It is quite cute being able to count cows while queueing for the loos at a national soccer league match. At least we didn't didn't get eaten by mosquitos from the swamp this year.
Wolves were wretched. Played like they all had a virus. None of their usual touch. Ceccoli hasn't hit the ball properly since he Monroed his hair. Even Matt Horsley had his boots on the wrong feet. No string of one-touch passes this week.
The Australian and British Soccer Weekly picked Perinich, the first goal scorer, as player of the match. He deserved that for his tireless running the previous week, but against the Breakers ...
His goal was provided by David Huxley, who fought back after losing a tackle. And that was typical of his game all night. And for most of this season. He fought. The only Wolves player who played anywhere near his potential.
Sure, Brodbeck was busy. But you begin to wonder about a keeper that fists away so often.
Ironside's goal was a typical Wolves concession (not to deny the Breakers a deserved respectable scoreline; they were on the front foot for much of the game), the Wollongong defence looking everywhere and kicking at everything but not seeing or kicking the ball in the goal mouth scrap (I hate it when Wolves' opponents get corners!). In this case Souris looked up when the ball fell down. Ironside had an easy shot well beyond an unsighted Brodbeck.
Surjan, who took a good second goal from a free kick outside the area after Chipperfield crumbled under a soft tackle, would have been a real star if he'd had a bit more dip on another free kick in the second half. Swancott had no hope.
But really Newcastle had more chances. I suspect the Wolves could have put more into it if the Breakers had equalised (perhaps they were thinking of the possibility of a harder midweek game against Adelaide City). But it was hardly worth the trip out of town. Even to see them win.