Saturday, 21 August 2010
Narrabundah FC 4
Brindabella Blues 2
Scoring
1 – 0 Dziubinski ‘9
1 – 1 W.Atrudoingtony ’23
2 – 1 Tadic 31′
3 – 1 Quick 36′
4 – 1 Tadic 53′
4 – 2 W. Atrudoingseri 81′
On a day that would have been glorious if not for the gale force winds that are usually associated with the home ground of the Reds opponents, Narrabundah scraped together 11 players to face Brindabella bogan patrol in a game that bore no significance for either team.
Despite the casual build up to the game, it was obvious the Reds were there to play from the start with Dziubinski and Tadic linking up well up front. A quick throw in from Tadic caught the snail paced Brindabella backline unawares and allowed Dziubinski in behind where from practically the by-line, he pulled his best Landon Donovan impersonation and blasted the ball straight over the keepers head into the roof of the net.
The Reds continued to have the better of the play but the game was now becoming a scrappy affair in midfield as both teams failed to control the ball. Soon Brindabella equalised as a scrappy clearance managed to find a Brindabella striker running clean through on goal. Despite a strong hint of offside which was missed by the social butterfly Narrabundah had employed to run the line, the ref played on and the Brindabella striker clinically finished what had to be the Blues first effort on goal.
This seemed to wake the Reds up and they went on to start hammering their unfortunate opponents. After several close calls, the breakthrough came direct off a goal kick as Seri pumped it long and everyone including the opposition goal keeper missed the ball, allowing Narrabundah speed machine Tadic to blitz the pack, run three circles around the much slower Dziubinski and then tuck home the finish. And Narrabundah would extend their lead soon after through one of the team goals of the season where 4-5 one touch passes saw the ball played down the left hand side before and inch perfect cross was swung in to Quick who volleyed home first time. And so it was a positive Narrabundah that went into the half time break.
Re-emerging for the second half, Narrabundah began to put on one of their most dominant displays of the season as they began creating chance after chance against a hapless Brindabella defense. After a couple of close calls, the game clinching 4th goal arrived. Dziubinski managed to get clear of the Brindabella defenders and kept composed enough to find Tadic with a neat cross which was clinically finished.
Now the party would start as chance after chance went begging. Quick hit the post, Krithinakis had an effort tipped past the post, Dziubinkski had an effort saved, McGarva twice went close, first with a free kick that was destined for top corner but just caught the wall and then a long range volley that clipped the cross bar, Linfoot could only volley straight at the keeper when he found himself alone in the box, Romero teed up Quick for a shot from the edge of the 6-yard box which was slashed over, Poblete made space for himself in the box and then went for the conversion from 10 yards out, Bedin missed an open header at the back post and so on. Chances were raining in but unfortunately none were being taken.
Eventually Brindabella made a rare foray into the Reds half and won a corner. The resulting cross was met by goal keeper Seri with a solid fist but the referee, perhaps taking pity on the hapless Blues decided there was a penalty in the custodians run and punch and handed the Blues some hope for the last 10 minutes. The Reds though held firm for the final 10 minutes and still created some good openings, but 4-2 it would remain.
As the season end nears and the finals begin to take shape, the Reds are really starting to come into form. Playing some of their best football of the season, the Reds will have a good measuring stick next weekend against top of the table Weston Creek – who will also likely be their opponents in the semi final. It should prove a valuable learning experience and the Reds will definitely want to put the wind up their rivals and give them something to think about going into finals.