was roving all over looking for opportunities but it wasn’t to be his day.

WM13 & MT6 scurried around the field looking to service the strikers & denying the Kitty Cats possession, but it was to no avail.

TR11, RC9 & SF15 delivered the ball with a bow on it for the strikers & mid fielders from the defensive line time & time again, but still the score remained 1-2 as it had at half time.

AB8 took the responsibility of being the goalkeeper for the second half & except for a couple of minor skirmishes within the 18 yard box, tried hard not to catch cold as the football did not penetrate much further than half way for most of the second half.

Big Up’s to AB8 – you’re a real team player!

JH14 was keeper in the first half & again did a solid job, keeping the Dragons in the match.

With time running out & the stubborn St Cats defence playing like a brick wall, it came down to a last ditch effort via an attacking corner. All Dragons moved forward in anticipation of scoring & wanting their name on the score sheet.  St Cats marked the players tightly. The ball was booted to a contested area in the 18 yard box.  It pinged and ponged, dinged & donged around many sets of feet, shins & knees like a pinball machine. Suddenly, there was a shot on goal, but the keeper had it covered…….

But no, it must have been made from kangaroo leather because it bounced awkwardly just in front of the keeper & then bobbled out of his clutching arms. That’s when JL5 – who had had a quiet game by his standards – seized the moment & out of the Lionel Messi playbook calmly swatted the ball with his right foot past the out-stretched gloves of the keeper, hitting the back of the net!  2-2. Dragons everywhere were awestruck & cheering. St Cats for flummoxed & in disbelief.  Their coach silent.

Coach T. was urging his uncustomary Green chargers back to halfway to set up for the impending kick off & hopefully another raid before the clock ticked down, because he thought the St Cats were leading 2-3 & wanted the lads to gain a draw. As the St Cats kicked off, the referee blew the whistle to end the encounter.  Coach T. was aghast at the thought of a loss. Having THEN been given the correct score of 2-2 soon after by the linesman, Coach T. then threw up his hands in relief & hugged JL5 for a miraculous goal! He did the same with AB8 & then high-fived a couple of others. The Blackstone Cheer Squad was again in full cry during the match & remain an integral part of the Dragons success… & losses.  So cheer EVEN LOUDER!  He He.

A draw, even though it’s like a hug from a koala (nice but hurts because of the long claws), was probably the most apt outcome for both teams. Dragons attacked well, but St Cats defended well. Recapping on the first half, it was a bludger of an affair: 

Illegal throw-ins; missed goal opportunities; the opposition scoring two goals; off-sides; & generally dishevelled play by all on the field. LB7 unleashed another thunderbolt to open the Dragons scoring, but was unable to hit the back of the net again after so many promising striking runs.  Better luck next time. It was a match where there were numerous contenders for the man-of-the-match, each having varying claims for the award. After much consternation, Taffy the Dragon Mascot was awarded to MT6, for giving it a good go, improving his football skills, looking to pass to others & even going deep within the St Cats territory with an epic(ish) dribbling assault, which almost resulted in a goal to JH14.

Enjoy the Baskin & Robbins ice cream, if your Dad – Coach T.- remembers to take you!

Again the back three, TR11, RC9 & SF15 were steadfast & cut down many raids. 

Great effort lads!  Time to take it to the next level.

The next match is against another St Cats team, so hopefully the Dragons can make their life difficult with a few hair balls into the back of the net & they can ring the winning bell.