It was raining yesterday until early afternoon and I was feeling a little depressed about that. It was a lovely fine Brisbane night at about nine o'clock but I was feeling even worse by then. We found our parking area quite well occupied by six o'clock, so the portents for a decent crowd were there. We handed out the Free Kick, and all 1000 were distributed with 20 minutes to go to kickoff and the stand seemed pretty full. with quite a few fans occupying both ends of the ground too, but if the crowd number was announced during the game, I missed it. In any case, we were well set up to at least consolidate our second position on the table and entertain and convert the improving numbers turning up, despite the local press virtually ignoring us still, into regular attendees. We failed on the first count, and possibly on the second too, more unfortunately. We shall see.
The kickoff was delayed not for TV commitments (though one could be forgiven for expecting second v third clash to be the C7 preference, instead of their obsession with Northern Spirit and South Melbourne who feature every weekend), but by lots of young girls marching, many carrying Australian flags, perhaps in support of Frankie and the lads on Tuesday, so we started ten minutes late. There was still some evidence of the Great Sandy Desert out on the flanks, but the surface was very good and could not be blamed for what was to transpire as the game progressed. For almost the full 90 minutes the STRIKERS seemed to be incapable of holding the ball for more than two passes, and in a commendable pre-Christmas spirit, presented the Newcastle players with gift after gift. Time and again our fullbacks would admirably break up a Newcastle attack, our midfield and forwards would properly assume something was on and move up to be left stranded as the ball out either was played directly to an opponent or supplied insecurely to one of ours to be lost again. I doubt we even retained possession from a solitary throw in all the game, and, apart from a couple of good throw outs, the keeper's hoofed long balls were lost invariably, but they just kept coming. We seemed sluggish and somehow not up for it.
Even Fernando was uncharacteristically quiet all night, new man McQuilter seems to have added no pace to the back four and the usually reliable McKain and Steffo were amongst the worst culprits of the ball largesse we were showing to the United players. Newcastle seemed to be first to the ball, pacier and it was one of those frustrating games where your side just never seems to get the lucky bounce or pick up the deflected ball. Despite all that we did manage to string together some patches of nice football and one such move involving about four lovely passes resulted on Fossie nodding in a class goal. At half time I thought it was the best goal we had scored in the worst half of football we had played. You can't hand over the pill all night without suffering and, sure enough, we ended up with Griffiths one on one with Kearton for them to equalize.
One all at the break, and Declan said it was a relief to get that bad half of football out of the way. Sorry to say, that until the last ten minutes or so, another similar half followed. Just the same frustrating pattern, and just the same outcome. Another, and winning goal, to the visitors when Masi had his revenge on our singing "It's just like watching Fiji" earlier by finding the narrowest of gaps between Kearton and his near post from a fairly sharp angle. It was good, powerful low shot, but I expect Jason may have thought he had that angle covered. Kossie used his three subs, but it wasn't until young Drake came on yet again that we showed any spark. I also thought our physical fitness started to show at the end too, and we were quite dominant in the run up to the final whistle, but Newcastle, to their credit, rebuffed all we had on show and took away those points that we so dearly needed. One thing that may friend Jim pointed out (again) is that we don't seem to have developed anything new at set pieces, particularly corners.
We have not learnt that just sticking them over isn't getting us anywhere match after match. With squad training twice a day now, isn't this an area where we should be showing improvement? I think our players will acknowledge that they have a good set of genuine supporters. We increased the volume after each Newcastle goal, encouraged them to the very end and it was good to see the team, though beaten after a bad night at the office, still came over to salute the fans. Well done lads, we are with you all the way. I have to say I did not like leaving the game with that old feeling in my heart. I didn't think Newcastle were all that crash hot either which made it worse, but if we don't get back on track I can see the bubble being at some risk and the fickle Brisbane supporters drifting away again.
Come on you Hoops!!