R1 Match Report: East Gosford vs 45A2

The 45A2’s kicked off their campaign by travelling to a very soggy James Browne oval to face SEU in our round 1 fixture. Whilst our opponents were new to the comp this season, it became rapidly apparent that this was a team made up of former 35A grade and Premier League players, meaning we were likely in for a tough game. That certainly proved to be the case once the match got underway, although we were able to hold fast for the opening 10 minutes before Southern opened the scoring, with a well worked goal, with them adding a second five minutes later.

Despite this, we had been able to create a couple of good chances ourselves that we sadly couldn’t convert and things got worse shortly after when Yatesy put a cracking header into his own net to extend Southern’s lead further.

Despite conceding a further 3 goals in the first half, we created at least two more clear opportunities for ourselves that we again couldn’t convert, meaning we were six down at the break having also lost Daryl to injury just to add to our woes.

A good honest talk and formation tweak at half time, saw us much more competitive at the start of the second half and we were also continuing to create chances, one of which we were finally able to convert, when Joey got his head onto a clipped free kick from Yatesy to lift our spirits a little. Despite this, Southern continued to create chances repeatedly, scoring a further seven goals to inflict a total flogging on us. Were they good? Yes. Were they 12 goals better than us? Perhaps not and we certainly missed a lot of makeable chances, so the margin should and could have been less and a second OG only added salt to our open wounds. Unavailable players, injury and difficult conditions all contributed to the result but it was still a big shock to lose so heavily. In truth, all the talk about who was in their line-up pre game probably set us up for a fall sadly and we will no doubt give a better account of ourselves next time we meet Southern but it is now going to take us some time to even get back into a positive goal difference, which is bitterly disappointing.

That said, we never gave up and continued to create unconverted chances right to the very end, so that was the biggest positive for us to take away from a difficult experience. MOTM was Craig, who worked his socks off as always and hopefully his glasses will fixed in time for round 2… 😉 The SCROTUM medal went to Andy for his cracking headed own goal, which he will be unlikely better for the rest of the season and at least he and Smiffy are off the nudie run! 😂!”

Final Score: East Gosford 13 bloody 1 Barnstoneworth

Barnie Goals: Joey Weston

MOTM: Craig Northey