Relax, this is my last OV match report on the Breakers! Sorry don't get your hopes up! ie. because the next two weeks will be live reports, on the Breakers! Suffer!
Referee: Matthew Breeze (8/10) , one of the Asst. Refs- 'our' Peter Miller - on the other side from the cameras so we got some good shots of you Pete!
The night started clear, but it was a night of the mis(sed)t. Shots missed, shots not missed, and just plain mist! Swancott got an early touch of the ball and at 2 mins the Breakers are pushing up well, but Ironside is indecisive and the resulting corner is not up to Halpin's standard. Lowe becomes involved, and puts it to Sprod who places it over the bar! (A miss) The Breakers spend the next 10 mins camped in the Marconi half, with shots from Lowe and Zane, NB pressuring well (not, Bertie Mariani, pressurized - Francis Awaritefe at 200 lbs per sq inch - I'd like to see that!) and then Harper manages to get up front and up the other end but misses. Hristodoulu (?)ahh E.H.- takes a free kick that flies over the bar, and Marconi are on their way back, with E.H. over again!
'Teach' (A.H.) heads across the face of goal, and the Breakers regain their composure. Halpin's free kick on the edge of the box at the left is cleared away and Maloney at the other end puts it over. Newcastle pressure and close down quickly, frustrating Marconi (just as they had at Bossley Park in December but didn't put the goals in as well). Tonight will be different I know it! They still couldn't make that last pass the telling one. Marconi break away and Harper's cross superbly taken by young Swancott (I wonder how the YL are doing without him?) There is end to end stuff for the next 10.
Harper brings down Sprod, and then a free kick to the Breakers shortly after brings Halpin to the ball again. This time he flights a nice little lob straight to Ironside in the box. The ball is so great (Okon, Zelic, and Halpin in midfield?) that even Robbie can't miss - he doesn't and from his head drills it into the hemp. Marconi look like horse dung at this point - all over the park! Lowe goes close but at the break it is 1-0
After the Sturm und Drang (?) from Herr Schaeffer in the change rooms Marconi look sharper, and look also to Foster who has come on for E.H. Maloney receives from Foster and not having been picked up by someone, anyone (missed) he scores. 1-1
The will o' the wisp and his mate the screeming banshee in the swamp next to the Breakers stadium are so affronted by this scoreline that they send a thick mist sweeping up over the Rowdies, whose usual hot air sends it on its way down onto the pitch.(The mist!) Matthew Breeze hasn't any, so holds up play for 4 mins to see if it can get as thick as in the old dart. No, so play goes on. Marconi are on top now and looking for the lead. NB keep very tight at the back, with Austin, Pryce, and Mcmanus getting back their understanding.
By the 70th min. the Breakers come back and when Lowe wins a freekick you could sense things were looking up. Halpin gets to the line, slips the marker as the ball rolls along it, whips the ball to Pryce who heads sweetly into the netting (the back of variety). 2-1. 3 mins later beautiful work by Halpin losing Zoric, slips it to Zane who bounces it to Lowe. In! 3-1. 2 mins later Casserley at last gets a pass in and Harper heads in with Swancott left unsupported. 3-2. Play restarts and Scottie Thomas comes on for Sharpley (72 mins) - and we may ask why he was off as he immediately sparks attacks. A corner on the right and Austin just has to walk in one of those Halpin pin-point kicks! 4-2. Longo tries out his elbow on Zane's head and looks surprised when he is walked by Breeze. Harper realises that all is nearly lost and makes a great run which Swancott smothers bravely. Now at the 83 min. Lowe gets free on the left, and puts a well weighted on the deck cross just out of Pogliacomi's reach and Halpin says 'thank you! 5-2.
At this point OV shows a great aerial shot of Rui Melo's noggin, along with the other Rowdies who are going f***'in mental! Who can blame them - I was too! Pogliacomi gets a good workout as the Breakers try to redress their goal difference, but the last action of the game is a great save by Swancott who pushes the scorcher onto the bar and over!
Best: Without a doubt 'Mr Freekicks' himself - Troy Halpin, also for Newcastle - Pryce, amd Lowe (with commendation to Sprod). As for Zane and Ironside, well there's always the NSW Super duper league for you next year I've heard rumoured! Marconi: Harper, Maloney, Zoric.
Am I stoked or what! Hey Rui have a few for me too at the Austral Sports club! If only we could play like that every week, for 93 mins, we would be in the top 6 no sweat! There's always next year! Watch out South Zagreb Pumas we're coming to King Tom to swamp you next week! UTS your RS the week after!