Masters 4: Green Devils

 

P     W    D   L   GF   GA   GD   PTS

18   12    2   4   56    27    29     38   (3rd)

 

15TH AUGUST, RD 18, 4-0 WIN v Parklands Blue; Sth New Brighton

A 'soft day' as they say in Ireland. Misting rain but warm and no breeze made for pleasant playing conditions. Underfoot the pitch was well covered and not boggy at all. We started pretty well with Pete nodding in a header for the opening goal. Then Brian's corner was deflected in with help of Greg and a Parklands player but seeing nether Brian or Greg performed an extravagant goal celebration to the adoring thousands on the terraces we'll have to wait for the goal table to see who is credited with that one. Brad finally nailed one of his zillion chances (well done defenders and midfield for creating them; you can lead a horse to water...). To be fair to Brad their keeper pulled off a couple of blinders including a reflex leg save going the wrong way that everyone thought was in (including probably the keeper) until he somehow managed to get foot to the ball. Still, 3 nil at the break was fair enough.The second half continued in much the same vein with lots of chances created but only one converted - Pete getting on the end of a nice cross from Glynn. Bruce made a couple of good stops to keep the sheet clean. In the last 10 minutes defenders Brent and Simon went up front to try to bag their first 'bread roll' for the season (and win bragging rights that Brad and Pete would never have heard the end of). Both tried valiantly but were unable to put it past the Parklands keeper  - much to our stikers' relief! Thanks to the Douglas family for putting on the beers and BBQ and also for organising this rabble each week. See you all next year for pre-season training (yeah, right).

 

8TH AUGUST, RD 17 2-0 WIN v Waimak Rovers; Linwood Lower Fields

Playing with a brisk sou'easter at our backs in the first half we couldn't covert the opportinities that came our way. Glynn hit the upright and the opposition's central defence and 'keeper did well but we always felt a goal wasn't far away. However it was Wimak who nearly scored when awarded a direct free kick just outside the box. The shot was curling into the far top right hand corner until a brilliant piece of keeping from usual right back Simon saw it pushed wide to safety. With just a couple of minutes to half time Pete finally converted with a header to give us the lead at the break.

 

Into the wind in the second half and we managed to keep the ball on the deck and put some reasonably good moves together. The winner came from a move started by Chris at left back, and with a series of crisp one and two-touch passing the ball was neatly headed in by Glynn after a cross from the right. Football at its finest! Notwithstanding a late goalmouth scramble invloving the crossbar after a corner, all was dealt with pretty effectively by our defence.

 

1ST AUGUST, RD 16, 4-0 WIN v Avon; Linwood Lower Fields

Playing into the sun in the first half we were kept in the game early on by Bruce's good keeping. We got back into it and Andy finished neatly after breaking through on the right. Brad was celebrating a header sailing towards goal that was deflected and rebounddf for Grant to knock home (bad luck Brad). Glynn's goal before half time was all A_ _ E. He's claiming he was aiming for the ball to curl into the top corner of the far post from out wide right on the byline (yeah, right) but we all know it was a cross. Still, it did put us 3 nil up at the break. The advantage of second half sun promptly disappeared and Avon stuck to their task, putting us under pressure but we held, with the help of Bruce a couple of times. We got the balll into their 6 yard box numerous times and had numerous crosses but we just couldn't put them away. Andy finally half-vollyed one in but that was the sum total for the half. Thanks to subs Martin, Andy, Andy and Chris for covering our injuries. We move into 3rd, 3 behind 1923's and 4 behind leaders Amberley with 2 games to go.

 

25TH JULY, RD 15, 5-1 WIN v Waimak Rovers; Warren Park

With the sun at our back we played OK in the first 20 and went a goal up. From there it was pretty ordinary for the rest of the half but we still led 1-0 at the break. The second half was much better and goals to Glynn (dipped in over the keeper), Jonathan (tap in) and a superb strong solo run from Pete had us 5 nil up.

Pete finished with 2 and Brad 1. Unfortunately we couldn't keep the clean sheet and they scored from a corner via a defelection at the near post. Still, 5-1 sees us maintain the pressure on the leading bunch. 

 

18th JULY, RD 14, 3-0 WIN v Tech Blue; Ensors

Bright sunshine greeted the players for another of the in-house derbys. Blue (or the Ex Presidents as they like to be known) were sitting bottom of the league but they lifted magnificently and their performance does not reflect their position on the table. The Devils, perhaps expecting to score, rather than taking the right options, could not find the back of the net. True, we hit the post, the crossbar, shot high, shot wide. With  more clinical finishing and better option-taking we could have easily been 6 or 7 up at the break; however it was nil nil.

 

With 20 minutes to go and frustration levels rising it was still scoreless. The defence was holding pretty well but the goal was proving elusive. Finally after some good work down the left by Glynn the ball found Brad who headed in. Pete and Brad added again, with the forwards finally staying patient and stringing together passes. The defence of Tony, Brent, Nev, Glen and Simon (plus Glynn in goal iin the fiirst half) kept a clean sheet.

 

11th July, RD 13, 3-3 DRAW v Amberley; Avon Park

We faced top of the table Amberley for the first time ths season after having to default in Round 1. Prior to yesterday they had lost just once and drawn twice. For once we started well, with Jonathon and Simon working a nice move down the right to put Mark in position to shoot from just inside the box. The keeper barely moved as the ball tucked inside the far post. Amberley struck back not long afterwards when a free kick cleared our defence and their striker was unopposed for the header past Glynn. A tense battle ensued with a clear handball giving Tony the penalty to make it 2-1 Devils. Tech rammed home the advantage when Colin's deft skills in the corner saw him cross to Pete who volleyed home for 3-1 up at the break.

 

The second half was a ding-dong battle with both sides keen to get the points. Tech could have got the 3 goal break on two occasions; with Brad and Tony working hard against a very physical defence, but each time the ball slid just past the far post with the keeper seemingly beaten. Our defence was tight at the back and clearing well and with 15 minutes left we were still 3-1 up. However Amberley's good defence and seeming mid-field dominance paid off and they were rewarded with a well taken goal to put them back within one with 10 minutes remaining (on everyone's watch except the man in the middle). Tech looked to have the winning of it with sterling defence from the back 4 and good support from Glynn and midfielder Mark. Past the 92 minute mark Tech cleared again but the ref gave his team one more chance after saying "30 seconds to go" about 3 times in the last 3 minutes. The goal came in the 93rd minute and the ref promptly called time. We were gutted and know we were the better team on the day and we will claim the moral victory. Another good turnout at the clubrooms afterwards.

 

4th July v Parklands Blue CANCELLED

 

27th June, RD 12, 4-3 WIN v Christchurch United; Ensors

A great result again against United who were sitting 2nd. We've now inflicted 2 of their 3 losses for the season. It didn't start well though when we conceded an early goal and then a second put them 2 nil up midway through the first half. A penalty from Tony and a well taken shot from Mark across the keeper put us even but then a penalty to United saw them go to the break 3-2.

Brad evened it up early in the second half to set up a thriller finish. Some outstanding defence from Brent and Tony in the back plus a couple of good saves from Glynn kept us in it. Paul had a couple of great digs from midfield that just curled wide. Then with only a couple of minutes to go the ball got to Pete who, from a very acute angle near the byline on the right, somehow managed to hook the ball back across his left shoulder and beat the keeper for the 'miracle' winner. Another good turnout at the clubrooms and we won 5 prizes on the chocolate wheel. A great day for the Devils.

 

20th June, RD 11, 3-3 DRAW v Tech 1923s; Linwood Lower Fields

A rollercoaster of a game that had it all: plenty of goals, plenty of intensity and plenty of blood! 23s scored first after just a few minutes when Thierry made a cutting run from the left. The Green Devils settled down and got into their game and 2 very well constructed goals to Brad put us up 2-1. We should have gone 3-1 up but Tony's penalty hit the post with the keeper beaten and diving the wrong way. Unfortuntaely 23s managed a goal right on half time to go to the sheds 2-2. Thierry scored a nice header after getting in behind the defence to put the 23s up 3-2. Then a while later with Thierry again going for a header and with eyes only for the ball and looking right into the sun he clocked himself a good one right into the upright. Blood everywhere and the game was held up for 10-15 minutes while we tried to stop the bleeding of the cut at the top of his nose. Hope he's OK (an ambulance arrived to check him over), but he won't be a pretty sight this week. The Devils dominated from there but frustratingly couldn't convert until the final minute when a quick ball played from Glynn at GK to Simon at right back  saw him chip forward to Brian at right wing who crossed first time for Pete to gather and slot home the equaliser. Probably a fair result but we thought we had the winning of it.

 

13th June, RD 10, 4-1 WIN v Nomads; Ensors

A pretty competitive first half that took us 15 minutes to really get into gear, but once we did the attacks started flowing. We blasted high and wide a few times before good work down the right saw Douglas strike true. 1 up at half time but the game still in the balance. The second half saw the goals come: to Jonathan, Pete and ?. Colin and Brian and Jonathan were creative in the centre, Tony and Brent were strong at the back and Douglas played a wee gem at right half. Pete finished off up front. 4 nil up (and there could have been more) but they scored with 10 to go to mar the clean sheet.

 

6th June, RD 9, 3-0 WIN v Parklands Black; Parklands Reserve

Close to the perfect game: 3 nil up at the break with the wind; and held them out against the wind in the second half. With the Southerly threatening we started out with a more settled looking formation. Parklands had some tall solid timber up front and another skillful forward and were sitting 3rd on the ladder so they were always going to be more than a handful. We managed to stem their early threats and midway through the half Pete had a poke from about 35m out and the wind carried it over the keeper's head into the back of the net. This rattled them and we pushed forward more often; a goalmouth pinball game resulted in a scrambled 2nd and we lifted again. Now our passing game really got into gear. Winning the ball from the back we worked it up through the midfield, down the left and crossed for Pete (I think) to slot home - 3 nil up at half time from a beautifully constructed goal. Could we hang on against the wind? Yes and though we had to survive a few corners they could not manage a serious shot on target. We did well on the counter but their keeper prevented 2 certain goals through great reflex saves. A great all round team effort and Grant played a blinder in a sweeping midfield role.

 

30th May RD 8, 1-3 LOSS v Avon; Avonhead

Sunny and no wind but our football did not match the fine conditions. We didn't have our full bench and Nev started in goal with Brian in the backline. We were down a goal very early on and 2 down before 10 minutes was up - both due to defensive errors. Some positional changes helped but Avon managed to find a 3rd midway through the half. We manged to pull one back when Brian, now in his more accustomed midfield role, found the near post from the left. It was an ugly first half from us though (we kicked a lot of ball away) and half time came as a relief. Having only 1 sub, and some of us carrying the usual aches, pains and lack of fitness, made for a pretty tough 2nd half. We hung in though and managed to keep Avon from scoring but they did threaten down the middle fairly consistently. Tony's penalty hit the crossbar and a delightful flick from Pete just cleared it. Simon's late shot was cleared off the line but it was Avon's day; they fully deserved the win.

 

23rd May v Waimak Rovers CANCELLED 

 

16th May, RD 7: 7-2 WIN v Tech Blue; Ensors

Blue came out with the sun and Nor'Wester at their backs and soon had the Devils down a goal. A penalty neatly taken by Tony brought it back level and another one (Tony again) put the Devils ahead. But Blues showed fine spirit to drive down the guts and get one back. Before half time the Devils found another and were up 3-2. Simon came out of goals to wing back for the 2nd half and there was more structure in central midfield. The Devils totally dominated the second half with more disciplined football. Greg was dangerous down the right, Tony and Brent solid at the back and Glynn, Brad, Brian and Jonathon all creative. Pete showed his finishing class with a hat- trick. Must give credit to the Blues keeper who made many fine saves to keep the scoreline from completley blowing out.

 

9th May, RD 6: DEF v Amberley

With 3 out injured and 3 more unavailable we were unable to field a team against Amberley this week.

 

2nd May,  RD 5: 4-0 WIN v Parklands Blue; Linwood Lower Fields

We were missing Brian and Glen (and Tony for the 1st half) but Pete was back up front with Brad, Neville was there and new boy Mark made a fine fist of the keeping 'caper. Against the wind in the first half we won the early exchanges and cut the Parklands defence to shreds. Simon made a telling tackle in the area when Parklands were clear for their only threat on goal in the first half. With the breeze at our backs in the second half we had visions of cranking up the goal difference but a couple of minor injuries kept Jonathon and Simon off and though Brent, Tony and Glen were all solid at the back and Colin creative in midfield we couldn't convert the chances that came our way up front. Pete got a brace of goals and Greg and Jonathon one a piece. 4 nil could have been more but we'll take it and travel to Amberley next week.

 

25th April, RD 4: 4-3 WIN v Christchurch United ; Spreydon Domain
The Devils convened on Saturday with a tough ask ahead of them; grabbing 3 points from early pacesetters Christchurch United at Spreydon.

The first half was a tight affair, and the Green Devils’ stand-in keeper Grant made a few handy saves. Midway through the half there was an almighty collision between striker Brad, and the United keeper and one of his defenders as all 3 had eyes only for the ball and all 3 lay motionless afterwards. It’s amazing no one was seriously hurt and all played on. Late in the half, as United became increasingly frustrated, Greg made a scything pass through to Brad who held off a defender before slotting home on the near post. A late goal to United made it 1-1 at the break.

With the wind picking up and favouring United the Devils defence was tested and a nice turn and shot from the United striker put them ahead 2-1. However the Devils were not about to lie down and with 3 goals in the space of 10 minutes took the game by the scruff of the neck. The first was a penalty coolly put away by Tony. The second was a through ball that Mark (against the odds, I’m told by some) chipped over the keeper with great composure. The third was from a Glynn corner that curled in with the help of some part of someone’s body. 4-2 to the Devils. A late defensive error saw a scrambled goal that kept the game alive for the last 10 minutes. The Devils held out and grabbed the away win.
 

 

18th April, RD 3, 0-2 LOSS v Tech 1923s, Linwood Lower Fields

 The Green Devils played with guts and determination but in the end fell to a '23s team that dominated the midfield for longer periods. The Devils didn't create many chances in the first half but stout defence held out the dangerous 23s strike pair - nil nil at the break.

 

The second half saw the Green Devils create a few more chances and stirling work from Mark on the left kept attacking chances coming. It was still scoreless after 75 minutes and the looks on the 23s faces told you they were mighty worried that the upset looked on. However they then took one of their chances and breathed easier. The Devils pushed players forward in an all out effort to grab the equaliser and conceded a late second goal for the final scoreline.

 

RD 2: 3-0 WIN v Nomads

RD 1: 1-3 LOSS v Parklands Black