We had a lovely weather pattern in Brisbane yesterday. It started cold and overcast and by four o'clock it was cold and absolutely bucketing down. The bottom of our street was flooded as I made my way to O'Leary's where there was quite a sizable gathering tucking into free pizza and wedges - but, at least as long as I was there, not singing in the rain.
The rain eased for the walk down to the ground and was, of necessity up to the loft again. Much sparser population (I never did hear the crowd size - and couldn't guess due the inclement conditions) which is just what the club needs after making the main headline on the front page of that day's Wail with a story of impending financial doom. To my recollection, it is only the second time we have achieved that dubious honour. Strangely enough, the topic wasn't discussed too much and mostly dismissed as ani-football journalism. I hope that's so!
The teams came out to somewhat subdued response, and after missing a chance in the first minute, the STRIKERS remained subdued for the rest of the match. Gippsland won a tactical battle by playing four up front and marking tightly until what seemed an inevitable goal from a good header from a free kick mid first half, than all getting behind the ball and marking tightly until the end. Despite that, the Falcons remained dominant even though they looked a poor side and managed to hit the bar once just before half time. I think the STRIKERS made one chance in that half.
During half time there were pessimistic mutterings about bubbles bursting, but I expected Kossie to liven them up a bit and hoped he would pull Ditton who, IMHO, was having a shocker in mid field. He didn't and the STRIKERS didn't liven up until the last futile five minutes. All through the game, the little flicked headers and deft touches into the box which have paid off so well all season to date just didn't come off, primarily down to good, clean tight marking from Gippsland and the poor reading or inaccuracy of those nudges from us. About ten minutes from the end, half the Banana Army decided to head down to the fence to "Go off", so our vocal power, already stifled by disappointment, was further.
We sang "Happy Birthday" to the Mad Bull all the match, "We're broke and we know we are" and "Meredith, Meredith, you've grown hair, but we don't care, Nicky Meredith!" apart from some of the now standard repertoire. All in all, apart from the game I saw in TV against Sydney United, the worst STRIKERS performance this year. We had been beaten by a not very good side and, with Olympic away next and our now lying third on goal difference (possibly fourth if Glory win today) that bubble may well have a very attenuated point on it's surface.
Came home to a miserable wet night and no interest in the FA Cup whatsoever :-((.