A loss to the second best St Cats team (Black) the week prior was another wake-up call for the wounded Dragons who again were unable to bother the match score official, albeit valiant in defeat.

This week the lads played the highly rated St Cats Red who have been the bane of Coach MT’s coaching career since it started.  Zero wins. It was time to show how far the Dragons have come along during the season. A trademark slow start to the match by the Red Shirts was further impeded by a good goal to the frontline Feline Striker.The lads duly responded and took flight with some aggressive defense complimented by attractive attacking raids. It was a back and forth affair and both teams traded blow after blow. Whoever scored the second goal of the match would have the ascendency for the rest of the match. Closing in on half time with the score still 0-1, all was tense and the pressure boiler atmosphere of the game was superb. However, through some type of black magic cast against the men from Blackstone, St Cats snuck two very quick goals past the number one keeper for the Dragons. 0-3.

Half time came and it was praise from Coach MT all around.

The lads were fighting hard but were bested during the first half by the Wildcats from St Catherine’s. The second half was a scrappy scrap of a game and neither team found their mojo. It was a match where each team did the hard things easy and somehow found a way to make the easy look hard. Some good goal keeping mixed with some erratic defending plus a dash of good luck featured a couple of times whereby St Cats looked to have all but secured a fourth goal but last ditch efforts by the Dragons kept the scoreboard at 0-3. Eventually Offa’s Dyke (a famous Welsh earth formation and describing today’s Blackstone Dragons defence) sprang a leak (leek!) which then burst and goals four and five were scored by a rampaging St Cats team. Again, chances for the Dragons to add some pride to the scoreboard presented themselves but St Cats were too strong.

Another typical showing by HD4 prompted him to receive the player of the match today. A tenacious performance was needed and he delivered what Coach MT required. He moved forward up the field today looking for the elusive goal that he craves – maybe next week. Some nice passing and interceptions made for good viewing from the Iron Wall of Blackstone. 

Honourable mentions to:

JH14 – another super goalkeeping display proves that you are the number one keeper and the team is appreciative of your efforts every week when you don the gloves! Copped a heavy knock in goals but kept going.

MT6 – played under an illness cloud and took a page out of WM13’s book and skirmished for the ball.  Some quality dribbling moments up the sidelines got the crowd going.

TR11 – once again the consummate professional, doing what is needed and clearing the ball away from danger (a good boot on him!).

RC9 – the partner in crime of TR11 that makes up the main defensive line.  He read the game well today and once Coach MT can teach him to run sideways towards the ball instead of straight back he will be able to affect more offsides by the opposition strikers and win free kicks to get the ball out of the danger zone.  Good work!

WM13 – he is the Yin to MT6’s Yang.  He scrounges around the field looking for loose balls and challenging the opposing attackers where possible. What he lacks in speed he makes up for in gusto and keeps having a go for the team.

RW3 – cannot complain about his passion and efforts to get the ball well away from the Dragon’s goal.  Another match and another workmanlike performance from an up-and-coming super player.

JCP2 – not his happiest of games but again delighted the Blackstone Faithful with some jinking and jiving, weaving and diving.  Couldn’t break free from the strong St Cats defenders.

JL5 – the captain again tried hard with some nice touches in the midfield to the Dragon Strikers but was well contained.  Always next week!

SF15 – Stan the Man was playing rover this match with Coach MT getting him to go forward and back, then left and right to either mark his opponent or get in a goal scoring position. With a bit of polish during off-season training and the ability to use his good size, he will be a handful next year.

CS12 – ahhhhhhhh Corey.  It’s either rocks or diamonds, he he.  Every week he demonstrates how good he can focus his abilities to pass, run and tackle one minute and then the next looks like someone has pushed the slow motion button on him. Keep trying hard and it will just ‘click’ all of a sudden.

AB8 – If the Dragons Team was The Muppet Show, he would be Animal!  Over the past few weeks has shown some determination, but today he really brought his defending game. He ran to contested balls and chased hard.  Great effort!

LB7 – the leading goal scorer of the team hasn’t been able to get into his usual groove the last few weeks.  This is due to all the other teams knowing how dangerous he is and marking him with multiple defenders.  Also he is too fast for his teammates, so hopefully next year can get a strike partner with similar pace or Coach MT can develop some strategies to utilize his speed.

Although another loss today, Coach MT and the Managers are still proud of the lads and in due time envisages all the potential of the team bubbling to the surface.

Under 12’s is traditionally when a player’s football brain really kicks into gear, so maintain the patience and train hard.