Marauders FC Premier XI 2 vs 2 Porirua

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Date: 28 June 2009

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Opponents: Porirua (top of the table clash)

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Venue: Fortress Upper Hutt College

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Team.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">Bolts

<p class="EC_MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">folds, dempster, matt, me (c)

<p class="EC_MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">will, &nbsp;dribble, Wilson, davies,

<p class="EC_MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center">mark, lamo

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Reserves: Josh and Kerran?

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Absent: Jono (having gay old time at the carrot capital of the world), Bowie (away for second game in a row because family again took priority over team).

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">We assembled for the top of the table clash with Porirua.&nbsp; We were sitting 1 point ahead of them, in top spot.&nbsp; Having won a pre season friendly and first league game against Porirua the tab would have had us as $1.50 favourites.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">This was Matt's first game back from concussing an opposing defender ages ago.&nbsp;

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Pre game shots were woeful, making me wonder whether a week off had left us stale or whether we were trying to play the mind game.&nbsp; Sadly I think it was the former. Wilson reminded in the pep talk to man up as the game was going to be physical.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">After I won the toss we stayed as we were playing towards the snow capped ranges.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Due to the fact I'm getting thumped at work today this report is going to be a lot more condensed that usual.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Points of note:

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -18pt;">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Davies throwing the ball to himself.&nbsp; Let it go behind head and landed right in front of him

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The ball going between their open goal and Wilson early in the game, only to be watched over the goal line for a goal kick. (accepted you may not have been able to see the ball till it was right in front of you)

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mark&rsquo;s toe poke into the bottom left to take us 1-0 up against the run of the play about 20 mins in

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1-0 to us at half time

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wilson almost missing the start of the 2nd half as he was off &ldquo;rubbing&rdquo; dumpster

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; bowie's lover somehow managing to get a well timed strike on a cross to go bottom left, 1-1

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; davies persistence is fighting for the ball, resulted in a number of turnovers

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Matt&rsquo;s tumble and weak cry for a free kick

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The number of yellow cards that could have been given out

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">10.&nbsp;&nbsp; the amount of ball watching we were all guilty of, including watching their player get a free head on a corner ball to drop it to their kid player to hit home point black in front of our goal. 2-1 to Porirua

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">11.&nbsp;&nbsp; Both our centre backs making runs at their goal

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">12.&nbsp;&nbsp; Davies being bought down in their box, only to have the penalty given 5 outside the box

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">13.&nbsp;&nbsp; Kerran making an immediate impact off the bench and getting straight into it

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">14.&nbsp;&nbsp; Pickney going off and going home mid game

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">15.&nbsp;&nbsp; the smallest player on the field trying to rally the marauders with his calls about something (didn't hear you lamo)

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">16.&nbsp;&nbsp; mark shooting with 5 to go, the ball hitting the right post and bouncing back into no man's land not to be nailed into their net

17.&nbsp;&nbsp; the most unlikeliest player scoring, albeit it the shot was hit straight at the keeper to give us a the draw with seconds left on the clock. 2-2

18. the team not crumbling completely during the 30 odd minutes we were down 2-1.

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">19.&nbsp;&nbsp; matt bringing another of his family to watch the team in action.

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -18pt;">20.&nbsp;&nbsp; Dribble dispelling rumours he&rsquo;d lost his voice, by talking for the first time in the post game drink (possibly a harsh call as I couldn't hear all of what was going on up front from back where I was)

<p class="EC_ListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -18pt;">21.&nbsp;&nbsp; top of the table held, unbeaten season still on track

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">That game certainly won't be making the 2009 dvd.&nbsp; None the less it was a very valuable point we stole from porirua and so long as we front for the rest of the season that should be the point we need to remain 1 point ahead of porirua and top of the table.&nbsp; If we play them again in the cup finale we are going to need to be a lot sharper.&nbsp; The key difference was everyone of their players wanted the ball whereas we appeared to enjoy watching them with the ball.&nbsp; We are a fitter team and it will show in the second half.&nbsp; We just have to keep battling for the ball as we have proven we are dangerous on counter attack and can step our game up.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Fines

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Bowie, no pre game text or post game text enquiring about how we went

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Davies for his foul throw

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Pickney for leaving before the final whistle went and not enquiring how we went (latter part subject to review if someone got a text from him post game)

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">&nbsp;

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">The website hasn't been updated yet so it still reads as if there is not game next week.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">I am not going to be able to take to the field on 11 July as am away that weekend.&nbsp; Pre booking this I checked who we were playing and it's the lowly wallaceville lads.&nbsp; If it had of been a better team I'd not have ditched the team for a weekend away, that's not on.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">Let the banter begin.

<p class="EC_MsoNormal">David

<p>&nbsp;

<p><br /><br />The Marauders Football Club<br />Wellington<br />New Zealand