Match Report

Azzurri Division 4 League

De La Salle 1 – 0 Crusaders AFC

With the boys in green huffing and puffing their way around Yerevan yesterday evening, the real cultured fans made their way to Williamstown to see some real football. And whilst the early kick off presented a few traffic problems, the squad were present and ready to meet their hosts head-on for 6:30pm. A few even had time to stretch!

The team had a slightly different feel to it, with full backs David Power and John Rockett raiding the wings and covering the flawless Kent and O’Byrne in the middle, with Deep Purple Lawro on goal. Barney and Austin assumed their usual positions in the middle, flanked by the evergreen Duckie and and Duracell Hunty, with target man Dower and physio’s dream Egan up top.

The first half was well balanced, with Crusaders nullifying much of what the home side could manufacture, whilst mainly restricted to shots from distance themselves courtesy of Dower, Hunty and Egan.

As the light started to fade over Williamstown, a few more COYBIG fans managed to make their way to the game to catch the second half. Special mention here to Paul O’Neill, fresh from knee surgery, who ditched the crutches and made his way to the halfway line to support the team. With Dower unfortunately troubled by his Cadbury Flake-like calves once again, and a number of other age-related niggles impacting fitness, Mark, Brian, Ersoy and Norman added “fresh” legs. However, with 15 minutes to go, having looked comfortable up to this point (several saves from Lawro, last ditch O’Byrne tackles and a gymnast-like goal line clearance from Gary Kent aside), disaster struck as De La Salle took the lead with a well worked goal that simply couldn’t have been prevented.

The boys threw everything at the home side for the final quarter hour, but couldn’t claw back the goal. Best effort came from the Rockett, who tested their keeper from 35 yards.