2008 ROUND 15
LUSC Old Boys vs South Yarra 2 - 0

Goals:

Carmichael, Matthew (16)
Finanzio, Luca (34)

Go Back to Old Boys Team Page here


The Flight of the Bald Eagle

The scene was set for a bruising encounter of Braveheart proportions. The spoils for the winner would be outright top position. Both South Yarra and the Bald Eagles were switched on and prepared in their own different ways. The entire Yarra team was on the pitch 45 minutes before kick-off doing the warm ups as a group in front of a large supporter base who had come to see their boys secure the league title.

La Trobe did the opposite! With 30 minutes before kick off, the 9 players decided to go in and get changed. Using the 2.5km walk from the change room to the ground as their warm up (Ahh! Reminds me of the old La Trobe during the 1990’s), the Bald Eagles scratched together a team with 5 minutes to go.

However, this picture of complacency was simply a ruse that Supercoach Luca had been trialing in the lower State League Comp before introducing it to the Bald Eagles. South Yarra weren’t prepared for the onslaught La Trobe was about to inflict on them. The midweek pitch reports from Wilko were instrumental in ensuring the boys were prepared for the hard ground conditions.

With the great Captain Bug (returning from his World Bug Safari) back in goals, the mood became somewhat upbeat as La Trobe realized that they were now capable of keeping a clean sheet against the high scoring Yarra attack. However, the main problem lay with the forward structure. Supercoach Luca had some inside information that if you put the Yarra defence under pressure, they crack! Who would have thought that the answer could be as simple as “applying pressure”? With Paul Cif feeling homesick for the great Lou O’Cif and the G Train battling arthritis, could Wilko and the Thai Superfreak maintain ninety minutes of pressure up front on their own? It was decided that Sava and Robbie Slater would be also played up front to provide the extra support with Zappy slotting into left midfield

The game started at a high tempo. The Bald Eagles midfield were relentlessly chasing down every ball. Zappy, Boz, Luca, Thunder and Gabmeister won every contest preventing the Yarra boys from settling in and creating opportunities. The injured Zap had a couple of cracker shots which took the paint off the woodwork and he really deserved a goal for his efforts. The forward pressure from Sava, Wilko, Slater and the Superfreak was inspiring and forced the Yarra team to just boot it and hope. However, the sweeping of General Frank and the man marking of the Flying Dutchman and Baxter were superb. Chris ‘the Human Glove’ Baxter probably played his best game in years and his tight-marking meant his opponent walked off the pitch at the end of the game with no possessions and a very sore a$$.

During last weeks Ashburton game, many listeners on callback radio questioned whether Slater’s goal from the corner kick was a fluke or intentional. However, insider information has it that Slater and Supercoach have been working on some new goal scoring tactics where they create more efficient goals by not relying on their team mates having to touch the ball. Although, I have been warned by the La Trobe committee on publishing the following details on the Big Reds corner kick tactics, I believe they need to be applauded for their pure genius.

His corner kick goal at the 16 minute mark was just reward for some good efforts by the whole team.

A few weeks ago, Boz had dialed up to order another Luca Special with extra chilli and was a little disappointed in the slow delivery. However, the Supercoach informed him that he prides himself on quality rather than quantity and it’s all about delivering at the right time. Well, 1:0 up against a physical and fit top team who are always going to fight back, is about as close to the right time as it gets. His free kick from just inside the right wing to chip the keeper was sheer magic, satisfying Boz and providing the buffer the Bald Eagles needed going into the main break.

The second half was always going to be difficult. With many players having to play the entire 90 minutes for the first time this year, it was going to be a test to see if they had the legs and the discipline to see the second half out against probably the fittest team in the league. It appears a grueling pre-season may have paid off. The second half, although not shy of a few goal scoring opportunities for La Trobe, was really all about showing their defensive side. General Frank in the backline controlled the game, although Captain Bug was a little disappointed that he wasn’t tested by his sweeper with any tricky back heel passes. The South African keeper made a few outstanding dives at the feet of the Yarra forwards. On one occasion in the box, there was concern he may have been injured by the three Yarra players that landed heavily on him whilst face down. However, when the pack got off him, he was found with the ball in one hand and a magnifying glass in the other, looking for worm specimens. The game finished with at 2:0 with every player performing well.

Sava finished a great game up forward by informing the Yarra keeper that he was responsible for losing his team the league title. He may well be right, and with only 3 games remaining, the Bald Eagles will need to play with the same determination and grit to secure the championship.