The loss of Amrio, as well as the blooding in of four new signings, Ganello, Skoota, Matthews and Coluccio, proved just how valuable cohesion and communication is in this 7-a-side version of the game, as Channel Four succumbed to their second, and sequential, defeat of the season.
Team Dynamite emphatically demonstrated their physical and, by in large, direct qualities, as the ruthlessly punished minor errors by News Teams, at times, cumbersome and outnumbered defensive formations.
Despite going toe-to-toe in the opening quarter, it was the home team that scored first, thanks to a swift and clinical counter-attack by one of Dynamites six rugby-league transfers. He drove infield from the left and poked in a through-ball which still required plenty from their burly striker, but with his pace there was only going to be one outcome and he easily beat the goalkeeper, nipping in before the on-rushing Channel Four 'keeper could turn the situation into a 50-50 challenge.
Reports this week that Wellington Phoenix were ready to make a $4 million bid for Ganello in January were dismissed by Ricki Herbert and Lewis Gyde, with the latter confidently stating his prize asset, and record purchase, was not for sale.
In any case, making solid and creative performances in two successive matches would appear to have boosted Ganello's price tag by several hundred thousand or more.
Not that Channel Four would consider - or could even countenance - selling a player who is so vital to any chance of success in the short- to medium-term.
Without the 23-year-old's input this season - from goals and/or assists - the News Team will struggle to avoid the bottom three.
It is difficult to put a price on exactly how much that is worth to a team still growing into Gydes' way of working but it is safe to say it would likely take much more to replace what he has brought to the side this campaign.
Yet Ganello was strangely subdued in a first half, clearly yet to return to full fitness, or the fitness levels he reached in his stellar-season of 2011, although there were three, notable, talking points.
With a new emergency replacement goalkeeper making his first appearance, Gyde reverted to a back three, having opted for one centre back and two wing-backs at home to Eastern Stars last week.
Unsurprisingly he selected Skoota on the right of midfield in a central partnership with Ganello, but before the half was out he had tinkered with his tactical line-up having seen his side fail to get a grip on the game, let alone create more than one or two opportunities. This would come back to haunt them.
As early as the fifth minute Channel Four sliced through Dynamites high-pressing defence, with Skoota playing a delicately poised and paced slide rule pass, which Leroy read perfectly. However Dynamites centre-back had enough pace and strength to get to the challenge at the meet point, and forced Leroy into an off-balance shot to the far post, which the ‘keeper calmly held.
Only four minutes later Ganello, Leroy and Skoota, circumnavigated Dynamites defence expertly, in their attacking third, to work as an efficient triumvirate and put a powerful, low drive in from Ganello, which the ‘keeper parried only too perfectly to the feet of Leroy. Somehow, instead of his impressive composure demonstrated in weeks previously, Leroy managed to slice the ball of the right-hand post, from 3 yards out, turning Ganello incredulous, and his teammates white with horror. Leroy looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.
These successive, clear, goal scoring opportunities spurned the home-side into action, as the cool, possession based partnership of their central midfield began to exert pressure back on to Channel Four. For as well as Ganello and Skoota intentioned, they were clearly overran in midfield, with Dynamites fullbacks pushing forward, then cutting in on sharp angles, piercing the now gaping channels between News Teams back three. Dynamites captain surged forward, dramatically riding a rough lunge from Ganello, with his shot-come-cross turned behind by Geordie Pie.
The resulting corner was taken swiftly, and short, with the back-tracking Hazza keeping Dynamites right wing-back from whipping in a cross. Instead, a short, rapier-like pass was sent daringly across the front of Channel Fours box, out to the left wing, as Dynamite now found numbers, with their striker cutting in and striking cleanly, targeting the far right post, as News Teams ‘keeper parried well, down to his left. Attempting to clear the ball of danger, Matthews was, however, mistimed and pressured, which resulted in cringe worthy air-shot.
Such is Channel Fours luck at the moment, one of Dynamites numerous attackers was on hand to gleefully smash the ball home past the flailing arms of both Matthews, and the stand-in ‘keeper. The resulting celebrations from Dynamite, with childish mocking, and tenacious hackling, laughter, caused much consternation on the Channel Four bench.
Manager Gyde clearly took offence and was only stopped from assaulting his opposite by some quick interceptive steps by the fourth-official. The club and the FA have yet to comment on this potential altercation.
Soon after CFNT’s stand-in ‘keeper showed his prowess, shrugging off the previous malaise in the box, with none of the supposed rustiness evident, as he turned over the bar a righteous drive from Dynamites now ever-forward bombing central midfield.
In what was to virtually be the young Italian’s last involvement as just past the half-hour he was replaced by Coluccio with Skoota moving forward to play in the hole by Ganello in an attempt to get more support for the often isolated Leroy.
By then CFNT had lost Gyde to a painful knee injury after he was caught by a Dynamite defender, who charged in, not attempting to get the ball at all.
There followed plenty of possession without much penetration from both sides.
It was, however, an afternoon of misfortune more than tactical discipline or poor play that caused the downfall of Channel Four.
As the surging Dynamite winger crossed for his strike partner with a rifling first-time cross, which rather than being cut back enough to open a shot for his teammate, collided with crouching News ‘keeper and cruelly deflected into the back of the net.
If the goal energised the home side, it ignited the returning Crestanello brothers, Ganello and Tiem, who were rampant after that.
The third goal had a touch of fortune but only in its origin.
A throw-in down CFNT's left should have gone to the visitors but the officials awarded it to Dynamite and it was from that they finished off the game.
Dynamites captain again had major part to play, sliding a pass through the inside-left channel to his striker who was set for a colossal three-way challenge with Channel Fours keeper and the incoming Tiem.
Tiem reached the ball first, albeit by a quarter of second. But in rushing his clearance, he inadvertently plowed it into the shins of the striker, who couldn’t believe his luck, as from a few yards out, it bounced back into the net, much to the chargrin of the flummoxed Channel Four defence.
Much like the week before, Channel Four dominated possession well in spells, and there is certainly hope and opportunity present in their current tactical set-up.
However, if Gyde is to turn his side into a team of champions, he will have to insist upon urgency from the get-go, adjust to the fluctuating tempo of 7-a-side football and instil a squad-wide aggression and positional awareness in an attempt to disrupt opposition attacks but also to reduce ‘unlucky’ circumstances from destroying good, attacking football which no doubt, this team is capable of.
