#AA4s v Heffron Hawks 3-1 #DalesTales Sponsored by Steggles – We’re Stegglers for quality
Just how is that cricket square so hard???
So I have established that City of Sydney council have decided that the best way to protect its pitches from apocalyptic rainfall is to cover half the playing surfaces with concrete! Seriously, just what is the middle of the Reg made from and why don’t they use it to make airplanes as it’s surely the strongest substance known to man!
Anyway, on to the football. Despite having just 13 players, 2 of which were returning from long term injury, this was the week before the storm of having more players go the European Bottle Throwing Championships in France and as such was a vital fixture for the #Steggles AA4s in their quest to catch Coogee at the top of the table.
A few minor positional tweaks saw Andy Morris occupy the enganche role, Simon Boterill the deep lying playmaker position and Shane Butler the ball winning midfielder (can anyone tell I have just “acquired” the new football manager). The game was due to start at 11am however the lack of a referee meant that the start was delayed until negotiations were completed with Richie Evans……..a small sum of cash and some Tooheys New in case you are wondering.
Typically for the AA4s, the game started quietly with many supporters being able to hear a pin drop as both teams looked to assert themselves in the clash. The vital breakthrough came midway through the first half when David Lynes (surprise surprise) stepped up to convert a penalty sending the keeper the wrong way following a handball from a Heffron defender.
Dave doubled the lead not long after with a superb left footed strike across the keeper on the angle which was just what we had practised in training…….Dave had not been at training!!
They say in football that 2 nil is a dangerous lead and so it proved as Heffron were inspired to get back into the game and Dunbar seized playing the patient possession based football which up to this point had had them easily in control of the match. A penalty was awarded when a Heffron striker had forgotten he was playing football and instead was trying his best to qualify for the Olympic Diving Team. I’m not sure if he qualified but he certainly won a penalty which was duly slotted away making the half time score 2-1.
Now, where some teams would crumble, Dunbar stood strong and started the second half well. Heffron were reduced to not a lot, with any shots failing to trouble the Dunbar goal but saw those walking their dogs often running for cover, the odd cross that was well dealt with and freekicks that merely served as restarts of play. Dunbar grabbed their third goal which was just rewards for their total dominance when Jason Button passed into an empty net after some excellent work from the Dutch Maestro Lennart Van Zeelst. The award of the goal was much to the disappoint of Heffron who decided that hounding the stand in referee was the way to get the decision changed before having a quiet word with skipper Simon.
The game passed without further incident. We were happy to welcome back Scott Sadler to the team 7 weeks after being told he would be out for the season and Crowey came on for 10 minutes showing that his calf will stand up to the rigours of running from the Russians in France.
All in all another satisfying victory and with Coogee drawing with the Loko boys, the task of catching the lads in black and white may have just become a little more interesting.
PUB WATCH:
– Steph Allerdice scored
– Steph Allerdice is still smiling
– Tom drunk tequila
– Tom was cut off