CROYDON OLD BOYS Vs MONTROSE 'B' - 6th August 2006 (Round 15) FINAL SCORE: 1 - 2 (LAST GAME FOR SEASON 2006)
The season has flown past, and here we were at Croydon for our last game. We had a chance of finishing runners-up, if results around us went our way, and of course, if we managed a win. Cheered on by a large, vocal crowd, we took the game to Croydon, with some of the best passing moves of the season. We pinned them back in their half and applied pressure. Something had to give, and after twenty minutes, George cleverly went past the ball, leaving it for Ben to charge in and drive it into the net. On the half hour mark we made some interchanges, which seemed to unsettle us. Croydon took advantage of this, scoring late into the half. Although the Old Boys finished bottom in the league they are a decent side, and always come back strong. Today was no exception. They forced us back with some good moves, let down by poor finishing. We were still hitting them on the break and were unlucky not to score, thanks mostly to some fairly (or should that be unfairly?) brutal defending. Eventually our persistence paid off and a flowing move was finished off in style by the lethal right boot of George Young. The final twenty minutes were a torrid affair. Nerves got the better of us, Croydon piled it on, but we stood firm, with many missed chances, frantic goal mouth scrambles, and one particularly spectacular goal-line clearance (the player's name escapes me!). After a rousing chorus of the club song, lead by the strangely attractive Jamesy, we returned in triumph to the clubrooms to begin our victory celebrations and await the other results. After many frantic phone calls, I had to break the news that we missed the runners-up spot by two points. This, however, didn't spoil the party, which continued long into the evening (I think!).
We have had a great season, always playing as a team, win or lose. Us wrinklies can go happily into the Twilight Zone, known as the Vets League, knowing that the future of our great club is in safe strong hands. The 'never- say-die' spirit of this team and club will go on stronger than ever.
I thank all my players, supporters, sponsors, backroom staff, committee members (my mum for having me, my wife for having me too and my dog 'Oy' for being a little sh*t) for all their hard work and for all the great memories from this season. I tender my resignation as the proud coach of Montrose B in the hope that the Vets will want me as their coach next season, or as a player, or at least as head orange slicer.
Yours in Montrosity,
Alan Symons (Proud ex-Coach).
PHILLIP ISLAND Vs MONTROSE 'B' - 30th July 2006 (Round 14) FINAL SCORE: 4 - 4
If no one has written a song titled "It's a bloody long way to Phillip Island", then they should, 'cos it has a certain ring to it, and IT IS a bloody long way. However the journey sped by in the entertaining company of Jake, Tom (Jake’s dad), and the ever vocal George. By the time we were drinking our coffees at San Remo, the world had well and truly been put to rights. We kicked off in bright sunshine and a strong breeze, and were soon a goal behind. The Phillip Island young guns were probably expecting a repeat of our last visit, when they hammered us 8-3. But they were facing a different Montrose team today, older, wiser, more together, and definitely not hungover! This time we fought back hard and deservedly equalised before half time. In the second half we went head to head. Our hard running and tackling, lethal finishing and total team commitment versus their youth, skill, pace and fitness. Three times we scored, three times they leveled. They had most of the ball, we finished our chances better. Four of the best goals you will see on a Sunday morning, a missed penalty and a disallowed winning goal. A win would have been fantastic, but this draw felt like a win. Other results favoured us, so we go into our last game still with a chance of finishing second. Some people have questioned the squad selections this season. We have an unusual mixture of age and experience in both teams. I have always felt that this was the right way to go. Games like this make me even surer. The younger players have learnt heaps from the 'old boys'. The Vets have pushed themselves to levels they thought they were well past. What ever the results next week, this has been a great season. Rumour has it, the coach will be buying the drinks after the Croydon game, win, lose or draw. But I promise you something, they will taste better if we win.
Alan Symons (Very Proud Coach)
MONTROSE ‘B’ Vs ROSEBUD DINOS – 23rd July 2006 (ROUND 13) FINAL SCORE: 0 - 2
If we were to finish as runners up for the season, then this was a must-win game. Cheered on by a large crowd of supporters we started very brightly. Hard running and intelligent passing lead to some excellent chances on goal, with great efforts from Bowler, Jesse and Shaun to name just a few. Incredibly, from their only real chance of the first half, Rosebud scored a late headed goal to go in with the lead at half time. In the second half we lost some cohesion, and, although the effort was great, we seemed to lack the experience to break down a clever Rosebud side. They scored a second when a tricky shot bobbled up in front of the usually faultless Blake, and though we had chances we couldn't get back into the game. With two games remaining we can still finish second from top or second from bottom. I know we will do our best, as we did this week, and that’s all I can ask. Whatever happens in these games, I am so proud of this team. The older players have put their creaking, wrinkled bodies on the line time after time. The younger guys have taken their natural skill and energy, and are learning and developing their positional and tactical skills. We have played the game the right way, hard but fair, with no bitching and a great team spirit. While I am looking forward to playing with and against Vets next season, I will be really sorry to see this fine team broken up. Sunday was an excellent day, nevertheless. Our biggest crowd of the season watched three good, competitive games, cleared us out of 'Monty Burgers" by 3pm and nearly drunk the bar dry. It was great to welcome our guests from the Bayside League and a pity that the councilor from Montrose must have got lost on his way to the ground. Finally, congratulations to the A team. As I said in the dressing room, and taking nothing away from the achievements of 'my' boys, best Montrose performance of the season.
Only one special mention this week..... The whole club. Players past and present, friends, supporters, barbie and bar staff, ground staff (Bob!), and our generous sponsors. Thank you for making Montrose a great club.
Coach:Alan Symons
MONTROSE ‘B’ Vs SEAFORD – Sunday 16th July (ROUND 12) FINAL SCORE: 3 – 0 (Forfeit)
‘A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COACH’
The kick off time was 1.00pm, but a coaches day starts early. First calls before 10.am, Nicholas can’t play, James can. No problem. Adjust the line up. Next call. Bob can't get there early to open up and mark the pitch. No prob. Eddie will open up and bring James's passport. Get to the ground 11.15 am. In with the corner flags, up with the nets. All sorted by 12. Players start to trickle in. 12.30 pm. Ben gets a call. Evan can't play, bad back. No prob, I already knew. George is in the city, drunk. Both kits are in his house. BIG PROBLEM! 12.35pm Sarah calls. Would I like her to pick up the kit? Would I ever! 12.40 pm. Kit arrives (I love you Sarah. Tea & toast?) 12.45pm. Seaford only have six players. They forfeit the match. 3-0 to the Mighty Montrose! (but I still wish we could have played the game). 1.45pm. James's team of young guns kick off on the bottom pitch. They score first but go in 1-1 at half time. 2.00pm. George turns up. We send him into an empty dressing room to get changed, telling him the game has been delayed. He gets changed. Comes out of the rooms, Conversation goes;
George: " Al, I don't suppose you have any socks I can borrow?"
Al: " Why do you need socks?"
George: " Erm, to hold my shinpads up"
Al: " Why do you need shinpads?"
George: " Yeah, you're right I dont"( cos he is tough!)
Al: " The thing is George, Seaford didn't field a team, and everyone has gone home. Didn't you wonder why there were no other players?"
George: " Well, I did think the dressing room was a little quiet!".
- 30pm. Second half for James's boys, two goals in the first five minutes, End to end stuff, a last minute penalty and a 4-2 victory. Good on yer Shredder. Super Coach II.
Not the day I was expecting, but I went home with a smile on my face. Lots of laughs, a few beers and some exciting football. Even better, nothing hurts. Next week Rosebud, back to reality, and no dramas (I hope!).
Special mentions.
Blake: Best striker who didn't get on the pitch.
Bowler: Three great goals.
Coach: Alan Symons
FRANKSTON Vs MONTROSE ‘B’ – Sunday 9th July (ROUND 11) FINAL SCORE: 2 - 1
The day started badly. Two players in a car accident (not hurt, thank god) and two lost (me included). It got better when, after about two minutes we caught Frankston napping, and hit them with a great early goal, courtesy of the goal-hungry Jake. But from there onwards it was all hands to the pumps as Frankston pulled us apart with some superb attractive, attacking football. They were unrecognizable from the weak team that we thrashed in round one. We, and I as coach struggled to find an answer to the constant pressure, but we went in at half time one up. Bringing on the rock-solid Shredder and giving Ben King a man marking job on their playmaker helped steady things down in the second half. It was still a tough battle and we were more than up to the task. We created chances in the second half, but unfortunately the two best ones fell to some old bloke who couldn't hit a barn door with a baseball bat from 2 metres (or yards, if you are my age). Frankston hit us late on with two killer goals, and there was no way back. After eighty minutes of amazing defending I was so disappointed in the result, but not the effort. The dressing room was like a world war two field hospital. The older players had pulled muscles they forgot they had and the younger ones looked like (and probably had) run a marathon. I think my coaching let you down this week. poor preparation and a lack of a game plan. I suppose that's ok, sh*t happens. My biggest regret is not getting Matt on to the field. For that I am truly sorry. If he decides to give me the benefit of the doubt, and not lay me out, then he is guaranteed a full game next week.
Special mentions to:
- Ben King: Man-marker extraordinaire.
- Shredder: Best right back in the club (not in the changing rooms!)
- Steve Carroll and Evan: put their ageing bodies on the line.... again!
Coach: Alan Symons
MONTROSE ‘B’ VS CROYDON OLD BOYS – Sunday 2nd July 2006 (ROUND 10) FINAL SCORE: 3 - 0
We returned from our unsuccessful cup campaign to the league rounds with a match against bottom placed Croydon. Although our chances of winning the league are slim (but not impossible), we needed a good win to continue our push towards the top. We settled into a good rhythm very early, with good passing moves and skillful fast play. It was the best half of attacking football of the season. We took most of our chances and went in at half-time three goals in front. The second half was a very different story, becoming very ill-tempered as Croydon got physical. The dear old ref was watching another game, I suppose. As foul after foul was committed without any free kicks forthcoming, I'm glad to say that we kept our heads and stood our ground, holding on to our three goal lead to the end. Well done lads!
Special mentions to
Rob Shaw and Ben King: Both ran themselves into the ground, and pleaded to be substituted. Both stayed on and saw it through to the end. True Montrose spirit.
Coach: Alan Symons