Last season's Grand Finalist started the year off with a win. With a mixed bag preseason, Axis of Evil were determined to start the season strong. With the core of the team returning for the 2016 season and some youth brought into the team, Axis's manager, Adgeo, was keen to prove that "Total Football" was key to this season's success. The first hurdle was a local derby against Annerley's other team, Le Foot.
With a full card to choose from Adgeo had his work cut out for him choosing the final 17 to send into battle for round 1. In the end it was whoever was available and paid rego so that made it easy for him to focus on the formation. Starting with his favoured 3-5-2, Captain Bourke was back leading the attack, taking pressure from out of form striker Felabio, who although has taken home the golden boot for 3 consecutive seasons, was suffering from a major dose of the Yips.
As the game started you could see the nerves in both teams play. After the first 5 minutes the nerves wore off, the passes became less forced and total football started to be introduced.
With Tracey mopping up behind the engine room of Ham and Matta, the middle of the park became Evil's playground and there was some promising play with the midfield and strikers linking up well. The first goal came about 20 into the game. Steve picked the ball up about 30 yards out on the right hand side, Fehlhaber drew some defenders with a run that allowed Mattarollo to cut inside and then place a delicious through ball for Bourkey who calmly ran passed the keeper and put the ball into an empty net.
With Le Foot having an average age of 12, Adge knew he would have to use his subs wisely. The introduction of Toby for Ham was to help sure up the middle with some more smart play and it almost paid off immediately. Winning the ball in the middle of the pitch and some total football assured the ball was up in the box in no time but the ball just wouldn't fall kindly for Trace and he put one into row Q. With a few more subs played Evil seemed to lose momentum and allowed Le Foot back into the game. A few Ollie challenges attracted a bit too much attention from the referee and at one stage a free kick was given 22 yards out in a dangerous position. with only 2 in the wall the striker had a go at goal with the ball just brushing the outside of the post with Torren flat footed. 3 minutes from time the pressure from Le Foot paid off with another curling effort.
1-1 Half Time.
The second half saw the introduction of Fehlhaber on the right hand side of the pitch witch gave Evil some more width and vision for dangerous crosses and defense splitting through balls. This allowed Viccars and Bourke to run riot up front, Mattarollo and Thommy sured up the middle with the hardman Lloyd brought in behind them. In no time the game was turned on it's head with some great attempts from Viccars and Bourke, with the former almost scoring the goal of the season barr a great save from the substitute keeper. The goals came with a flurry. Bourke scoring with his dick for the second season in a row from an inviting free kick from Fehlhaber which the keeper couldn't get to clean and spilled it and Scotty thrust it home. Next came a great header from a corner which saw Viccars get highest off a Dags near post corner. Soon Evil was 4-1 and coasting after some great team play saw the ball passed from defense to attack and Fehlhaber cooly placed passed the keeper after a cross was brought down by Bourke into the path of the out of form striker.
20 minutes to go saw a few too many substitutes made due to old legs and once again the cohesion was lost and Le Foot got back a scrappy goal and minutes later a cool finish from their striker. 4-3 with 10 to go saw some of the old heads back on to help sure up the defensive. A free kick was given away in the dying minutes and was a little too close for comfort for the manager to bare. With pride on the line the end of the game was rather heated with the young boys not appreciating being schooled in Football and some wild allegations were made.
The final whistle went and you could hear the relief come from the Evil bench. 3 points in the bag and a Derby win that will not go down in the record books. The next game is against The Punters who will be looking to bounce back after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of last year's grand final winners QUTFC Gold.
