Weekenders put on their most valiant and gutsy display so far this season against defending champions Marist Celtic. Weekenders went in to the game again missing keeper Kinnerley. He was replaced by injured Scott Allan. This saw Regan Leslie step in to partner Jamie Wilsher at centre back. Knowing this was going to be a tough matchskipper Kane Thomas even made a pre-match speech. Early on in the game however it looked like it was going to be a long day at the office. A couple of defensive errors were punished as Marist took a 2 goal lead. Hopefully the leason is learned by all, you cant dally with the ball at the back, it must be cleared straight away. A slight change in formation seemed to shore things up, with Geoff Smith and Leslie switching positions. From here the Weekenders rallied. For the remainder of the match they chased and harrassed the faster and fitter Marist all across the park. Although there wasnt a lot of attacking thrusts by Weekenders they didnt go down without a fight. Time and again Marist came up against a wall of determined defence. And on any occasion they did break through keeper Allan was there to keep Marist at bay.
With the score at 2 nil at half time Weekenders were given a boost of confidence. They knew that if they didnt keep up their high work rate they would be punished. Playing in to a strong breeze in the second half, Weekenders through themselves in to another 45 mins of toil. It appeared to be rewarded when, after 15 passes and the best move of the game, Peter Ellicott cut the ball back across the box for Zeb Small to put it away. But no, it was given as offside in a controversial decision. At 2-1 it would have been game on, but as has happened so often this season Weekenders were on the rough end calls. Thomas then savagely brought down the Marist captain in the box, Musa pointed straight to the penalty spot. Keeper Allan athletically dived to his left saving the initial shot before Thomas, who was following in like a Great White going in for a surfer, scrambled the ball away for a corner. Marist Celtic stepped up and attacked in wave after wave, but were thwarted by the Mighty Weekenders. Defenders stood strong, and didnt go to ground. Marist did however sneak through for a late goal to make the score 3 nil.
The Weekenders should be proud of their efforts against the highly fancied opposition. Marist were getting frustrated by their inablilty to break Weekenders spirit. If the Weekenders play with this much fight and steel every week they will start getting results they deserve, especially in the second round.
MOM
3 - Scott Alla
2- Kane Thomas, Peter Ellicott, Jamie Wilsher
1- Mike Hogan
Mentioned in Despatches
Geoff Smith, Brad Muirhead, Tarf Pohio
Results
Cosmos 2 v City Development 4
Castlecliff 2 v Collegiate 1st XI 4
Cosmos Classics 1 v Hammers 3
Braves 10 v Marist Casuals 3
Thirstys 3 v Collegiate 3
