Ryan looking awful serious… shame the ball wasnt anywhere near either of them.
Tommy stays limber on the sidelines. This was before he bore the brunt of injustice from the referee and AngryTommy made an appearance!
Saturday befell a cruel injustice on the Wanderers as we were denied another chance to grace the hallowed turf of the ‘Home of Football’, Easton Park and instead we met Dobroyd Gunners on the neutral ground of Bark Hutts. The Reserves were keen to get back to their winning ways after the previous weeks loss to the Tigers, and the Firsts keen to cement their place at the ‘Top of the Pops’.
The Reserves game started slowly with the fill-in keeper Ryan running late, and hoping out of his car fully kitted up with gloves on, seriously! There was scrappy play from both sides, before the Wanderers crafted a nice goal with Pauly scoring from a free header to take an early 1-0 lead. Almost against the run of play the Gunners sneaked a goal back with a nice finish past a spectacularly diving Ryan. The story of the match was proving to be however the welcome return to form of Matty Friend. He managed to get himself on the end of a lovely sweeping move to score what proved to be the eventual game winner, and was giving a great deal of energy down the right flank. The score went into the break at 2-1. The second half proved to be one way traffic for the Wanderers as they slotted home 3 unanswered goals to finish the match strongly. Super sub Phil scored with his first touch of the game, and Man of the Match Matt continued his superb play with a second, calmly slotting home on the near post. As the game was progressed the feeling in the crowd was growing that the Gunn was looking like he may finally break his goal scoring streak, till unfortunately the Gunners defense ruined it for everyone with another handball. Showing obvious nerves after his signature play from our previous encounter was remembered, the Gunn placed his shot just past the keeper who guessed correctly (rocket scientist obviously) to add another to his season’s tally. A welcome return the winner’s circle for the Reserves with a 5-1 result.
After the previous few weeks of superb form the hangover finally caught up with the Firsts. In what can only be described as a ‘frustrating game’ to quote one WAG, the team never really found its groove. Scrappy through out the first half highlight was Man of the Match Tinksy, slotting home a goal with a decisive poke of his shoulder. The second half began poorly after the Gunners equalised and with their blood up they started coming at the Wanderers. The Gunners looked to have scored what would have been the game winner late into the game, but thankfully the linesman finally used his flag and called an offside. The match highlight was most definately the vigorous flag waving from a suspended Beachy on the far touch line…. Still a draw was a decent result in the end and good to get performances like this out of the way before the playoffs.
Gav “Capt’n Courageous” Russell, aka Teacher Gav, heads over the bar from point blank effectively losing the game for the reserves….
More graceful than a gazelle, we call him the Gunn and he is on a 6 game scoring streak. I know…. I am surprised about it aswelll!!
Saturday saw the Wanderers travel out to the Tigers home ground, in Strathfield to renew hostilities. It was a pleasant surprise to see the smallish pitch in such great condition. The grass would not have been out of place on a Premier league ground, and there was even grass in the goalmouths which was got both keepers more than a little excited….
The reserves game started poorly for the Wanderers when keeper James injured himself in the warmup and Brandon had to hurriedly suit up. Not a backwards step with the firsts keeper slumming it in the reserves but not the best prep for such a big game. Then the Tigers came out of the gates at a million miles an hour and pinned the visitors in their own half for much of the first stanza. The intensity that had marked the previous encounter was not there initially and after some slick play from the Tigers it was a 2-0 scoreline heading into the half. After a rocket from the coaching staff, well Ian and the Gunn (patent pending..), the Wanderers picked up their game and came at the Tigers. With Gav Harmon (greyhound #2) moved into the centre of the park there was some real go forward which resulted in a nice goal as the Gunn extending his scoring streak to 6 games now, when he banged home a nice cross from Gav. Despite the pressure and the Tigers beginning to wilt the game petered out when greyhound #2 blew a hammy and limped off the pitch. A late 4 on 1 (seriously who doesnt save a 4 on 1….) from the Tigers sent the final score to 3-1 and fuel for thought on a playoff meeting….
The Firsts game had a much better preparation with Brandon restricting his warmup to a Winnie Blue…. After last weeks boilover the firsts were again eager to continue their fine form and extend their lead at the top of the table. A tight first half ended with Adam slotting home a shot from outside the box (and celebrating by pointing to his shoe), and Brandon robbing the tigers forward after an athletic dive tipping the ball onto the post. Adam started the second half just as he had finished the first, with some driving runs that ended in a pen, which in true Adam style he slotted home, and a ‘double wood’ free kick that cannoned off both uprights and in to take his tally for the last 3 games to 6 goals! The frustration started to grow in the Tigers and there was a number of really cynical fouls, most of them directed to towards Ryan and the back of his head. To be honest a number of them were lucky to still be on the park at the end of the game. They did get a consolation goal at the death that was nearly 180 mins in the making.
So not a great day for the Reserves but an immensely satisfying result for the Firsts who have been going from strength to strength.
For those who are coming the Gold Coast we are looking at the below accommodation.
http://www.mantracircleoncavill.com.au/room-facilities/
If 4 people share a 2 bed apartment it will work out at $75.50pppn
We need Credit Card confirmation to book the room & there is a 24hr cancellation policy.
See Dave G or Mickey for more details
Found this in the extensive Wanderers archives. The name on the photo had faded some, but I think it said Tomas de Engin. Probably a Dutch immigrant or something…
Those eagle eyed Wanderers and fans will notice a new look site. Almost all of the content has been ported over from the old site, a few things are still missing like the gallery but these will come soon.
The nicest new feature is the ability to leave comments on the posts. So if you feel your 25 yard thunderbolt didnt get its due credit or you have something else to add please leave a comment. If any of you are looking for other features or have useful suggestions please leave a comment on this post.
Also could someone please help with an update of the top scorers.
A tired but happy Wanderers travelled out to Bark Hutts on Sunday to play Equador.
The reserves were really starting to feel the pinch from their fourth game in 8 days and the epic struggle from the day before. From the keeper forward everyone was stiff and sore, and despite all that come out brightly against a 10 man opposition to create many opening chances, which unfortunately were not put away till Phil latched onto one outside the box to send it to 1-0 at half. Lethargy and an extra man led to an unlikely reply from Equador, but the introduction of Mickey Gunn and Gav Harmon gave the Wanderers that final spring to grab a 2-1 win and a vital 3 points. The final game winner came when Eddie Fitz headed into the path of MG who calmly tucked it away. The away team crowd (well Jarrod) could be heard singing….. “He’s tall, got a big frame, he’s got 4 goals in 4 games Micky Gunn, Micky Gunn…..”
The Firsts had little trouble in dispatching their opposition, taking a 3-0 lead into the half on the back of Ryans goal from open play and Adam putting home two pens. Dave G also mistook one of their players heads for ball, and gave their guy a fearful earbashing. To be fair his head was on the ground, but thankfully no serious damage was done and the game proceeded. Two more goals from Luke and Eddie F gave the Firsts a 5-0 win and the icing on a wonderful weekend of results for the club.
The Wanderers played host to the top of the table Leichhardt Tigers at the ‘Home of Football’, Easton Park on Saturday. The home teams were keen to get a good result to setup their run to the playoffs down the stretch. The Reserves looking to atone for a shock loss to Prestons in the cup the previous week, and the Firsts keen to build upon some excellent form in recent weeks and testing themselves against a quality opposition.
The Reserves started slowly in their game with the Tigers dictating the play early. However the defense stood tall, and on the back of a strong perfomance from the midfield of Phil and Man O’ Match Craig they played themselves into the match. The score was 0-0 at half but the momentum seemed to be with the home team. Consistent pressure to begin the second half led to the Tigers handballing in the box, and the stage was set from deadball specialist Mickey G to setup and have another crack at what is fast becoming a regular gig. Despite reservations the keeper may have had an insight into his technique, he calmly roofed the ball into the top left to take a well deserved 1-0 lead. An unlucky deflection in midfield led to a Tigers goal levelling the game shortly after. Despite some late chances the Wanderers could get that win, but were well pleased with their efforts against a side that had scored a mighty 33 goals in their previous 8 games.
The Firsts started brightly, carrying their imperious form into the game. The game was a joy to watch with Ryan, Trev and Adum running hard at the defense and asking all the right questions. A 0-0 half time score, was thanks to some smart saves between the pipes from Brandon, but the fun was yet to come. Ryan opened the scoring in the second, before Adum scored one of the goals of the season. He shrugged off of the defender deep in the Tigers box, and then calmly looped the ball past the keeper and squeezed it inside the farpost, a thing of beauty to be sure. Then Beachy hit a glorious 20 yard strike from the angle of the box sending the Wanderers firm down at the home end delirious, and leading the Wanderers to a wonderful 3-0 result against a very strong team. The Man of the Match honours went to Andy Corlett for his tireless running in the middle of the park.
Both excellent results and setup at tantalizing rematch against the Tigers this coming Saturday at their home ground in Strathfield.
The results are in and the inaugural winner of the Euro 2008 tipping comp (and last winner ironically…) is
Marvin Kenny!!!
Congrats to Marvin, the runners up were George Srdic, and some Geordie fella….
Recent Comments