Game 14 14/7/07
SCORERS: Kyle
Another PHCS washout meant a relocation to Annangrove at an earlier time. Fortunately, the team responded well, with only Jumbi missing out due to the time change. Despite this, Driscoll slotted in well at centre back, with the backline doing excellently well to keep the Hawks from putting an early goal on the board. The backs kept the Hawks out of the box for the entire first half, restricting them to only pot shots from 20 yards or more out. The mids weren’t doing the backs any favor, turning over possession and getting run around by a young opposition. Half time saw a change in things, with the mids finally exposing the Hawks weaknesses down the flanks, and keeping the pressure on with four consecutive corners. Unfortunately, we couldn’t put one away, even being slack enough to let a couple of the corners bounce before jumping on them. This came back to haunt us, as the Hawks from a rare attacking run forced a mistake off Driscoll from a corner, with Driscoll turning a ball which hurried on to him into the net. Unlucky for Driscoll, who was in the middle of a stellar game at back. But such is football, and unlike his repeated sharking of Chalkies goals last season, I’m sure he didn’t mean this one. But unlike the last couple of games, we didn’t drop our heads, and a tactical switch of putting Barker up front for Scott paid big time, with Barkers deep cross being nudged back in by a diving Chalkie, tapped into the middle by Klish and then polished off by a drought breaking Kyle. The last five minutes were again all Pumas, but the winning goal just wouldn’t come. Another improvement on last week, and hopefully if we pick up a win next week, we can go further towards discovering the form that had us dominating this division earlier in the season.
Man of the Match: Hard to pick one out. I’ll hand it to the entire backline of Barker, Driscoll, Lincoln Bazzo, Stearne and Gus. An awesome showing had the Hawks firing from way down field all day.

Erik Maasepp