Well what a game....

The final score 3-2 barely begins to tell the tale......

Playing PAOC after beating Flinders(league champs), Mercedes (runners up) and Rostrevor (3rd) to make the final we got a crack at PAOC.

The starting lineup was as above.

Bench: Leo Chandiok (fractured rib in semi-final), Sanjit Dhillon, Eric Priebe, Craig Stabler, James, Dan Aiken, Graeme Jackson!

Well things started well with us winning the toss and kicking with the aid of a slight breeze, from the outset though PAOC had much of the play and scored the opener when one of their guys (who used to play FUTSAL at flinders) rounded a couple of defenders and from the edge of the box did just enough to get past Steve.... Down 1-0.

The reply was fast.... The reply was fierce..... 30 seconds after the kick off Campbell tackled the goal scorer on the 1/2 way line, fired a lovely ball up the right wing for Dave who ran on to the ball, out ran his opponent and centred to Steve who put it in past the near post!

There ensued 5 minutes of nothing. PAOC got a long throw at about the 18 yard box, it lands on the tall guys head, he flicks it on to the far corner of the 6 yard box (Steve unmoved in goal) watches an unmarked forward mis-kick the ball into the back of the net.....Down 2-1.

The boys seize control for the last 10 minutes of the half and are rewarded with a goal mouth scramble that lands at Steve T's feet again, easy put away from not far 2-2, we dominate the last minutes of play (3 corners in a row) but can't get a clear shot away.

Half time 2-2.

Coach John is fairly happy with that but wants us to tackle harder in midfield, not jockey so much.

Paul is pushed up front with Richard out on the left. Wesley comes off for Leo.

40 minutes of tough uncompromising soccer, yellow cards to Jan and Dave S, a cracking shot by Paul is well saved and at 70 minutes Campbell comes off for Sanjit.

During this time it rained heavily and there was a fair bit of ugly soccer! well time is ticking away when Leo receives a pass from Shacky just over the 1/2 way line, Paul runs down the middle well off side while Steve crosses the field finding a hole on the left, Leo delivers a beautiful ball... No whistle, Steve runs on well wide and places the ball beautifully across goals and into the net with his left (must have fluked it).....3-2 we're up. As I run back Rob tells me there's 1 minute left..... We hold on desperately and as I tackle one of their guys he brings me down, I hear a whistle, then another..... ITS ALL OVER..... That's it!!!!!

Steve SafTop