An unusually hard south pitch was the scene of the whites well deserved victorious end to the season. With the visitors chasing shadows, relying on a rare goalkeeping error to make it onto the score sheet, a better result could not be wished for. Goals from two of the most consistent performers in the team this year (in Anthony and Wez), made it a fitting finale to an overall encouraging year for the B's.

From the start of the game it was clear that the visitors had no ball skills to speak of and were going to rely on physicality to try and force a result. The hard conditions meant that ball control was a problem for both teams, but especially the Whites who rely on passing the ball to feet. After about 15 minutes of ping-pong football, the call came from the ever commanding crab to "take the hit, and get the ball on the floor!" Once that happened, the game changed in its complexion, suddenly, the whites were making chances. Tim Lev came close, twice testing the diminutive Immanuel keeper with volleys from the edge of the area.

The breakthrough came when a long ball came in from the centre and the Immanuel centre-half swung at it and missed. Long kept his cool and kept going despite the shouts of offside. Unselfishly, he cut the ball back for Anthony who placed the ball into the top right corner. The home side's domination was confirmed when Anthony met a well placed corner by Long to loop his header into the same corner as his first. For the first time in the year, the whites got into half time with more than a single goal lead.

The second half promised to be more of a procession than a match. The visitors made little attacking impression. They got a lifeline when a speculative cross/shot from the right was dropped across the line by Dan, probably out of boredom more than anything else. This threatened to make the result in doubt, these fears were heightened by the four tactical and enforced substitutions made within a 10 minute span.

The whites of the beginning of the season would have crumbled, losing their shape at the first opportunity. This would not be the case on this of all days. Great performances from everyone including the subs made life difficult for Immanuel whose midfield ran out of legs as the warm afternoon progressed. Wez sealed the deal with about a quarter of an hour left after some persistent play from the left. The keeper could only parry his first shot back into his path, the whites number 4 made no mistake from the follow up.

It could have been worse for Immanuel, Anthony missed a couple of opportunities late on to kill them off, but it didn't matter, their spirits were broken, the doves would not be flying on this day.

MannyTop

in what was a surprise for most who turned up to witness this turgid dead rubber at the end of the season, baxter turned up on time and sunny looked fresh after another night driving $12 hookers around town til 6am that morning. it was clear however that the objectives of football had been overlooked prior to kickoff as both teams for the most part of the first half served up a veritable shitfest of error laden, schoolboy, softcock football.

aspin looked like he'd spent the previous night speaking turtle, while kev was at one stage seen on his mobile asking freddy to rescue him from his own nightmare. alberton got booked and mo was apparently celebrating Ramadan - comme ci comme ca mon ami.

at half time the sausages looked as good as they'd ever been and while anthony and wez soaked up the fruits of their previous labour, i could sense that pete duffy was out there, somewhere - searching for a beer.

unfortunately the esky was soon running dry, as was our apparent football ideas factory and apart from a couple of chances created by the hard work of paul and ayden, some determined runs forward near the death by rob, the effervescent running of captain joe, and some good effort despite limited supply by bax, it seemed destined that this game would end up a stinkfest - like two fingers in your own anus, a nil nil draw, a couple of blips.

a disappointing and anti-climactic end for the home fans no doubt, all six of them, but at least it wasn't a loss, and there was always the pub to get to, just as soon as humanly possible.

seeya next season folks!

JonnyTop