Round 20: Thomastown Devils (2) vs North Geelong Warriors (1)
A disappointing night with both the reserves and the seniors losing in tough encounters.
The Friday night fixture is always difficult travelling across Melbourne’s northern suburbs to get there on time is challenging enough. The reserves were gallant but just didn’t have enough on the day to go down 3 – 1.
In seniors action the tension in the crowd was obvious from the get go. Win and the Warriors are virtually assured a spot in Div 1 in 2010, lose or draw and the gate opens fro Thomastown. A huge travelling crowd in attendance from Geelong with over 100 of the Warriors faithful venturing out to will their team to a win, but it wasn’t to be. To Thomastown’s credit they didn’t rush into decisions and waited for mistakes to form for which to pounce upon.
In the first half a very tight affair, with neither team getting the ascendancy and neither keeper really tested. Thomastown had a ploy, which was to upset the ball carriers and give away free kicks in non-dangerous areas. This working as the usual pass and move style wasn’t working out. Captain Mijo Trupkovic was booked early on for a challenge which most wouldn’t pay; however the tone was set. Early half chances fell to Kuna and Demo but Thomastown were resilient to not show clear paths to goal. The half ended 0 – 0 with everything to play for.
In second half action it was the Warriors with the early ascendancy but weren’t able to capitalise on the final ball, with 3 crosses in the box not being met by the attackers. Demo was being played out of the match all night and just couldn’t get enough space to work his way to goal. Kuna to his credit was offering plenty but without enough support. Thomastown jumped to action and were finding spaces behind North’s flankers. They too wasted several chances.
It was the Warriors with the first score with a diagonal ball from Trupkovic finding Cervinski in the box to tap in from close range. This however only urged Thomastown on and they stepped it up a gear to fight back with a response within 5 minutes. A speculative ball that appeared to be catchable was punched away by Zilic and the resultant ball and finish back into the box levelled the scores.
Thomastown went looking for another and left space for a North Geelong counter. North Geelong brought on Zadworny in place of Kuna and he immediately offered the pace and options that were missing. Zadworny was on the start of three counter moves in 3 mins, the best falling to Tabak who had the chance for final crowning glory with a great run down the left to only kick into the keeper.
Injury time was in play and taking an eternity to end, in the dying seconds, Thomastown surged forward and struck brilliantly from 16 yards to get between Zilic’s feet and a second for the Devils.
A timely reminder for the Warriors that it’s not over and you need to finish your chances. They will bounce back with two games to go and they are in the drivers seat to finish strongly, we’ll see you on Saturday 29th Aug at Elcho Park as the Warriors take on Brunswick City.
It’s down to the business end of the season for the junior teams also and what a season it has been thus far for all our juniors. Our Melbourne 15A’s are leading their division with two rounds to play, our Melbourne 11’s are currently 2nd and motoring home with a couple to play, our 12’s Div 1 and 3 are both winning comfortably and looking forward to their respective finals campaign and our U15’s GRFA will also be playing finals, trying their best to win a title. On top of that, all our SSF squads from 6’s to 10’s are playing incredibly well.
Please remember that after Saturday’s game we have a Club Disco on. Free entry, DJ playing from 7.30pm til 1am.
