December 1, first day of Summer and our game versus the Sydney Strikers. Summer in Brisbane certainly lived up to its billing - it had been stinking hot and humid all day, and didn't really cool a lot by the time the match started at the customary five minutes past seven.
Our parking spot over the creek was well populated and I thought we could be in for a big crowd, but I think it was because we arrived a bit late, as I don't think we broke any records last night.
There had been a lot of chat about the home coming of the players who had abandoned ship during the intraseason crisis at the club. Some thought of them as money grabbing traitors and others accepted their move as a pragmatic response to a potential career threatening situation. Fans do tend to respect loyalty, though and there was a degree of hostility towards Bolton, and North and Packer and Crawley and Srhoj and Phillips and Harris and......... You can see what I mean. Throughout the night there were songs and chants averring to this - "We're better since you left" "Money, money money down the dunny in Olympic's world" the old fashioned "What a waste of money" and a bit of general hostility towards the ex-STRIKERS in general. All this punctuated by lots of Monopoly money being distributed to the breeze.
I don't know if it was the heat or the niggling from the fans, but the game was fairly willing and after about half an hour Carne was red carded by Ms Hulot to the general approval of the supporters who gave him a nice "Cheerio" following a bit of argy bargy involving all 22 players. Things settled down then and the game became a tough but generally clean spectacle. I thought Olympic had a very slick passing gamewith good pace and looked as good as any side I've seen this season. We were probably lucky they were down to ten man for so long, because they did threaten all the game. Jason Kearton (who "can't be beaten") was busy and did well on several occasions. Eventually, soon after a terrible mix up in the Olympic defense involving a back header looping over Bolton and tantalizingly dribbling against the post, we scored a scrappy goal - but a goal nevertheless. "One nil to the STRIKERS" was the song. Olympic continued to cause us problems, and in an almost comic scramble in our goalmouth a rebound looped up and the ball hit the bar to prevent another own goal. One nil at half time and I think we all felt we needed the insurance of a second goal
Pretty soon into the half, we should have had one. A very fair penalty was awarded to the home team, but utterly squandered. I have always liked to see the old fashioned net buster from the spot as I think you take a real risk in trying to out guess the keeper's intentions with a gentle side footer. This one was eased down the middle on the assumption Bolton would go one way or the other. He did not, and it looked very poor. I suppose if he had "gone" we might have though how clever it was. As a result we were on tenterhooks right down to the Olympic corner, with Bolton doing a Schmikes, in the very last minute. I wonder if Fernando is fully fit? He didn't impose himself as he has in the past and was subbed off with young Drake again coming on and showing he is all class. Another great young prospect from the Queensland production line and potential target for Sydney Olympic in the future. Leave our kids alone!!
There seemed to be very little added on time at the end and the final whistle sounded sooner than I had expected, and we had won. We have played better this season and I expect we will again, but it's always nice to head home with three points under the belt.
One little thing that really upsets me is the lack of variety in our corner kicks. Kossie, can't we have a short variation? It draws defenders away from the congested box whether you actually employ it or only threaten to. Just now there is a great predictability and very little product, and we do win quite a few every game.
The most amusing sight of the night to me was that of half a dozen burly security men rushing out at the end to escort the officials to the side line where the only folk sitting were the players and hangers on of both teams. I don't know what the perceived threat might have been, but it seemed an unlikely one.