A TEAM (DIVISION 2) MATCH REPORTS 2006
MONTROSE ‘A’ Vs BORONIA - 27th August 2006 (ROUND 18) FINAL SCORE: 0 – 1 (FINAL GAME FOR 2006 SEASON)
On Sunday we rolled out our old tired and battered bodies to face Boronia, this was our last league game of the year and although battered and bruised we were still a force to be reckoned with. I gave my speech in the rooms before the game and I asked for something special from the guys that extra step when you have to dig deep. We emerged from the rooms ready for anything and as soon as the whistle blew it showed on the pitch. We attacked from the word go and I knew with a full bench I could ask the players to run themselves into the ground if need be. Boronia scored at about the 20 minute mark but this didn't sway us from our determination to win. At half-time I again ask for everything (with fries) this was it. This was our time. We came out again even more revved up and immediately we were on the attack although we gave everything we couldn't finish it off. Griffo was brought down in the box for an obvious penalty to everyone except the ref. Ed crashed through a couple of defenders and the goalie, and then crashed to the floor blood streaming from his nose. No matter what we did the ball would not go into the net. I don't regard this game as a loss as I have never seen Montrose battle that hard the ball didn't come out of their half for the last 15 minutes.
This will be my last match report as coach at Montrose as I offer my resignation as coach, I would like to say I have never played with a better bunch of blokes from all walks of life who came together as one for a game they love to play, 18 to 80 years old good players, medium players, and me!
We all love it and that is why we do it. I would also like to thank all the others who week after week come down to make my job easier, It had been a pleasure coaching and I'll see you next year as a player.
Peace.
Nick Allison
Coach
MORNINGTON Vs MONTROSE ‘A’ - 20th August 2006 (ROUND 17) FINAL SCORE: 4 – 2
This was a must win game for us to avoid relegation we had to win this game. I tried to instill this into the players before the game. There was no reason for us not to win this game. We had experience and strength all across the park. With the sun shining and a relatively flat surface everything was in our favour.
We started well creating chances and moving the ball well, then we seemed to lose our concentration and this gave Mornington their chance to score, we rallied again and applied more pressure, yet again we lost concentration and yet again they scored because of this. A good forward move by Andre who received a lovely cross (I can't remember who crossed it) slid it into the back of the net. We went into the rooms at half time 1 - 2 down, I asked again for more effort and attempted to inspire the 'troops' by individually asking what they were going to do to win, and it seemed I got all the right answers. We game out with fire in our belly and started of attacking it was long before Ed headed home a nice cross from Ben and we were back in it. Then for the life of me I don't know what happened, they scored and we dropped back into old habits, it wasn't pretty to watch, we were made to look outclassed by a team that were no better than us. They scored again and that's how the score stayed. 2 - 4 a loss we couldn't afford.
Instead of a special mention to any individual players I will just make a statement. As coach I would think that when I ask players to do a certain function on the field that it would be done or at least attempted, but doing the exact opposite isn't right, this is what upsets me more than the loss. Next week we need the win or WE WILL BE RELEGATED!!! I give 100% on the field and I blame no other player for my mistakes, I will run until I drop and chase every ball, If I lose possession I will do everything in my power to get it back, if I can do this you can do this.
Nick Allison
Coach and player.
MONTROSE 'A' Vs CRANBOURNE GOLD - 13th August 2006 (ROUND 16) FINAL SCORE: 0 - 1
As the B team had now finished their season I was determined to put on a show and beat Cranbourne who are currently sitting 2nd in the division. We were lucky enough to have an influx of B team players, we had some drop outs and my thanks go out to all those people who called. With a very strong back lick formidable midfield and probably the best forward line up the Montrose club has ever seen, I was sure we could upset the Crannies. We started off brilliantly really taking the game to them. The ball flowed smoothly all the way through the midfield and onto the forwards. Although, we were unlucky with all the pressure we were applying not to score on a few occasions. Cranbourne did have their chances though and on one occasion, one of those chances paid off. We went into the rooms at half time one goal down. The mood in the rooms was very positive with all the players believing that we could battle our way back in. The second half was much the same with all the boys lifting, we really applied the pressure, and we all gave 100%. Andre went down in the sand pit after a crunching tackle and had to be helped off, and Shaun came on to take his place. I then got crunched in the head, some may say this helped. We battle on I got hit in the stomach and had to go off. Even though we battled on we just couldn't find that goal. We ended up going down 0 - 1. But I am very proud of the efforts.
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
To all the B team boys who turned up with their kit not even knowing if they would get a game.
Coach: Nick Allison
BYE - 6th August 2006 (ROUND 15)
AC MILANGY Vs MONTROSE 'A' - 30th July 2006 (ROUND 14) FINAL SCORE: 2 - 1
On Sunday we traveled to Langwarrin to play AC MiLangy. With a full squad and the promise of a couple of guys on the bench I was full of confidence as were the team after last weeks win. The two on the bench was soon cut down to one as Tim dropped out still suffering from hamstring soreness. We started very well and it wasn't long before the chances started coming our way, some of the skills we display on Thursday started to show and some very nice one twos and triangles started to take their toll on the opposition defence. Finally Ed managed to put one in at about the 20 minute mark which lifted the team even further. We failed to finish on some more very good chances coming from both sides of the field and also through the middle. An equalizer from the opposition wasn't expected and we began to falter but still managed to hold till halftime. The Montrose jinx of constant hamstring injuries raised its head again with Sniffa going off late in the first half and the Andre straining his in the second but playing on in the back line. The guys fought very well all through the second half but it was obvious we were rattled, I was hoping to hold onto a 1 - 1 draw but this wasn't to be as they scored with a few minutes to go bringing the full time score to 1 - 2. As we have a bye next week most of these injuries should clear up. Hopefully.
Special mentions to John who played very well despite telling me he didn't, and Ed who battled with all the chances that came his way.
Coach: Nick Allison
MONTROSE ‘A’ Vs BAXTER FALCONS – 23rd July 2006 (ROUND 13) FINAL SCORE: 5 - 1
It started off with me pulling into the ground to find not a single available car park. I’ve never seen so many people at Montrose before. Then as I was watching the B team play, Nick came up to me and asked if I could sub him off 10 minutes before half time, as he had to be somewhere. No worries, but I think he thought I would forget because just before kick off he came up to me and said he had told someone else as well. I hadn’t forgotten. We started strong with a lot of early chances, and we started to see that we could really give it to Baxter. I subbed Nick off, and took it upon myself to be coach. We went in at half time, one nil up with our heads held high. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. The second half started much the same as the first, with us dominating most of the park. Then they managed to get through our unshakeable defence to score a goal and we dropped a little. We still kept strong and things just started to click together, with Chris taking a free kick that he slotted away into the back of the net. Con getting down on all fours to head a goal in and Ben scoring a cracker of a volley and then Con finishing off his hat trick for the day. The crowd was going crazy over how well MY boys all played. I couldn’t sit down, I was that excited. I want to thank the boys for putting on a fantastic 5 – 1 performance. Thanks guys.
Liam (Guus) Carrol – Sub Coach
SCORERS: Chris (1), Ben (1), Con (3)
SPECIAL MENTIONS:
Nick: For letting me coach
Con: For scoring 3 goals
And anyone else who helped me out with coaching
PARKMORE Vs MONTROSE ‘A’ – Sunday 16th July 2006 (ROUND 12) FINAL SCORE: 7 - 0
We traveled to Parkmore to take on the top of the league leaders and it wasn't long before their skill level and speed began to show. As the B team had won by a forfeit I had three on the bench to choose from. We started off strongly enough but it was soon evident that we were going to have to play a mainly defensive game. We managed to hold them for about 15 minutes before their first goal came from some very quick running from their team. They seemed to play basic football but very well and very quick, we had no mistakes to exploit so we had to make our own chances, and we did do this but unfortunately we couldn't finish them off. We went into the rooms at half time 3 goals down but not beaten. We had a good talk at halftime and I ask for another go at them and to try to remember our training and put it into practice. They came back at us very fast from the start and scored shortly after even after a valiant effort from Mark Ratcliff who cleared from the line, only to see a bullet like volley come straight back and end up in the net. Even though the boys battled hard we couldn't hold them off and we ended up going down 0 - 7. I would like to thank the boys from the B team for coming down and helping us out, it was nice to see a mostly young team out there, and good to see the guys who are going to be playing together next year playing together now. Special mentions to Albert who finally found his voice! Liam who had to take some hard hits to stop some offensive moves.
Coach: Nick Allison
CHELSEA Vs MONTROSE ‘A’ – Sunday 9th July 2006 (ROUND 11) FINAL SCORE: 5 - 0
We traveled to Edithvale on the weekend to face Chelsea to try to continue our 'winning streak'. We started the match with only nine men but our confidence was high. We held for the first 15 minutes with Chelsea attacking at every chance they had. Luckily Steve Curtis turned up after playing a game on his own at our home ground. This gave use ten on the pitch. They scored against us from one of their many attacking moves, and they also had two or three on their bench which they constantly rotated, it would be nice to have that luxury. I am not sure when Steve's own goal came either before or after their 2nd goal but needless to say it was mad while trying to defend against another attack. We were in the rooms at halftime three goals down, with still only ten men. I asked the guy's just to try to hold and exploit any mistakes from them. Well I managed to get my name in the books again for scoring another own goal while also trying to defend, this came shortly after I just missed our goal again while defending. They scored again shortly after that bringing the final score to 0 - 5 but two were own goals and we only had ten men; this does highlight our strengths and resolve. Special mention to Mark for holding the line, Andre for battling in the midfield, and Ed for not getting too lonely up front, ah and also myself for running my arse off.
Coach: Nick Allison
ENDEAVOUR SPORT VS MONTROSE ‘A’ – Sunday 2nd July 2006 (ROUND 10) FINAL SCORE: 0 - 1
It was nice not to be facing a premiership team as we launched into the second half of the season. We were facing Endeavour Sporting and with quite a few of us nursing hang overs from the Karaoke night the night before, added with the late night watching the world cup and you can guess the state of some players. With some of the B team players coming up into the A team it was to be an interesting match. I started myself on the bench as I wanted to have a look at the boys and see if we were letting ourselves down in any area. This wasn't the case at all. We played brilliantly with every aspect on the field working hard, and the chances started to come our way. We went into the halftime break with no goals scored this should have been different as we held the upper hand for the entire first half. I asked the guys for the same again and they didn't disappoint, we really took the game to them with the combination of forwards Ed and Con really working well. Mark really worked well with John in the back line and the back line did a great job. Jess (not Blake!) worked great in midfield and really fitted in well. It wasn't long before one of Con's may runs yielded a goal, after Con and Ryan had a discussion about who should kick it! So the 1 – 0 win, felt great!!!
Special mention to the whole team, this is the best overall match I have seen since I have been at the club, well done guys.
Coach: Nick Allison