Senior Reserves Highs & Lows of Rnd 4

Tuesday, 03 May 2011 21:01

Where to begin..? I write this match report with mixed thoughts, even several days after playing in BMAFC's Senior Reserves' 4-4 draw with undefeated Bucklands Beach at Rogers Park last Saturday.

Beachlands went into the match with confidence and camaraderie on their side, despite a shaky start to the 2011 season in AFF's Division 3. That buoyant feeling translated into a blistering opening 45 minutes on the field, which saw Beachlands totally outplay their rivals and take a 4-1 advantage to half time.

All four goals were scored by in-form striker Matt Woodhead. The first of which came in the opening exchanges: concentration seemingly deserted the Bucklands Beach goal keeper, who let a regulation stop slip right through his hands, then his legs, to cross the goal line.Bucklands Beach struggled to cope with balls played into space behind their defense and Woody continued to capitalise, scoring his second from a quick interchange of passing which began in space on the left side of the field.

The home side got their account opened due to a defensive error from Beachlands which provided their opponents with an unchallenged run at the Beachlands' goal.

Beachlands' fortunes lifted again as Woody netted twice more in the first half courtesy of Justin Irvine who provided firstly a long throw-in, and then a long ball into space from inside the Beachlands' half.

Hearing the half time whistle signalled the end of the Beachlands juggernaut and the catalyst for Bucklands Beach to fire up. However, in fairness to our players it took the home side a good 30 minutes before they cracked the Beachlands defense again. And as Beachlandsnarrowly missed a golden opportunity to seal a victory - cruelly, a penalty shot hit the upright - Bucklands Beach expressed their will to win when a well placed shot was fired beyond our keeper's reach.

Momentum had swung to Bucklands Beach's favour and Beachlands' tight structure began to fray. The home team left their run late, but managed to nail a third shot with 10 minutes to go, and then their equaliser from a poorly contested corner in the shadows of full time.

In repeating an unsettling pattern that has emerged for the Reserves, Beachlands were left to ponder how they had once again failed to run a tight ship in the closing stages of a match.

Notwithstanding the goal conceded, the performance of our lads in the first stanza was very strong, undoubtedly the best football played by the side to date, and offers plenty of encouragement for this weekend's match against Otahuhu United at Te Puru Park (1pm kick off). If our boys can learn lessons in concentration, energy and patience from the highs and lows of the Round 4 clash with Bucklands Beach, they'll certainly develop into a real force in this Division. Having played three of the top four sides in Div 3, time is certainly on our side to progress up the competition ladder.

Come on lads, fire up this weekend at get the three points!