Game 13 8/7/07
SCORERS: James Merrick (AA20), Erik
Finally I can say a score which didn’t reflect the state of the match. With another Sunday game and its usual disappearing effect on our players (7 this time), the SOS call went out and was answered by the AA20’s. Backing up from their game on Saturday, Michael, James and Ben all played fantastically, with James even bagging the opening goal of the match. This came courtesy of a flawless header-turned-face-ball from Erik, which forced a save from the keeper and James finished off with no mistake. The backs were then extremely unlucky to concede two quick goals, both of which could have been called offside. We bounced back though, with James and Klish providing drive up the field, culminating in a perfect chance for myself, but I headed over the bar. For the last 15 minutes of the half, it was a hard fought contest, but in the end the Dragons got the better of our mids and defense, putting two more past us to leave the half time score at 4-1.
The second half was the best football that the Pumas have played for over a month. With only the solitary win from our last 6 starts, we are two wins off the top but in danger of slipping out of the 4. The midfielders finally started to find their feet, and after conceding a soft goal in the first 5 minutes, we dominated the competition leaders for the rest of the game. As the rain started to bucket down, James was ripping it up in the mids, and Kyle was finally starting to find his feet after several weeks in the wilderness. Shots from Michael Townsend and Klish forced brilliant saves from the Dragons keeper, while I blazed just wide and Kyle only just tapped over. But eventually, a penetrating run from Kyle down the left was finished off by Erik in the box, left with the easiest of tap ins. The backs again stood up, despite only having three of our regular players. Ben slotted in nicely, providing power and mobility against challenging opposition. Dru, although he turned up, was injured and only played the last 5 minutes. In the end we were beaten, but the score line should have been much closer, and this was an encouraging performance heading in to the last three matches of the season.
Men of the Match: Has to go to the AA20 players. They weren’t intimidated by bigger and stronger opposition, and playing hard for us on a freezing, raining day was a champion effort.

Erik Maasepp