Finals playoff week 1 - 4/8/07

Game 10 28/7/07 (postponed from 16/6/07)
A complete turnaround from last week. With nothing to play for in this game, it was hard to get motivated before the match. Stjany doomed us from the start, with ‘So, when we win this game and get into the finals…’ inducing the Art of Losing on the Pumas. Right from the whistle things went wrong. Star defender Bazzo went down with a serious ankle injury (you should see the photo…shudder..) and two early goals were put past the backline that was missing 3 of its regulars. The mids had no impact on the game, a mix up leading to our third conceded. Likewise up front, the forwards could do nothing with the ball, and even the lately arriving Jumbi could do nothing to stop a fourth goal late in the second half.
We were run around the pitch for the entire game, with almost no one having a good game. Those watching the match witnessed a thorough thrashing, with the Pumas never being even remotely in the game. Hopefully, we can put this behind us and put in a good show for the finals. The shortened round robin meaning we are up against the two strongest teams of the division, and only a hero effort will get us close to the grand final.
Man of the Match: Al, who alone on the team was calm and confident on the ball.

Erik Maasepp

Game 9 21/7/09 (postponed from 9/6/07)
SCORERS: Kyle 3, Scott, Erik
A good return to form for the Pumas, dominating the game across the park. Kyle was back to somewhere near his best, bagging three in a good performance up front. Scott and Erik chipped in as well to give the scoreline some indication of what the game was like. The backs were watertight, getting the clean sheet they deserved last week. The mids punished Beecroft all game, and the ring ins Dru, Ben and Fish all did excellently well. Gus made a great save the keep Beecroft scoreless, and about the only place we could have performed better was in finishing, with at least 4 clear chances being squandered. Well done boys, a great effort at the right time of the season. This win means we are guaranteed a spot in the finals, unless the strong minor premiers can be upset by fourth place.
Man of the Match: Kyle for finally getting his scoring boots back on.
Erik Maasepp

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

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

Game 12 30/6/07
A much improved performance over last week, although I think if we just lay there on the ground it would have been a better effort than last week. Again we got off to a good start, but two headers from myself were either pushed (very) wide or saved by a diving keeper. The backs were holding out strongly from some good pressure from the Penno mids, as they again ran us around. This team without a doubt has the best control in the comp, with passes pinging every which way. The only reason they don’t hand it to Macquarie on a platter is because they don’t have any big finishers up front. This showed, with the backs keeping a clean book until a unlucky deflection put some pressure on Gus, who could only tap the ball into the net. We tried to lift, but despite the good efforts from our backs we just couldn’t get a shot off in anger.
A shuffle at halftime saw Scott put in goals, but some massive pressure from Penno didn’t allow Gus to make an impact on the midfield. Kyle was having another shocker (it was a 3:15 game), this more the result of some jostling and shirt pulling rather than air swings. Again the mids and forwards couldn’t capitalize on the backs strong work, and before long Penno put another one past Scott. Unlike the last couple of games, not everyone dropped their heads. Chalkie and Barker were outstanding in the second half, really lifting the team to keep the score level. It was through these two guys that we managed our last two shots of the game. One easily saved, the other painfully (by Kyles nether regions). A good effort from the backs was let down by a lack of attack from the mids and forwards. Hopefully we can build again for next week, we still need another two wins to make the finals.
Men of the Match: Chalkie and Barker. Chalkie never gave up in the mids, and Barker led the backs to a great rebound from last weeks hemorrhage of goals.

Erik Maasepp

Game 11 23/6/07
SCORERS: Erik, Klish, Barker
There is a saying that goes ‘If you don’t have anything good to say, then don’t say anything at all.’
Then again, there’s another one which goes: ‘Ignorance is the last refuge of the damned.’ So, as an attempt to prevent this team from sliding down the ladder, and more importantly to start having fun again, this is a brutally honest report, with names, on our worst performance of the season.
A blitzkrieg start from the Pumas failed to put any score on the board, with Scott firing over and Klish missing a one on one. Epping hit back with what would turn out to be their trademark play. A player in space down the left firing across Gus to score. Two identical plays made our defense look like rubbish, and our forwards inability to convert up front was beginning to get embarrassing. Erik eventually slotted a goal mouth scramble, before half time brought an end to play. We knew what needed to be done, but the team just didn’t act as a unit, with Driscolls psych up speech missed by a couple of players who had already sulked back to the field.
The second half was worst than the first. Gus was routed to his goal line, and two more goals went passed him in exactly the same fashion as the first two, sandwiched in between was Klish’s goal from the top of the box. We played a shocker right around the field. Kyle air swung his way to miss a couple of clear chances, I was just ball watching in the centers, and Stjany and Lincoln were getting regularly penetrated down the wings. The final insult came when a bad call from the ref (probably his ONLY bad call in the match) saw a free from outside to box, which Gus fumbled to give Epping their fifth. A late consolation penalty taken by Powell was finished off by Barker, and the whistle blew to signal an end to the match. You’ll notice I haven’t said a single positive thing about anyone as I usually try to do, because that’s the type of game it was. We deserved to lose, and now we’re in a dogfight to make the finals.
Man of the Match: Their forward hat trick hero. Why change what’s working? Three identical goals buried us.

Erik Maasepp.

Game 8 2/6/07
SCORERS: Klish 2, Scott 2
A good win over moderate opposition was a good way to rebound from last week. Woken up by the loss, we had a good turnout to training, and it showed in the first couple of minutes as piles of pressure from the Pumas saw two early goals to Scott and Klish. It could have been more, with some awesome crosses coming in from Kyle down the left, but a few touch-shots went straight to the keeper. We played as a unit for the next half an hour, dominating the game and not letting Glenhaven any room at all. Towards the end of the half though, our mids and defense started to get ragged. This was not surprising, as the backs had to scale the mountainous cricket pitch every time a break was made. Luckily, Gus used his far post to good effect, keeping Glenhaven scoreless for the half.
A half time chat reminded the guys how hard these blokes were to score against in the first round, and that two goals would not be enough to guarantee a win. The Pumas responded, again dominating the half. Dave Powell was terrorizing them down the right, and a lately arriving Chalkie and Bazzo continued to hammer their mids. Two more goals followed, one each from Klish and Scott again. It being an afternoon game, Kyle avoided getting his name of the score sheet to continue his boycott of scoring after 3pm, and a couple of other chances went begging for us to really demolish the opposition. At 4-0, Glenhaven managed to pull one back through a poster then a Johnny-on-the-spot header, but the backs otherwise had a watertight match, with Driscoll settling in very well to his new position. A good team effort from the boys, but with room to improve we are hoping to continue our wining ways into the second half of the season.
Hard to pin down a Man of the Match, it was a good all round team game.

Erik Maasepp

Game 7 26/5/07
SCORERS: Dave Powell
Our first loss of the season has left a bitter taste in the mouth after a hard fought draw last week against a opposition far superior to this weeks. The Pumas just didn’t turn up to play, getting run around the park and rushing our passes. A lethargy which we couldn’t shake let the game get off to an even start, but before long the young Hawks were starting to put pressure on our defense. We returned with a couple of chances, but poor finishing and poor passes let the Hawks off the hook. Their first goal came from some sloppy defending, and it was an example of how little intensity we had when their second came from the ball failing to be cleared for at least 4 or 5 seconds. The only bright part of the half came with Al slotting in well to centre back, using his height and foot skills to good advantage. We picked it up a bit towards the end of the half, but our worst 45 minutes of the season had us going into the break at 2-0 down.
The half time chat was all about intensity, and playing our passes with time and control. Possession was way in favor of the Hawks, and you can’t win a game of football without the ball. The second half started out much better, with the mids really lifting a gear to put some pressure on the Hawks backline. We had the ball in their half for the first 15 minutes of the half, but couldn’t find our opening goal. The Hawks started to get frustrated, and several fouls on the edge of the box were wasted until Dave Powell curled in an absolute stunner from 20 yards off the inside of the post. At 2-1 we really started to hit the gas, but the equalizing goal just wouldn’t come. Gus kept the game alive with a great save off a rebound play, but again down the other end our finishing was unlucky more than unskillful. Crosses would fall at the feet of defenders, or reaction shots would head straight to the keeper. Klish’s header was touched just wide in the final seconds to consign us to defeat. Due to Kenthurst’s draw we still top the table, but we are going to have to improve if we are going to stay up there, with every other team now gunning to get a result against us in round 2.
No man of the Match this week, we all had shockers.

Erik Maasepp

Game 6 19/5/07
SCORERS: Kyle 2
This game was going to be an indication of who is the best team in the division. Although we lead the table, the Dragons have had 2 big wins taken away for playing a suspended player. The game started off on a bad note, with the treacherous field quickly claiming two victims, myself with a sprained ankle and a Dragons player with a busted knee. The Dragons formation started to trouble the backs, with three forwards proving hard to mark up. But down the other end, a fantastic shot from Kyle was tipped onto the bar, but then a beautiful ball from Klish saw Kyle slot away an easy one. Driscoll made a beautiful tackle but was called for a dubious penalty. The Spirit of soccer made sure the penalty went wide, but the Dragons managed to equalize 10 mins later with a set play completely outclassing our defense. But another good goal from Kyle just before half time had us going into the break 2-1 up, and optimistic of a win.

The first 15 of the second half belonged to us, with several near misses and a spectacular shot from Bazzo hitting the bar. The backs had re-structured themselves, and were keeping out the Dragons, but we just couldn’t find that winning goal. Eventually though, we started to get complacent, and a despairing dive from Gus was not enough to save a shot which trickled into the net. Barker and co then led some spectacular goal-line defense, twice clearing balls which everyone was sure had beaten Gus and found the net. Bazzo again stepped up in the mids, having a great game down the left. The winning goal could have come from either side, but in the end a draw was a fair result.

Man of the Match: Bazzo, who again was a touch of class down the left, pushing up from defense.

Erik Maasepp

Game 5 12/5/07
SCORERS: Scott 2, Bazzo
The usual slow start from the Pumas saw Gus pull off a brilliant save to keep the slate clean for the half, but the mids couldn’t control the ball and took a while to get going. After about 15, Dave ‘Not another Dave’ Stearne made his debut for the Pumas, and the mids started creating chances for the forwards. Kyle penetrative runs down the right lacked only inches from the cross, and it took a Scott Pigeon special to break the deadlock, with the ball from outside the box taking a magnificent dip to creep under the bar. 5 minutes later Al’s ball into the box saw Scott with acres of room, to slot away easily for a 2-0 halftime score.
We came out determined to keep up the intensity, but it didn’t happen as Penno put two chips over Gus to level the scores. The game then turned into an epic, with both teams giving it all they had. Stearne was having a great first game, but the Pumas unable to finish. I missed a simple one on one, and then Scott stroked a ball for Kyle, who rammed it up to the keeper, the spillage then sprayed away by Klish. Then the Penno forwards really hit their straps. Barker, who has had an indifferent start to the season, showed what a true champion back he is, covering for the injured Jumbi and denying any opportunities to score. Bazzo then sharked Driscolls shot from deep in our own half, ran it up the right, cut in and fired away the winner just minutes before time. A truly great effort from the guys, with the Pumas being 5 and 0 for the start of the season, our best ever.
Man of the Match: Hard to go past Bazzo and Barker, both of whom really stood up in the last half to take the Pumas to an epic victory.

Erik Maasepp.

Game 4 6/5/07
SCORERS: Scott 2, Klish 1 (pen)
A Sunday game saw the usual mass exodus of players, with the list of shame this week reading Chalkie, Lincoln, Driscoll, Al and Bazzo. Couple that with Stjany getting lost, and we started the game with 9. Playing 3-4-1, our defense had troubles keeping their forwards at bay, with many runs coming straight down the middle. The pressure finally was too much, with Gus slightly mis-judging one and letting it slip through to destroy the clean sheet. However, we started to put in some run, with the mids finally getting some balls through to Kyle. Scott went on a run down the left, to step inside two defenders and slot away the equalizer. We then set about tiring ourselves out against our more numerous opposition, before Kyle was fouled in the box. Klish stepped up and delivered a perfect penalty, top right corner, for our first Pigeon of the season. Some reinforcements came up through Dry and Smitty, after coming to our game in Epping over from their game in West Penno… via Pymble. Stjany also finally turned up, and we had a full team with 1 reserve for the second half.
Dru and Smitty were inspirational, showing the older guys what true work ethic is about. Smitty was fast up front, and Dru a giant at the back. But we wasted several opportunities, and when one of their forwards came off a distant second to Jumbi in a tackle, it seemed to inspire them. A run down the right, straight through Barker and a cross into the centre saw Epping finish past Gus in style. But again, right off the kickoff, Scott ripped their midfield, duked a defender, and slotted away for another Penguin, bottom left. Good to see he’s back in form. We dominated for the last 20 mintues, with the backs standing strong but the mids and forwards unable to finish, including a shot from myself between the giant keepers legs which he somehow saved… You know your not going to score for the rest of the season when that happens. We finished 3-2, a hard fought win, but we made it hard for ourselves. In the end, a wins a win, and hopefully next Sunday game we will get a better turnout.
Man of the Match: Scott, 2 goals right when we needed them and the playmaker out of the mids.

Erik Maasepp

Game 3 - 28/4/07
SCORERS: Klish, Dave Powell, Al
Another home-away-from-home game saw the Pumas turn up to a half underwater field described by Frodo as ‘Kokoda meets Tobruk’. Luckily for Frodo, he started off on the dry Tobruk side and had immediate impact, with our mids controlling the first passages of play. But chances were hard to come by, especially down the left, where quagmires and lakes thwarted all efforts at attack. Scott wasn’t having his usual impact, and pulled himself off to leave Chalkie in control of the mids. He didn’t disappoint, with the mids and backs standing up to some good pressure from the Kenthurst forwards, but we still went into the break at 0-0.
Half time saw some good communication from the guys, and a commitment to not let up during the second half. This paid immediate rewards, with Klish set free to drive and one on one directly into their keeper. Straight off the rebound, Gus pulled off a brilliant save in a similar situation, with a reflex leg save turning the ball just wide of the post. He then kept another clean sheet intact, with great saves off corners and drives from the deep. Jumbi had another awesome game, clearly our best defender for the game. Bazzo and the first-gamer Lincoln also had good ones, with Bazzo linking up well with Erik and Driscoll down the left (by now the Tobruk side). Another one on one saw Klish slot a goal at the near post, and Al followed that up with a beautifully mis-hit shot which skidded past 2 defenders and past the slipping keeper. Al finally broke his one and a half year drought with a Penguin in the bottom corner. Dave Powell then finished proceedings with a neatly slotted one on one after some beautiful team play to set him up in the clear(ly offside). A great attacking effort from the boys, despite missing Kyle, who had an ‘accounting exam’. (He doesn’t like getting dirty.)
Man of the Match: Klish, while everyone else got filthy and muddy from a great game of football, Klish stayed pristinely white and clean to save his mum some washing.

Erik Maasepp.

Game 2 - 21/4/07
SCORERS: Kyle 3, Scott 1
Another good win for the boys showing much improvement over last week. Although we got off to a scrappy start, with turnovers and mix ups a plenty, we finished the game strongly to post a good score. The first half started with a bungle in defense that let Beecroft slot away an easy goal, but a great shot from Kyle 5 minutes later equaled the score, as he used the inside of the post to good effect to stump their keeper. The backs then solidified, with Jumbi in particular having a great game. A second goal followed shortly before half time, with Kyle again latching onto a through ball to put it past the keeper. Curiously, there was almost no celebration after the lead taking goal, and we went into the break one up.
The second half started well, with Scott, Chalkie and Al again controlling the center. A beautiful low and hard cross came in from the right for Kyle to finish with class, touching in at the near post to complete his hat trick. Beecroft were then able to put some pressure on our goals, with Gus making a great save to keep them scoreless for the half. We dominated the next period of play, with Bazzo and Drsicoll linking up beautifully down the left, which was capped off with Scott finding himself unmarked and in possession at the top of the box, and calmly slotted away our fourth. The only other memorable part of the half was when Andrew ‘Crazy Slovakian’ Stojanovic went on a magnificent run down the right, using all of his four feet in height to dominate the defense, who were running scared after his Russian war cry.
Man of the Match: Jumbi – Didn’t put a foot wrong all day and was our tower of strength in the back.

Erik Maasepp.

Game 1 - 14/4/7

SCORERS: Scott Blunden 1 (pen)

The first game of the year is always an exciting one, with everyone keen and ready to go after a long off season. The team this year sported some new recruits, with Dave, Bazzo and Scott taking the field for the Pumas. As per usual, the game got off to a sloppy start for the Pumas. While we retained possession, we just couldn’t push past the last line of the Glenhaven defense. But, as per usual, the pressure finally started to build, with a few shots getting fired off that, as per usual, were normally well over the cross bar. A fairly un-remarkable half, the only interest being in Bazzos start debut in defense, providing the speed and power that we sometimes lack, and an unapologetic hack to Kyle which left him with an injury. (As per usual).

The second half was much better, with the mids piling the pressure on the Glenhaven backs. Kyle and Dave weren’t at their best up forward, with both still having to adapt to each others play. (Kyle: ‘I’m used to this blinding go-fast-red speed partner, but now I have a Ronaldo. After he got fat.’) I assume this means that Dave is both very good, but also lacks the lightning speed of Nathan. The game turned a bit rougher after Glenhaven figured out the only way to get the ball off Scott or Al was to kick them in the knee, but the pressure finally paid off when Kyle was awarded a penalty after a push in the back from a corner. Scott duly obliged, and the Pumas were one up. The backs, after having a watertight first half, showed a bit of weariness by letting their structure break down. Luckily, the sheer ‘A for effort’ (Bazzos term) from Bazzo, Barker and Jumbi were enough the keep the opposition out. All in all, a good game with lots of room for improvement, and thanks to Stuart who filled in for us after backing up from his teams big win.

Erik Maasepp