Sat July 28 - The weather report told me there would be clearing showers for todays game, not a prospect to excite me, as when the showers come the crowd at Monty normally clears out. Add to that the game was against a stuggling Epping outfit and the prospects for a big crowd were diminishing.
With results of other games falling our way last week, we found we were still in the four with a healthy percentage gap on the followers. That made this game crucial not only for a win, but we needed to win big to make sure the percentage gap widened. Today we delivered with three wins and all with big margins.
The day started off magnificently with the U/19 team winning it's first home game for the year. Normally I would dedicate much of the web page to the senior team, but today with the first home win for the thirds, time to give a full wrap of the game.
The first goal for the game came about when this blur of afro hair smashed through the centre of the ground taking the ball from everyone and passing it to his mate Joel Eley who then hit Shane Woodhouse on the lead. The resultant goal was a great start. From the next centre bounce the boys again forced the ball forwards and Jordan Daley found himself running at full pace 30m out directly infront of goal only to kick like a backman. Though he missed the tone of the day had been set as our boys ran at the ball and through the Epping players as though they were not there. The second goal again was Woody's as he led his man to the ball then made sure the umpire could see he was being held earning him the free shot on goal.
The desperation to win the game could be felt by the small crowd, and when Matt Jones dived and rushed a behind from the two oncoming Epping players you just knew the boys would win today. Add to that the Cole brothers (Shaun and Jason) in the Mont backline who just seemed to mark everything that came in the air towards them no matter how many opponents they had and we had Epping strangled.
The third goal could again have been Woody's as he was in the goal sqaure set to take the easy chest mark, when at the last moment he pulled the arms away and shepherded the ball through for a Drew Smith goal. Drew deserved the goal as the second effort to get the ball was first class. The highlight for the crowd in the first quarter however was when Dale Seiler was polaxed as he ran out of the backline. Anyone who knows Dale knows he is a big strong unit, and to see his feet above his head in what was a huge WWF style hit was remarkable, thankfully Dale was ok, just embaressed.
With a three goal lead starting the second term, I'm sure Grant Reinke would have expected the boys to dominate, but to Eppings credit they lost the quarter by only one point to keep the game close at half time. Joel Eley was dumped so hard face first into the ground that when he got up he looked like he was auditioning for Phantom of the Opera. Drew Smith kicked one of the goals of the year, and if he hadn't kicked it at the crowd end in front of everyone, no one would believe it was deliberate. He managed from deep in the pocket to banana the ball Daicos style between the Epping player and the post for it to bounce in the goal square and make its right turn for a goal. Fortunately for Drew, I was directly in line with him and saw him deliberatley turn the ball in his hands before kicking it, fantastic skill Drew! Then Matty Blackburn bascially said to Drew, anything you can do I can do better, and he managed a snap over the shoulder that went through for a goal. Peter Moore also goaled for the quarter from a set shot 40m out. As he lined up I asked his mum if he was a chance at which point she told me he cleaned his boots last night so he better. Moorey, keep cleaning your boots if it makes you play that well!
Mont were exactly 3 goals in front at the start of the third quarter, but Epping kicked the first 2 goals of the quarter to close the gap. It was worrying but when James Parr cleverly kicked the ball to Kent Ohanessian who ran like he was being chased by the police, three bounces and a perfect pass to Woody who goaled and you knew the boys were back on track. Kent again took the ball from the centre and passed to Joel Eley who worked the ball to Matt Searle who got the goal and reward for his rucking efforts.
The last quarter had the boys 22 points in front and the game still in the balance. Then the storm came and it wasnt raining from above, it was the rampaging Mont side as they put on six goals to blow Epping away. Drew started the scoring with a downfield kick after Kent had been felled in the centre. Then Kent again sent the ball into the forward line where Moorey made a great contest and got a free with his second effort at the ball. Moorey didnt miss the chance to kick his second goal.
The desperation of the Mont backmen to be part of the game and not just leave all the glory to the forwards was evident when Kiel Vann running with the flight of the ball marked but had his legs taken out from under him. He landed face first with his back bending over his head and legs suspended in mid air in a perfect gymnastic "head stand". I think he was waiting for the judges score as he seemed stuck in the position for a long time. If only I had the video camera on!
The rest of the quarter seemed to be the Peter Moore show. Firstly he snapped a goal from the opposite pocket for a right footer to thread the eye of the needle and score the goal. Then from the same pocket he ran like a rover and Matt Searle saw him, tapped it perfectly to Moorey and the ball sailed though the sticks for another. Three goals in the quarter for Peter. Shane Woohouse chipped in for a goal as the Epping full back thought it would be better to kick it to Woody than another Epping player. Alright, Woody did take a great intercepting grab and it was a highlight, not as easy as I said earlier. Then Matt Searle beautifully won the ruck and gave a deft handball to the running (yes I said running) Tim Moulas who put the final goal through for a well deserved win. Final scores Mont 14 12 96 Epping 7 6 48.
The review of the remaing games will be posted later today
Last Modified on 30/07/2007 22:24
