Fyfes 0-1 Waverley Old Boys AA5 - March 25 2007

By Eddy Blaxell

For the second week in a row, the mighty Fyfes went down to a late header in a tight contest at Mackay 4.

After holding on valiantly for over 70 minutes against a side who will enter the season in a higher division, Lokomotiv Cove's youngest team allowed an unmarked Waverley defender to steal in at the far post and convert a controversial corner for the most meaningless of victories.

The match was the most promising in Team Fyfe's short history, and the managerial team - who spiced things up by consistently referring to the Navy-clad opposition as Tards - will take a lot out of the performance.

Morgan was back on the sideline following his week-long hiatus, this time dressed out in a suit, tie and trenchcoat, and equipped with a new clipboard and "extra paper". Joining Morgan in the dugout was his newly appointed assistant, the equally stylish Michael "Litti" Blaxell, complete with brown suit and commemorative Sydney FC-Urawa Scarf. If Team Fyfe finish the season trophyless, they will at least take heart from their position as the undisputed leaders of the AA6 fashion contest.

For the first time in four matches, the players turned in a performance the gaffers could admire - the new kits had arrived midweek.

Once again there were problems with finding the ground, indeed three players - Jacko, Luke and Lewis - didn't make it at all, while Quinn was still unavailable, this time with an injury to his on holiday muscle.

With the twelve players that did turn up, Morgan and Blaxell were able to implement their newly designed 3-5-2 formation. Ed "just do what I tell you" Blaxell occupied the central position, sweeping behind Hibbert and Burke, with D'Arcy Blaxell shielding in a defensive midfield role, Dan and Gordo providing the width and Curran and Rory bossing the midfield.

The new formation looked to add some steel to the defence, and also combat the problems of the previous week, reinforcing the midfield which had been missing in action in the latter stages of the match against Maccabi.

Jasper and Long yet again started up front, still hoping to score the first goal of their partnership, and Long the second of his life.

Shane, returning from alcohol poisoning and a foot injury started goal in the absence of Jacko, a sign that perhaps his body was still not 100%.

Composure was the word for Loko in the first half, the light blues holding possession well against a team pressing high up the field and impressing with their fitness. But like Terry Butcher's Sydney, Loko often moved the ball from midfield to defence to midfield to defence to out wide to the middle to the keeper and back to the midfield, and the strikers saw precious little of the ball.

When Jasper did get a chance on the edge of the box, he took one touch too many and was forced out to the left, where he eventually lost the ball to three defenders.

Loko's dominance was only dominated by the occasional counter from Waverley, but all too often these were broken down by the now familiar sight of Hibbert and Blaxell's last-ditch defending. Hibbert and Burke, marshalled by Ed, grew into their marking roles and the pace of 19 and 45 was soon nullified.

In possession, D'Arcy provided an ever-present outlet, playing the Grella role to perfection and providing support to backs and midfielders, central and wide, and winning a majority of the loose midfield ball. His performance, along with the ability of the back three to constantly win and keep hold of the ball, saw Loko turn defence into attack with constant ease.

On the few occasions when Waverley did break through, they were thwarted by outstanding if unconventional goalkeeping from Shane. One header was cleared off the line by an outstanding volley, while a one-on-one nutmeg attempt was thwarted by the keeper's unique legs-together pose. Shane even amazed the players toward the end of the half when he not only dived but also used his hands to make a fine double-save after 45 had found his way through on the left.

Waverley forced four first-half corners, all of which were dealt with comfortably, won by Blaxell or Curran or drifting harmlessly over the back.

The first half was marred by an early injury to Dan which put him out of the rest of the match, while Ed Blaxell picked up a light cork to his thigh which hampered his movement more as the match progressed.

At the positive end, Jasper, D'Arcy and Curran put long range efforts wide but they were the best attempts Loko could muster. A tactical change midway through the half saw Chen move into the wide right position, and he immediately found space to run at the defence before his eventual pass found Jasper who was quickly closed down. Nonetheless the signs were positive at half time, with Curran's ability to switch the ball to either side spreading the Waverley defence on both sides and shaping as a decisive factor for the second half.

Limited by the injury to Dan, the team went out unchanged for the second half, and against a team with five substitutes fitness was always going to be an issue.

In the opening exchanges the Fyfes held firm, with Jasper forcing a fine save after working the ball onto his left foot following his most dangerous run of the match.

As the match opened up, both sides started to create more chances. Waverley had numerous attacks shut down by the back three or saved valiantly by Shane, while Loko had more long-range efforts from both Blaxells and Chen.

However, the match was to take a nasty turn on 50 minutes. The referee, who spent much of the game in the centre circle and consistently irked the Cove defenders with his non-use of the offside rule, was the catalyst when he awarded Waverley two incorrect corners in the space of a few minutes. With the Fyfes still fuming at the second, it was swing in and clutched by Shane, who immediately squared up to the challening attacker.

In the following minutes both teams swore profusely at anyone in their sight, Curran and Blaxell were penalised for nasty tackles and Shane almost lost the plot completely after being pulled up for handling the ball outside his box. The Cove defence lost its resolve, especially after Burke was pushed forward and replaced by the less-composed Pearson at the heart of defence. Blaxell could have gifted the tards a pair of goals with poor clearances, and Waverley were starting to look the more likely.

However Loko were not to be denied easily, and were still looking promising in attack, with Gordo drawing defenders down the left and Curran and Chen exchanging passes fluently on the right. In the final minutes Blaxell started to push forward and join the attack, and it looked as though Loko could brace for one final assault.

Two corners in quick succession were cleared by the Waverley defence, before they launched a counter-attack against the undermanned Loko defence. Luckily, the attacker miscontrolled and lost the ball for a goal kick. Or so thought everyone but the referee, who from his vantage point 60m upfield awarded the infamous corner.

Not to be outdone, Team Fyfe could and should have levelled the score in the final minutes. With Waverley pushing forward in search of a second, a huge Loko clearance found Jasper who surged over the halfway line on the right wing. As most of the team sat back and waited to see what Jasper could do, the elder Blaxell saw a shot at glory and raced forward, putting his sore thigh behind him as he covered the 50 metres to the opposition box. Jasper's pinpoint cross found Blaxell on the edge of the area, who controlled the ball with his left, dummied and went right, and was taken out by the defender right on the 18-yard box. There was to be one final shot at glory for Team Fyfe.

However, as the referee walked the wall back, Blaxell, adrenalin pumping, saw a large gap at the far post. Asking the referee for a quick free kick, Blaxell scuffed his shot well wide, much to the disgust of his teammates and managers.

So in the end, 1-0 down, but another very valuable hit-out for the mighty Team Fyfe, and the new management team who will hopefully have four players back for the first competition round against Sydney Uni on Sunday.