Knights Park, Somers St. Crowd: In the SMH '3000' (if you count both feet and a few stray dogs) Referee: E.Brazzale (8/10) Match: 6/10 if you discount the result and go for the goals. Scorers: MK: T Pondeljak (10 - secs that is not mins) and also 25mins, Kelic 40mins, Banini 73min NTB: Pryce 64mins. Breakers team: Swancott, Pryce, McManus (Edwards 73), Wilson (Austin 83) , Ritchie, Ironside, Sprod , Halpin, Lowe, Zane, McGuire (Lane 75). MK: ?
Even as a Breakers supporter I must say it was a real privilege to see the 2nd goal from Tom Pondeljak - a 1st class strike with 1st class vision 'a la Van Basten'. If only we'd had Tom on fire at the MCG last week :-|. Back to that.
On a cool, windy, and what had been earlier damp night the Breakers came to Somers St. with memories of what Tom Pondeljak did to them early on last year at Topper. The nightmare recurred, and double, as from the home kick off a long ball drifted to Pondeljak (TP) on the left and being shadowed by Ritchie he didn't muck around, striking a bobbling shot past Swancott at an acute angle and just ricoched off the right post and backinto the net. 1-0 and this was 10secs into the game.
The Knights now had the luxury of playing from deep and making the Breakers come at them. Which to our credit we did with Didiluca in the Knight's goal smothering a screamer from Zane in about the 9th min. and McGuire relishing a run also was making himself available in the box. The Breakers were putting a lot of pressure on. This is not to say the Knights had pulled back because between 15 - 25mins after McGuire volleyed well but straight at Didiluca, Kelic forced Rithie to cover him on the edge of the box and then a moment of magic. Deak lobbed a long pass over the defence and with the ball bouncing in front of Pondeljak he looked up, saw Swancott taking a few steps forward and slammed the ball 25m diagonally over him into the net. What a goal! Definitely seasons best.
You or I would have the stuffing knocked out of us with that. Pondelajk had another chance but put it over after McManus was caught in possession. To their credit the Breakers graft away looking to turn the tide the other way again. Not to be. A long ball pumped in from the left finds Kelic soaring like one of those aerial ping pongers over Swancott and heads in. 3-0. It is not as if Swanny is having a shocker - he's been very good in fact. At the other end Halpin twice sets Zane up for a try and these are smothered by Didiluca. Half time and the Hvratska chants are out!
The Breakers start the second half pressuring but soon both Marth and Pondeljak have chances which are skied. McGuire can only dribble an effort straight at Didiluca, and TP waltzes through at the other end only to have the attampt cleared by McManus. At last the Breakers get some consolation with a fine header by captain Shane Pryce off a Halpin corner after Didiluca drops the first corner. Matt Lowe send in a lob which Didiluca just palms over. It looked as if another Newcastle goal was possible but then after a scramble in the goal mouth Banini says thanks by slotting it away. 3-0 and ball game.
Benn Lane comes on for McGuire and Edwards for McManus. Why Ironside is still on when he's just taking up space in the middle of the park I don't know. The match became scrappier with turnovers on both sides in the middle of the park. Swancott came out from his area at one stage to display reasonable ball skils and push to ball up and over the sideline. There are three more slight chances for the NTB in my notes but they are done like a dinner again. With Canberra going down 0-8 to the Wolves we better hope we can at least beat them next week! Top 6 bye bye!
Best: NTB - Zane, Swancott, Halpin MK - Pondeljak, Didiluca, Deak.