Sunday 8th July 2012, Central Park Malvern
Central Park 7 - Bayside 2
Owen & Sons serve Bayside on a platter.
And so it was indeed an ominous sign when big Rich strolled across sunny Central Park, orange laden platter in hand like a trophy. Chequered pants and silly apron donned, his performance as 'orange boy' truly did make a Michelin Star chef look ordinary.
If that was worthy of 3 hats, the gesture would be bookended by a brilliant Rangers display that included a glittering double from the before mentioned Bryn Williams (look it up, i had to).
On Thursday afternoon, we had 10 possibly 11 definites, by Saturday night it was 9 possibly 15 starters. By kickoff we had 14, including a surprise appearance by club legend Mark. Welcome to the world of Thirds football.
History has been unkind to Central Park in these clashes - 1 win from countless belting's their only return. Though the first round fixture saw out a 1 all draw which CP probably should've won. We were getting closer.
Despite the somewhat 'foreign' line-up, with regulars missing and two new faces on hand, a quiet confidence hummed through the Central Park camp.
Tom Davies and classmate Ben sacrificed a much needed school holiday 'cram session' to pull on the boots for Central Park. The brat pack would cause havoc all day with their blistering pace and mind boggling touch. One to brag about to the girls at the pinny parlour boys <insert 2 x adolescent males rolling of eyes here>.....
Central Park got off to a flyer, camping inside the Bayside half in the opening stages. Nick made his intentions clear early on, unleashing a couple of long rangers that had one very nervous Bayside keeper on alert.
With sufficient pace on our side, it was clear the flanks were going to be the place to go. However, i don't think anyone expected this to be so literal. A seemingly harmless throw came in to a forward moving Tom who brilliantly got on the end of it (none of this half-volley shit) and steered it over the keeper for the first CP goal. A cracking start and the boys continued their dominance, it was only a corner - well two actually, that would prove to be a chink in the CP armour. That said, the first was a perfect in-swinger low and hard that would bounce, unbeknown, off Tom's back and in for the equaliser. The lad was on a hat trick of a different kind.
With ascendancy still very much with the home team, Central Park went about their business at a frenetic pace, and tight as a nun in defence. The free wheeling Richard Owen lumbered around like Peter Crouch, soaring above all to head home a brilliant second CP goal. They say shit happens in 3's (or something like that), and true to form just as a see sawing battle saw Mark injected into the game, it witnessed him 'ejected' just as quickly. The poor bastard succumbing to yet another leg injury. Then after being belted to Chadstone, our prized Adidas matchball met it's fate as it tried to cross Burke Rd, an oncoming car literally taking the wind out of it's leathery sail. Finally, a Bayside equaliser, from another corner CP couldn't extinguish which was turned into an ugly goal mouth scramble, resulting in an even uglier goal. 2 a piece.
The boys were running out of gas - so i thought, struggling to hold it together like a paedophile at a wiggles concert (the lawyers suggested i not put that one in?). A rudimentary goal kick found the head of Mario, who without a second touch pushed the ball onto Steve who likewise found tireless newcomer George, flicking it out wide to fellow debutant Ben who spied a rampaging Richard Owen to courageously slide in an slip the final deft touch between an oncoming goalie and desperate Bayside defender for his second of the day. (Apologies if i got the player's involved wrong - it was all South American, in the blink of an eye!). One straight out of the Vince Lombardi playbook - arguably goal of the season, and certainly best team goal witnessed in some years. Central Park hit the vitamin C with their tale's well and truly up, keen to go on with it.
Gaz had worked his arse off in the first half, so it was fitting that a chance would fall his way in the second. Another swift attacking raid down the flank gave Gaz sight on goal as the ball ever so slowly sat in the air, Gaz patiently waited for it to fall to a suitable striking height (about 4ft), before whacking it home with authority.
Opportunities were scarce for the Argonauts who did their best to wrestle their way into the contest, as always the staunch defending of Rod, Daniel and Pricey making things look easy at the back.
As 'chops' (don't ask) got angry for the visitors, Central Park played a cool hand. A poorly timed two footed tackle from the Bayside captain wasn't enough to put young Ben off his game, who held his temperament and found the back of the net.
It was then that George ensured we'd remember his worth, surging forward with gusto before unleashing a bullet that more or less put a hole in the keeper.
With the game in their keeping, perennial pest Stu then got in on the action, offering no respite to a tiring defence as he smartly.... oh i'll let him tell the tale:
A great day out in the sun indeed. Undoubtedly Central Park's most complete performance of the year, and a timely confidence booster heading into a meeting with league heavy weights RMIT.
Chop....ergh, i mean let's 'Hop' to it
Best: a tough one, Tom/Richard O/George/Gaz
The Rest: quite literally, the rest.
Central Park 7 - Bayside 2
Owen & Sons serve Bayside on a platter.
And so it was indeed an ominous sign when big Rich strolled across sunny Central Park, orange laden platter in hand like a trophy. Chequered pants and silly apron donned, his performance as 'orange boy' truly did make a Michelin Star chef look ordinary.
If that was worthy of 3 hats, the gesture would be bookended by a brilliant Rangers display that included a glittering double from the before mentioned Bryn Williams (look it up, i had to).
On Thursday afternoon, we had 10 possibly 11 definites, by Saturday night it was 9 possibly 15 starters. By kickoff we had 14, including a surprise appearance by club legend Mark. Welcome to the world of Thirds football.
History has been unkind to Central Park in these clashes - 1 win from countless belting's their only return. Though the first round fixture saw out a 1 all draw which CP probably should've won. We were getting closer.
Despite the somewhat 'foreign' line-up, with regulars missing and two new faces on hand, a quiet confidence hummed through the Central Park camp.
Tom Davies and classmate Ben sacrificed a much needed school holiday 'cram session' to pull on the boots for Central Park. The brat pack would cause havoc all day with their blistering pace and mind boggling touch. One to brag about to the girls at the pinny parlour boys <insert 2 x adolescent males rolling of eyes here>.....
Central Park got off to a flyer, camping inside the Bayside half in the opening stages. Nick made his intentions clear early on, unleashing a couple of long rangers that had one very nervous Bayside keeper on alert.
With sufficient pace on our side, it was clear the flanks were going to be the place to go. However, i don't think anyone expected this to be so literal. A seemingly harmless throw came in to a forward moving Tom who brilliantly got on the end of it (none of this half-volley shit) and steered it over the keeper for the first CP goal. A cracking start and the boys continued their dominance, it was only a corner - well two actually, that would prove to be a chink in the CP armour. That said, the first was a perfect in-swinger low and hard that would bounce, unbeknown, off Tom's back and in for the equaliser. The lad was on a hat trick of a different kind.
With ascendancy still very much with the home team, Central Park went about their business at a frenetic pace, and tight as a nun in defence. The free wheeling Richard Owen lumbered around like Peter Crouch, soaring above all to head home a brilliant second CP goal. They say shit happens in 3's (or something like that), and true to form just as a see sawing battle saw Mark injected into the game, it witnessed him 'ejected' just as quickly. The poor bastard succumbing to yet another leg injury. Then after being belted to Chadstone, our prized Adidas matchball met it's fate as it tried to cross Burke Rd, an oncoming car literally taking the wind out of it's leathery sail. Finally, a Bayside equaliser, from another corner CP couldn't extinguish which was turned into an ugly goal mouth scramble, resulting in an even uglier goal. 2 a piece.
 |
| (Marked man: despite some close checking, doctors say Coult's should 'pull through') |
The boys were running out of gas - so i thought, struggling to hold it together like a paedophile at a wiggles concert (the lawyers suggested i not put that one in?). A rudimentary goal kick found the head of Mario, who without a second touch pushed the ball onto Steve who likewise found tireless newcomer George, flicking it out wide to fellow debutant Ben who spied a rampaging Richard Owen to courageously slide in an slip the final deft touch between an oncoming goalie and desperate Bayside defender for his second of the day. (Apologies if i got the player's involved wrong - it was all South American, in the blink of an eye!). One straight out of the Vince Lombardi playbook - arguably goal of the season, and certainly best team goal witnessed in some years. Central Park hit the vitamin C with their tale's well and truly up, keen to go on with it.
Gaz had worked his arse off in the first half, so it was fitting that a chance would fall his way in the second. Another swift attacking raid down the flank gave Gaz sight on goal as the ball ever so slowly sat in the air, Gaz patiently waited for it to fall to a suitable striking height (about 4ft), before whacking it home with authority.
Opportunities were scarce for the Argonauts who did their best to wrestle their way into the contest, as always the staunch defending of Rod, Daniel and Pricey making things look easy at the back.
As 'chops' (don't ask) got angry for the visitors, Central Park played a cool hand. A poorly timed two footed tackle from the Bayside captain wasn't enough to put young Ben off his game, who held his temperament and found the back of the net.
 |
| Chops? |
 | ||||
| or Chops? |
 | ||||
| ahhhhh, now i get it - 'chops' as in 'mutton chops' |
 |
| I was having a blonde moment, like this guy! Actually, this was THE 'chops' circa 1976 |
It was then that George ensured we'd remember his worth, surging forward with gusto before unleashing a bullet that more or less put a hole in the keeper.
With the game in their keeping, perennial pest Stu then got in on the action, offering no respite to a tiring defence as he smartly.... oh i'll let him tell the tale:
(Modest Mouse: Stu Fleming spreads the good word on social media)
A great day out in the sun indeed. Undoubtedly Central Park's most complete performance of the year, and a timely confidence booster heading into a meeting with league heavy weights RMIT.
Chop....ergh, i mean let's 'Hop' to it
Best: a tough one, Tom/Richard O/George/Gaz
The Rest: quite literally, the rest.
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