Division 3 Men’s Bendigo vs Surrey Park at Mont Albert 18/8/18.
It’s a long, long way to Mont Albert, and that’s just from Lancefield in a comfy ute. I can only speculate what it’s like in a minibus from Bendigo.
The weather looked like it was going to be vile, with cold rain falling in the morning and for much of the car trip. But we were smiled upon by the gods of meteorology and barely a drop fell for the duration of our shortened match and rain only got going as we headed to the car to go home.
The Warhawks are limping to the season’s end and fielded low numbers again. There were twelve players to start, while Surrey Park had 13. However, this was a milestone game for two players: Russell Croft’100th game and Mason Matheson’s 50th for the Bendigo club. Congratulations, lads!
Surrey got off to a good start, with the majority of possession, though a youthful forward line found it difficult to get in close for shots on a physically bigger Bendigo backline. However, they were still able to pile on 4 goals in the first term, while a slow-starting Bendigo struggled for attack structure and were held scoreless.
Bendigo were unable to get clean transition out of defence again this week, and getting a ball from a defender or the goalie to a running midfielder or cutting forward is going to be something that will have to be worked on. However, the second quarter was a little better for Bendigo in attack, with Alex Orr breaking the ice by converting an assisting pass to the crease from John Webb into a blind backhand shot into the goal. Mason Matheson also added to the score with a great dodge from out the front of goal. In the mean time, Surrey added three to their total and we went to the long break with the score on 7-2.
The third quarter saw Bendigo shut down by the Surrey defence and they couldn’t add their tally, despite plenty of opportunities and shots. The Warhawk habit under pressure, of rushing the forward play short-handed before midfielders arrive, again meant that time in possession was frustratingly brief. Dylan Leclerq suffered a knee injury and Surrey Park managed one more for the quarter, taking us to the last term with a mountain to climb: 8-2 with only a single second-gamer player on the bench.
The last quarter saw the Warhawks lift and they found the back of the net twice to Surrey’s thrice, with Ian Lock slotting a goal on the right, with no angle, after circling behind the goal from the left side. Mason Matheson also contributed with a long shot out of the sun to take Bendigo to 4, to SurreyPark’s winning total of 11.
Votes were given to Alex Orr again (3 club votes and one Association) for a great effort and many unrewarded shots. Ian Lock was given two club votes for keeping the Surrey defenders busy all day, and Brett Ruiz was given a single vote for another solid day in the centre.
Thanks again to Lester Young for standing in as goalie while Gino is out injured, and well done to Angus Webb, who played his second game under very difficult circumstances, with a dwindling bench and very little understanding of the more technical rules (“So Dad, what’s the story with offside …?). Thanks also to Christian Iuliano for scoring for us.
Next week is the last game of the season. We play Caulfield at Bendigo and we should try to make it to the last training and do our best to finish with a win.
Around the grounds.
Brunswick U13s went down in a close one to Footscray, 7-6 with a lot of missed opportunities to tie or even win the game.
Christian Iuliano assisted with 2 goals.
On Sunday, the MCC/Bendigo women’s division 1 team had a narrow win over an Eltham team that came back from being 5 down at half time to lose by one, 13-12. Well done!
Senior player, John Webb
Last Modified on 24/08/2018 13:24