Game 9 (31/5/8)
Scorer: Pete
The much anticipated game against first place was decided by two penalties. We started well, with plenty of chances being made, one resulting in Chris being felled in the box for Pete to step up and calmly wrong foot the keeper with the resultant penalty. We were then made to pay for missing a few gilt-edged opportunities, when the ref awarded the opposition a penalty for a dive so blatant you could have thought C Ronaldo was playing, and Beecroft scored with their first shot on target for the game. The rest of the game was evenly contested, and even with a Beecroft player being sent off with ten minutes to go couldn’t tip the balance either way. Good games for Pete, Dan, Roger, Tom and Simon at the back, holding strong even with us missing three defenders. Thanks to Merrick for filling in (and Townsend for offering).

Round 7 - 18/5/08

Scorers: Heman, Tom G

Still recovering from a beating 8 days beforehand, we had a satisfying number of players turn up, allowing us to have 2 subs on the bench. However not all players were fit. Heman made a slightly late arrival after running a half marathon in the city and Howard was suffering from cold. Despite this, Chris Hobbs, Andrew, Herman and Scott created a number of wonderful opportunities that just lacked the perfect finish. Simon was playing CB along side Dan, and together the opposition front line were totally ineffective. Pete playing in a new position at left back did well to contain a young winger from doing major damage. Nick tirelessly worked throughout the middle of the park, coming out first with most of the 50-50 challenges and 15mins from half time, Nick cleverly won a free kick just outside the 18 yard box. Heman slotted this beautifully in the top right hand corner for his 4th of the campaign, with the opposition baffled at the attempt.

In the 2nd half, Herb decided to push Pete up into the mids and play a 3 man backline and rotated Little Tom who had a rather boring 1st half with Howard in goals. This turned out to be a genius substitution as he scored with a wonderful through ball to put us 2-0 up. Lachlan played as Tom’s supporting striker with a series of wonderful passes and runs that troubles the tired defence. Epping Eastwood then turned the heat on, requiring Dan, Simon and Tim to put in the hard yards to keep a clean sheet. However this was not to be, a rusty Howie in goals made a slight misjudgement of the ball, and he was beaten by a header. 2-1 the score now. By now the referee’s decisions caused a few of the opposition to abuse him and a few yellow cards were shown. Epping Eastwood kept the pressure up and the ref eventually made a controversial decision awarding a penalty against us for a “handball” in the box. Pressure was on both sides, as the kicker had never taken a penalty before, and Howie still a bit sick. The first attempt went into the top right hand corner, but the ref called it back with Epping Eastwood players crossing the line before the ball was kicked. The second attempt proved breath taking, with the kicker opting for the other side, put it too close to the keeper and Howie guessed correctly and made a brilliant one handed diving save to keep us ahead. A big thank you to the supporters who came and watched and Tim Wilson for a wicked shift in the backline who is also my vote for man of the match.

Round 5 - 10/5/8

Scorer: Hobbs

Bugger. Despite a bright start, when Chris stayed on his feet and scored despite a redcardworthy tackle within the first minute it looked good, but wasted opportunities, a lack of cards, and conceding a goal in every screwed up way imaginable as we hit the self-destruct button time and again, made for an unenjoyable afternoon.
Also, has anyone else ever had ‘no, its not a card, he got the player first, and from behind’ from an official before? I have

Game 5 (3/5/08)
Scorers: Heman -3, Houston

After getting a surprise from seeing our old four-time-draw joint-champion friends from last year in Div11, our team settled into playing on Glenorie Park’s mini oval and started strongly. However Rovers took the lead with their first shot on target after around twenty minutes, but a Heman special saw his freekick restore parity with a savage dip just before half time.
As expected, both teams came back out all guns blazing, tackles flying everywhere, yellows given to both teams, but a deep cross was neatly controlled by Chris Houston to finish from close range and put us into the lead. Heman followed by bamboozling four defenders to put us 3-1 up. And when Herman’s cross found Heman to head us into a three goal lead and complete his hattrick, we felt confident that we were finally going to beat our bogey team from the year before. Good possession play from Andrew and Scott saw a few more chances including another from Heman hitting the bar, while Simon continued to impress in defence. Late on we lost focus a little, as Rovers got one back to spoil the party a little. Only a little.
Good games all round, with keeper Tom making some great saves, and Roger pulling out some tricks.
Also we are keeping Andrew Dupen in our prayers, dislocating his elbow while filling in for us. Get well soon mate

Game 2 (13/4/08)
SCORERS: Howard (2), Tim
After the defeat last week, the team showed real character to be on the winning side of the score-line this week.
Missing several players for this game, we had to borrow 4 players from the all age 15s and they did a fantastic job, proving to be the vital difference this week under the scorching sun. Simon did an excellent job in filling the big boots of the other Butler, positioning excellently for vital interceptions and showing plenty of tenacity with his challenges, and didn’t look out of place alongside the defence composed of Pete, Roger and Jumby. Despite this, the opposition managed to first take the lead. However, we didn’t drop our heads, and Heman initiated a quick counter attack, setting Herman off down the right wing, whose cross managed to evade 3 players and the goalkeeper to setup Howard for a header and the equalizer.
Heman was again involved in the thick of things, flicking on a long ball by Tom, finding Tim Southcott (aa15) who finished superbly in the bottom corner. Early in the second half, Howard managed to unleash a long shot that squirmed past the hands of the keeper to put us 3-1 up. Scottie pulled off a few show-pony tricks to delight the fans, but a lapse of concentration saw the opposition score to put us under pressure in the dying minutes, but we managed to hold out for the win.

The Draw for the AA/6 team can be downloaded from here
AA/6 Draw