Sunday 4th August 2013, Elwood Park Elwood
Elwood 4 - Central Park 4
Thumbs down as a Rangers victory slips through the fingers.
Like sands through an Elwood Beach hourglass, Central Park have somehow managed to blow a 3 goal lead in an 8 goal thriller, resulting in a draw that felt very much like a heartbreaking loss.
In a tale of two halves, both sides would play their best attacking and worst defending in the first half, only to then reverse such a trend in the second. Sunday Thirds football i tells ya'.....
Central Park and Elwood are fast establishing a solid rivalry that showcases high scoring affairs and plenty of controversy. If memory serves, last fixture saw the lads move from 2 nil down to 3-2 up, only to be debunked by the very handy Thirds anomaly: a 'heap' of substitutes - something Rangers couldn't boast.
6-3 Elwood was how that one finished.
Things were equally high scoring this time round as Rangers went agonizingly close to exacting revenge, only good fortune and persistence saving Elwood from an upset loss. Central Park fielded a strong side consisting of teeny bopper duo Tom and Ben, and, much to the delight and surprise of all - the return of Jungle George from a career threatening snapped hamstring. Throw in a decent and focused match preparation and suddenly an upset of the home team threatened to ruin many a local Sunday brunch.
Suddenly, the first piece of drama unfolded even before the kickoff. Finalizing the warm-up, a rambunctious Petrakos completed the match book in record time, and fired a ball Tim's way. Taking his his eye of it for just a split second, a rabid dog-like howling shriek could be heard across the bay all the way to Newport as Tim buckled over in agony with a sprained thumb.
With no time for one of the plethora of Central Park medico's to provide medical aid, the Careflight chopper was waved away, and Tim instead prayed to god and anybody who would listen, that his services would be rarely needed. (Forgive me for the histrionics, but i'm still carrying significant guilt for the result - and AM accepting monetary donations).
For a moment there, Tim felt he might just get his Starlight Foundation wish and not be required at all - cos Central Park were smoking from the kickoff, as an ageing Elwood (nice to be able to make that distinction of the opposition for a change) struggled to cope with the zippy and enthusiastic Rangers pace (ESPECIALLY nice to be able to make THAT distinction about the opposition for a change).
The game was no more than 5 minutes old, when Charters and Tom worked their magic on the left, leaving a stretched Elwood in all sorts. A total ballz up at the back ensued and the ball spilled to Hendy, who did what he does, skipped past a couple of would-be's, took it wide and slotted the opener.
From the kickoff, Elwood, quite possibly in possession for the first time of the match, surged forward. With little support around him, the diminutive Elwood striker went for broke with a floating lob/shot/hack/chip that caught Tim off guard. The Rangers no. 1 managed to get a pinky (on the good hand) to it as the ball rattled against the post and back into Tim's save keeping. A close call, however Tim wouldn't be so lucky the next time around, as the gangly yet skillful Elwood no. 9 fired off an equally innocuous shot his way. One astute witness would later compare it to "sinking in quicksand" as a 'graceful' 95kg of goalkeeper attempted to ice-skate his way across the goalmouth bog and save the day. The lucky little son-of-bitch was in hysterics for the home side as the scoreboard ticked over to 1 a piece.
Yet the tempo and dominance of the game still didn't change, Rangers going about their business once again. Stu, with a rare starting spot, worked in well with Hendy and harassed the Elwood defence on the right. Now i think Stu will be the first to admit that finishing hasn't always been a footballing strength of his - see file footage below. So of course fate would have it that Stu managed to squeeze the most unlikely of shots between the legs of at least one defender and in the tightest of spots (the cankle of Elwood's no. 1 and the post) for a Central Park goal.
But the lad made good, and continued to have a sound game. Central Park's first changes were then made, as Ben and Brian got in on the action, Jungle and Charters did what they pleased whilst the back four continued to keep the Elwood cavalry quiet. Tom remained busy, and was as deserving as they get when he buried Ranger's third, despite Elwood's complaints for offside.
If Elwood were staggering like a wounded boxer after that, they were on the canvas next when a disastrous Elwood goal kick barely skimmed the grass and ended up in the extremely competent keeping of Alex Bradbeer. Whilst no fewer than 5 Elwood players stood around admiring Alex's dazzling footwork, the Ranger's strongman waltzed his way through a hole even the well fed Elwood keeper couldn't fill, and past red shirts who resembled Marks & Spencer mannequins (most of the Elwood guys are British, so it seems). 4-1 after half an hour, and it suddenly looked like "how many?".
Central Park made another change with Brian swung into the action, as Elwood used the stoppage to get their shit together and begin to work a bit harder, and actually started winning some more of that elusive possession.Whilst not a lone hand, gangly no. 9 (who with his strikingly white sleeves and spaghetti like arms resembled an Octopus or one of those inflatable whacky guy things used car salesmen attract business with) was clearly Elwood's most dangerous scoring option and kept all four Ranger's defenders on guard as he drifted into space across the park. Fitting it was then that he was the one to get in behind the Rangers defence to put in a high floating cross that was bait for even an U9's goalie. With a sore hand (yes, i'm blaming that again) and feeling rather gun shy, Tim advanced out, calling the cross his own as he attempted to punch the ball away. A complete air swing transpired, that even the ball seemed to laugh about, as an unmarked Elwood player, hardly believing his luck, headed home the easiest of finishes.
Elwood were slowly gaining momentum, and no doubt thoughts of "let's test this keeper" were a constant. The home team again found themselves in a golden attacking position, and another cross found it's way in to the 18 yard box for a the Elwood captain to fabulously flick over a diving Tim in goals for a third score.
Whilst club plastic surgeon Ian Loh worked around the clock in building a prosthetic hand for Tim, the lads seemed puzzled about the extraordinary situation they found themselves in. A feeling that the game should've been dead and buried was clearly on the minds of all.
As the second half commenced, Elwood were clearly still riding high from their impressive comeback, and the better, more attacking team. Central Park meanwhile played like a World Cup Italian team - securing the lead with the very strong intent on defending it.
The rain tumbled harder, which probably suited the homesick Club UK, a tight and at times fiery clash unfolding. The referee, who up until this point had been hardly unsighted, other than to ignore the occasional offside, started to lose his shit a little bit and flash more than the odd yellow card.
Verbal sprays were becoming a norm, as Rowland enjoyed a spicy relationship with several Elwood heavies, including their linesman*, who even from where i was standing in goals, clearly advantaged his side on more than one occasion for the sake of possession.
*see excerpt below from previous Rangers Vs Elwood fixture.....
An equally frustrated Elwood kicked the ball away more than once, earning their own piece of yellow, however it was the hack on Hendy by the last man in defence that should've garnered red. Somehow, with a certain goal unsportingly squandered, Elwood retained 11 men.
George kept himself involved, and was also rewarded with a yellow card, tempers continuing to fray. A gallant Central Park defended extremely well under a mountain of pressure, long range shots, swinging corners and dead ball free kicks all testing the lads mettle.
As the clock wound down, it seemed like Central Park might just hold on, and to win it was looking like this might be necessary - Hendy couldn't take a trick and bury any number of the chances presented his way, whilst Alex B's leg looked as though he'd been gone to town on with a Bobby's baton. Jeremy led by example and hit hard - and maybe that was where Ranger's were a little bit lacking in the latter stages. The more seasoned (older) Elwood conditioning was proving handy as legs grew weary.
A corner with 5 minutes on the clock was wizzed in by Elwood who found two at the back, one of which managed to brilliantly head home from point blank range for an equaliser.
The lads sat in silence eating oranges out of Brian's finest Gorge Jensen silverware. Perhaps this would be the only silverware to end up in our keeping this year, but nobody can dispute the level of heart, commitment and improvement the guys have shown in the back half of the season.
Best: Tim N..... chillax, i'm kidding! Rowland was da man this week
The Rest: Tim C, Petrakos, Tom, Ian, George, Alex B
Christy Brown: Tim's thumb
"Rowland's Vindication"
*Central Park Vs Elwood, 19/05/2013
You could look it either way - we were down to one option for linesman, or no substitutes. As Central Park powered on, it was the curse of the other (i.e.- theirs) linesman who would play the bigger role. Our old Elwood henchman (more on him later) foe, so offside that he was more or less tending to the roses in the greenhouse up the western end of Central Park, found himself lumbering towards goal. A well placed and unchallenged shot found Tim napping at the near post for the opener. A sheepish looking Elwood linesman felt the chastising of the Rangers back four (c'mon, play it straight buddy, you effed up....).
Elwood 4 - Central Park 4
Thumbs down as a Rangers victory slips through the fingers.
Like sands through an Elwood Beach hourglass, Central Park have somehow managed to blow a 3 goal lead in an 8 goal thriller, resulting in a draw that felt very much like a heartbreaking loss.
In a tale of two halves, both sides would play their best attacking and worst defending in the first half, only to then reverse such a trend in the second. Sunday Thirds football i tells ya'.....
Central Park and Elwood are fast establishing a solid rivalry that showcases high scoring affairs and plenty of controversy. If memory serves, last fixture saw the lads move from 2 nil down to 3-2 up, only to be debunked by the very handy Thirds anomaly: a 'heap' of substitutes - something Rangers couldn't boast.
6-3 Elwood was how that one finished.
Things were equally high scoring this time round as Rangers went agonizingly close to exacting revenge, only good fortune and persistence saving Elwood from an upset loss. Central Park fielded a strong side consisting of teeny bopper duo Tom and Ben, and, much to the delight and surprise of all - the return of Jungle George from a career threatening snapped hamstring. Throw in a decent and focused match preparation and suddenly an upset of the home team threatened to ruin many a local Sunday brunch.
Suddenly, the first piece of drama unfolded even before the kickoff. Finalizing the warm-up, a rambunctious Petrakos completed the match book in record time, and fired a ball Tim's way. Taking his his eye of it for just a split second, a rabid dog-like howling shriek could be heard across the bay all the way to Newport as Tim buckled over in agony with a sprained thumb.
With no time for one of the plethora of Central Park medico's to provide medical aid, the Careflight chopper was waved away, and Tim instead prayed to god and anybody who would listen, that his services would be rarely needed. (Forgive me for the histrionics, but i'm still carrying significant guilt for the result - and AM accepting monetary donations).
For a moment there, Tim felt he might just get his Starlight Foundation wish and not be required at all - cos Central Park were smoking from the kickoff, as an ageing Elwood (nice to be able to make that distinction of the opposition for a change) struggled to cope with the zippy and enthusiastic Rangers pace (ESPECIALLY nice to be able to make THAT distinction about the opposition for a change).
The game was no more than 5 minutes old, when Charters and Tom worked their magic on the left, leaving a stretched Elwood in all sorts. A total ballz up at the back ensued and the ball spilled to Hendy, who did what he does, skipped past a couple of would-be's, took it wide and slotted the opener.
From the kickoff, Elwood, quite possibly in possession for the first time of the match, surged forward. With little support around him, the diminutive Elwood striker went for broke with a floating lob/shot/hack/chip that caught Tim off guard. The Rangers no. 1 managed to get a pinky (on the good hand) to it as the ball rattled against the post and back into Tim's save keeping. A close call, however Tim wouldn't be so lucky the next time around, as the gangly yet skillful Elwood no. 9 fired off an equally innocuous shot his way. One astute witness would later compare it to "sinking in quicksand" as a 'graceful' 95kg of goalkeeper attempted to ice-skate his way across the goalmouth bog and save the day. The lucky little son-of-bitch was in hysterics for the home side as the scoreboard ticked over to 1 a piece.
Yet the tempo and dominance of the game still didn't change, Rangers going about their business once again. Stu, with a rare starting spot, worked in well with Hendy and harassed the Elwood defence on the right. Now i think Stu will be the first to admit that finishing hasn't always been a footballing strength of his - see file footage below. So of course fate would have it that Stu managed to squeeze the most unlikely of shots between the legs of at least one defender and in the tightest of spots (the cankle of Elwood's no. 1 and the post) for a Central Park goal.
 |
| (defeat from the jaws of victory - Stu laments the 'one that got away' against South Yarra) Courtesy: Bradbeer Images |
But the lad made good, and continued to have a sound game. Central Park's first changes were then made, as Ben and Brian got in on the action, Jungle and Charters did what they pleased whilst the back four continued to keep the Elwood cavalry quiet. Tom remained busy, and was as deserving as they get when he buried Ranger's third, despite Elwood's complaints for offside.
If Elwood were staggering like a wounded boxer after that, they were on the canvas next when a disastrous Elwood goal kick barely skimmed the grass and ended up in the extremely competent keeping of Alex Bradbeer. Whilst no fewer than 5 Elwood players stood around admiring Alex's dazzling footwork, the Ranger's strongman waltzed his way through a hole even the well fed Elwood keeper couldn't fill, and past red shirts who resembled Marks & Spencer mannequins (most of the Elwood guys are British, so it seems). 4-1 after half an hour, and it suddenly looked like "how many?".
Central Park made another change with Brian swung into the action, as Elwood used the stoppage to get their shit together and begin to work a bit harder, and actually started winning some more of that elusive possession.Whilst not a lone hand, gangly no. 9 (who with his strikingly white sleeves and spaghetti like arms resembled an Octopus or one of those inflatable whacky guy things used car salesmen attract business with) was clearly Elwood's most dangerous scoring option and kept all four Ranger's defenders on guard as he drifted into space across the park. Fitting it was then that he was the one to get in behind the Rangers defence to put in a high floating cross that was bait for even an U9's goalie. With a sore hand (yes, i'm blaming that again) and feeling rather gun shy, Tim advanced out, calling the cross his own as he attempted to punch the ball away. A complete air swing transpired, that even the ball seemed to laugh about, as an unmarked Elwood player, hardly believing his luck, headed home the easiest of finishes.
 |
| (Whacky inflatable tube man!!! Did anyone else think numero 9 resembled one of these?) |
Elwood were slowly gaining momentum, and no doubt thoughts of "let's test this keeper" were a constant. The home team again found themselves in a golden attacking position, and another cross found it's way in to the 18 yard box for a the Elwood captain to fabulously flick over a diving Tim in goals for a third score.
Whilst club plastic surgeon Ian Loh worked around the clock in building a prosthetic hand for Tim, the lads seemed puzzled about the extraordinary situation they found themselves in. A feeling that the game should've been dead and buried was clearly on the minds of all.
As the second half commenced, Elwood were clearly still riding high from their impressive comeback, and the better, more attacking team. Central Park meanwhile played like a World Cup Italian team - securing the lead with the very strong intent on defending it.
The rain tumbled harder, which probably suited the homesick Club UK, a tight and at times fiery clash unfolding. The referee, who up until this point had been hardly unsighted, other than to ignore the occasional offside, started to lose his shit a little bit and flash more than the odd yellow card.
Verbal sprays were becoming a norm, as Rowland enjoyed a spicy relationship with several Elwood heavies, including their linesman*, who even from where i was standing in goals, clearly advantaged his side on more than one occasion for the sake of possession.
*see excerpt below from previous Rangers Vs Elwood fixture.....
An equally frustrated Elwood kicked the ball away more than once, earning their own piece of yellow, however it was the hack on Hendy by the last man in defence that should've garnered red. Somehow, with a certain goal unsportingly squandered, Elwood retained 11 men.
George kept himself involved, and was also rewarded with a yellow card, tempers continuing to fray. A gallant Central Park defended extremely well under a mountain of pressure, long range shots, swinging corners and dead ball free kicks all testing the lads mettle.
As the clock wound down, it seemed like Central Park might just hold on, and to win it was looking like this might be necessary - Hendy couldn't take a trick and bury any number of the chances presented his way, whilst Alex B's leg looked as though he'd been gone to town on with a Bobby's baton. Jeremy led by example and hit hard - and maybe that was where Ranger's were a little bit lacking in the latter stages. The more seasoned (older) Elwood conditioning was proving handy as legs grew weary.
A corner with 5 minutes on the clock was wizzed in by Elwood who found two at the back, one of which managed to brilliantly head home from point blank range for an equaliser.
The lads sat in silence eating oranges out of Brian's finest Gorge Jensen silverware. Perhaps this would be the only silverware to end up in our keeping this year, but nobody can dispute the level of heart, commitment and improvement the guys have shown in the back half of the season.
Best: Tim N..... chillax, i'm kidding! Rowland was da man this week
The Rest: Tim C, Petrakos, Tom, Ian, George, Alex B
Christy Brown: Tim's thumb
"Rowland's Vindication"
*Central Park Vs Elwood, 19/05/2013
You could look it either way - we were down to one option for linesman, or no substitutes. As Central Park powered on, it was the curse of the other (i.e.- theirs) linesman who would play the bigger role. Our old Elwood henchman (more on him later) foe, so offside that he was more or less tending to the roses in the greenhouse up the western end of Central Park, found himself lumbering towards goal. A well placed and unchallenged shot found Tim napping at the near post for the opener. A sheepish looking Elwood linesman felt the chastising of the Rangers back four (c'mon, play it straight buddy, you effed up....).
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