Doncaster Masters team got off to the best possible start in their opening round match of the season against Uni of Melbourne. Sure we won, but more importantly we were able to start the game with the 11 players on the park. This was in stark contrast to the opening game of the 2006 season when only 7 players turned up on a cold and wet day against Brunswick Juventus Old Boys. (You should have heard some of the last minute excuses on that day). Anyway within 90 minutes (yes we are playing 90 minutes) the memories of the past would be wiped away forever.
Clearly the excitement and surprise of having 11 players take the park from the opening whistle upset the rhythm of the team. The fact that the team was yet to hold their first training session for the season (due to lack of suitable pubs / grounds) didn’t help either.
The game saw Pasquale Rumoro (Under 12 age coordinator) make a welcome return to the playing fields after being out with injury for the last “15 years”. It didn’t take long for Jim Michaels (who complained of a sore hamstring in the first minute of the game) to desert the sweeper position at every opportunity. Have you ever heard about keeping your shape Jimmy?
Well it was this blatant disregard of team rules that led to the first goal just before half time. A cross from the right wing found yes you guessed it Jimmy Michaels (tired and unable to get back to his sweepers position) lurking in the six yard box, 1-0 Doncaster.
With some much needed refreshments at half time (Ange Tsomos, thanks for drinking all my Gatorade) and a 1 -0 lead the boys were confident of turning possession into goals. The second half also saw the introduction of Nick (that is not really his first name) Dimitrakis (under 10 coach) who had just finished his commitments with his under 10 side down at Darebin.
The second half was really one way traffic with one notable exception (I’ll get to that in a moment). At one stage the “boys” strung 12 consecutive passes together. All these passes were in the Uni of Melbourne’s penalty box. Guys, guys in case you forgot little wall passes and nutmegs are great but scoring goals is the aim of the game.
Eventually goals by (what is his first name) Dimitrakis and Ali El-Mohamed (under 13 coach) saw Doncaster get out to a 3-0 lead. The scoring was rounded off by a deflected goal, (no Jimmy Michaels) where not going to credit you with that one.
So 4 – 0 was the final score.
Now for that one notable exception that I alluded to earlier. With shape and discipline clearly non existent and the party tricks kicking off shortly after going 3 nil up we inevitably got caught on the counter. A 2 on 1 situation ended up with a Doncaster defender handling the ball in the box for a penalty. Any guess for who the culprit was………….…….Jim Michaels
Enter one Chris (Pepe Reina) Pavlidis who managed to make the mad dash from his kids Under 15 Super league game at Manningham to take up his rightful position in goals. (Oh alright he didn’t make the mad dash, he actually left the under 15’s game early.)
A well struck penalty from the Uni of Melbourne center forward saw Pepe (I mean Chris Pavlidis) launch himself, stop laughing, I’m not joking Chris really did launch himself to his left to make an excellent save and keep the 4 – 0 scoreline in tact.
So the opening day of the 2006 was but a distant memory, 4 nil, 3 points and a home game to look forward to next Monday night.
Gee they do not give you much time to recover between games anymore!!!
