Round 13 Scotch vs CBC Saturday 26th July 2008 A Grade Scotch 3 - 2 CBC Again we found a way to make it hard for ourselves, but as they say, a wins a win as long as you score more times than you opposition!! And must I say it was an ugly win at that! :o) CBC were a much tougher opponent than expected over the 90 minutes and were physical and fought hard all day and made the most of their chances. We were also lucky on a couple of occasions, when if it wasn't for the quick reflexes of Gazza in goals we could have been under even more scoring pressure. With a different lineup to last week forced upon us we took a little too long to get comfortable, but when we did (2nd half!!) we looked much more in control and could easily have put a few more goals on the board as we squandered several golden chances. We were incredibly flat and unusually unorganized as a whole group in the first half and CBC made the most of this going 1-0 up then 2-1, keeping us chasing for the 1st 45 minutes to find equalising goals. It was 2-2 at the break. When we got our normal organization and work ethic back we flowed better and the front 3 began to look very menacing again. Fergie and Chrissa worked incredibly hard all day in the middle, with Ferg creating many of our forward thrusts and offering of the ball continuously, and often unrewarded. Brent had much more impact on the game when he joined them in the middle of the park and troubled the keeper with several cracking shots. Our defence was much more on top in the 2nd half when they got themselves sorted, and let nothing get through them. Overall an important win to keep us on top, and a good hard scruffy game to get out under our belt. 3 votes: Fergie Ferg 2 votes: Brent 1 vote: Welly B Grade Scotch 1 - 3 CBC At 1-1 with 20 minutes to go it was very disappointing to end up loosing by three. I do however commend the fight that we continued to show and chances we continued to create, however we did not quite have the sharpness to finish enough of them off. Whether it is a fitness issue, a mental issue or an attitude issue, we continue to go to sleep for 15 to 20 minute periods in each game which ends up being our downfall. With a few more A's players returning to the top team in the next couple of weeks, this should strengthen up the B's considerably and if we can keep this team consistent for the remaining 5 rounds we should see some results. Keep the positiveness, support and sociality a major factor at trainings and off of the pitch, and especially on the pitch between each other. There is no room for negativeness, especially in a social club like ours, so for a couple select boys who have shown this and a lack of support for their peers there is no room for this. Results will change when we get our consistency with team selection happening. 3 votes: Toby 2 votes: Paul 1 vote: Stig

Round 12 Scotch vs Rostrevor Saturday 19th July 2008 A Grade Scotch 2 - 1 Rostrevor With the top 6 teams all playing each other in this round, I'm sure every team realised the importance of taking maximum points from their respective clashes, and deservedly we did. It was a game that was probably played out as many would expect, with ROCSC trying to play pretty possessional soccer, and Scotch playing their very direct, quick paced and offensive style to their forward strengths. Overall, ROCSC would have lead the possession stats, but we definitely had the majority and most frequent scoring chances, and if it wasn't for their keeper who pulled off several riper quick-reaction saves, would have seen a couple more go into their net. The game started very evenly, with most of the play for the opening 15 minutes going end to end through the midfield, with no definitive chances. We then went 1-0 up when Welly broke free with his pace and cracked a low shot to the keepers right, who saved very well, but fortunately for us the ball fell to our new recruit Brenton Ilicic who had an easy tap in with his right. We then went 2-0 up 15 minutes later when Welly, following a previous one-on-one and close shot with the keeper, had another one-on-one following some excellent midfield work that split the ROCSC defence and finished low into the corner from just inside the box. We had several more excellent chances, expecially with a couple of tough shots from Brent and Fergie Ferg, with Matty getting more into the game causing havoc down the left. We were also lucky probably not to concede with ROCSC elusive forward Dom putting a close chance narrowly over the bar. 2-0 at the break. The 2nd half was played very similar to the 1st, with Scotch playing direct and ROCSC trying more to hold posession, but not looking overly dangerous. Welly had a couple more good chances, along with a smashing long drive from Ferg, that all had the keeper saving very well. Paps was bizarrely shown two yellows for the same passage of play and sent-off with 15 minutes remaining that meant we were down to ten with ROCSC pushing for the game. Immediately following this the ref blew for a dubious penalty against us, and Dom made the most of it to bring ROCSC back to within a goal. We adjusted well following this with a couple of personnel changes, and saw out the game very comfortably. Geordie, Johnny, Dunsy and Danny were very organised and controlled the back with plenty of conviction again. Fergie and Chrissa ran their hearts out and dominated our play in the middle of the park. Brent was exceptional as our central striker playing a little deeper as a link man, with both Matty and Welly looking dangerous and too much for the ROCSC full-backs to handle all day with damaging runs into the box and plenty of shots between them. Well done boys, an excellent team effort again with consistency shown all over the ground. And with Unley knocking off Merc's, it means we go top!! (Ref's votes:) 3 votes: Brent 2 votes: Welly 1 vote: Fergie B Grade Scotch 0 - 7 Rostrevor Well I guess the score says it all!! :o) A very disappointing day for the B's against a very strong team that we were hoping to show some improvements against. At this stage of the season, we are paying the price for so many changes week in week out, and hence are lacking some midfield and forward leaders that are consistently going to contribute and make an impact. 3 votes: Paul 2 votes: Quento 1 vote: Willy

Collegiate Cup Round 2 Scotch A's vs Westminster Saturday 12th July 2008 Scotch 2 - 1 Westminster In a game that we were obviously expected to win, it was a little closer by the end than we had anticipated and that it really should have been. For a second week in a row we dominated possession, especially in the 1st half, but were unable to make the most of our many excellent chances. The day we do make the most of them we will really trouble the scorers. With Westminster's 1st attack about 20 minutes in, following constant goal pressure from us, they went forward and scored a cracker from the far right into the rear corner. Great goal and it gave our keeper absolutely no chance. We then scored within a minute after the restart with a neat little finish from Welly and another just before halftime following a nice strike by Fergie Ferg. 2-1 at the break, and the second half saw no inspiring soccer by either team and no more goals. Westminster played their game plan quite well with 5 to six in the midfield getting plenty of numbers behind the ball for the entire 90 minutes. This frustrated our 3 midfielders especially and meant most of the game was played over the midfield to our wide players. Both Welly and Matty again had great games and worked tirelessly without a lot of reward. Rooney was his dangerous self and again provided great link work. I felt our defensive line, that was very different today with plenty of forced changes, performed very well and consistently considering the wind and playing the 2nd half into the sun. Gazza was very strong both on and off of his line in goals again, and when called upon two separate occasions with great Westminster chances, was very strong. Overall a frustrating day game-play wise as we struggled to ever get into our normal quick-passing rhythm especially through the midfield, but of course you will take winning ugly any day. Thanks to Westminster for a hard fought day, and best of luck to the remainder of their Div 3 season. (Ref's 3 votes:) 3 votes: Welly 2 votes: Johnny 1 vote: Gazza

Round 11 Scotch vs Sacred Heart Saturday July 5th 2008 A Grade Scotch 2 - 1 Sacred Heart For a long time this fixture has always been a bit of a 'Derby' match for both teams, ever since the tight tussles back in A2's. And again, as with every contest, the score was close and the game was very willing. To be honest we had the majority of the game, especially in the first half, and were desperately unlucky not to have several goals to compliment the early possession that we had. However we found ourselves 1-0 down after a cross that was deflected from a defensive header, with the ball falling to the strikers foot several yards from the line, who slotted it home. 5 minutes later Johnny stepped up to put away his 2nd penalty for the year to make it 1-1 following a handball in the box. Sacred Heart were physical and hard working as ever, and played over their midfield with long balls from the defence for the majority of the game. We got our second with a nice flowing move from Gazza's throwout that ended up finding Matty who is in a rich vein of scoring form, and he cooly slotted home across the keeper. Overall it was a solid performance considering we had several forced changes to the lineup this week and due to injuries during the game also. The defense was solid as normal, our midfield was dominating, and we created ample chances up front to score plenty more. With Uni White doing some great work and holding on to beat Merc's 1-0, we are now 2pts from top. (Ref's votes) 3 votes: Matty 2 votes: Johnny 1 vote: Geordie B Grade Scotch 1 -2 Sacred Heart As with the A's, it was a very close match on the whole, and a match that if we took even a third of our chances we had in the 1st half the game would have been over by half time. However it was 1-1 at the break, and to Sacred Hearts credit the fought well in the second half and played the better soccer leading up to the final whistle. A very disappointing result again for us, especially considering we had so many definite chances. 3 votes: Quinny 2 votes: Toby 1 vote: Chan