Re: Finals 2014
Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 11:14 am
No funny goings on really...just two very competitive sides, clubs and fans who both were passionate AND desperate to take home the prize.
Both sides brought a ton of fans to the game who were both noisy and created a good atmosphere (although a few of the players on both sides copped a fair amount of stick).
Ref was OK..... Made some poor decisions, made some good ones etc. Game was physical at times but not overally and he seemed to keep most of it in check although he was shy at giving out yellows even though a couple of hard tackles both ways may have been worth a solid yellow!!! Then he sent someone off after the game had finished which seemed a little harsh and out of standing with the other decisions!
As for the game and players:
- Our boys had a few key omissions on the day including our leading scorer! Holidays for all of them was the reason. Not enough faith in themselves to get to the finals maybe??!! Our guy would have had a field day on that pitch as its a fast and perfectly flat surface which would have been perfect for his pace..... such is life and it gave a couple of fringe players a chance to play in a cup final (one whom scored a corker)
- The game came down to endurance in the end. It was a tight 90 minutes with Unley going behind and replying almost immediately. The loss of Barkers CM in the first half with a broken leg (confirmed) looked like it could have been a pivotal moment as Unley certainly had the slight upper hand in the second 45 mins. Best chance of the game was Unley's with their guy making a lovely run behind the back four of Barker but shooting narrowly wide with a 1 on 1 with the keeper.
Unleys strength comes from from experience and that i think was also the ultimate decider as extra time killed all the guys but the oldies will have felt it the most, especially with a 24 degree day. Never seen so many guys with cramp!
The Barker 2nd goal was a screamer from a young sub and that was the decider as it opened up play all over the pitch which left the Unley back 4 exposed as they pushed forward with a 3-5-2 change to formation.
The ground is pretty good and certainly better than Burton to watch, get to and play on but theres nothing like proper grass! I can imagine a number of the guys having sore knees on such a hard, uncompromising deck but like I said, better than Burton in my humble opinion.
Unley will be back next season to try and nail some silverware and as always will be consistent which is why they were in the mix for the title and cup.
Barker lost their first 4 games in Div 1 this year...... A number of biggish ins are already in place / planned which will cement their capability and they will be competitive...
Both sides brought a ton of fans to the game who were both noisy and created a good atmosphere (although a few of the players on both sides copped a fair amount of stick).
Ref was OK..... Made some poor decisions, made some good ones etc. Game was physical at times but not overally and he seemed to keep most of it in check although he was shy at giving out yellows even though a couple of hard tackles both ways may have been worth a solid yellow!!! Then he sent someone off after the game had finished which seemed a little harsh and out of standing with the other decisions!
As for the game and players:
- Our boys had a few key omissions on the day including our leading scorer! Holidays for all of them was the reason. Not enough faith in themselves to get to the finals maybe??!! Our guy would have had a field day on that pitch as its a fast and perfectly flat surface which would have been perfect for his pace..... such is life and it gave a couple of fringe players a chance to play in a cup final (one whom scored a corker)
- The game came down to endurance in the end. It was a tight 90 minutes with Unley going behind and replying almost immediately. The loss of Barkers CM in the first half with a broken leg (confirmed) looked like it could have been a pivotal moment as Unley certainly had the slight upper hand in the second 45 mins. Best chance of the game was Unley's with their guy making a lovely run behind the back four of Barker but shooting narrowly wide with a 1 on 1 with the keeper.
Unleys strength comes from from experience and that i think was also the ultimate decider as extra time killed all the guys but the oldies will have felt it the most, especially with a 24 degree day. Never seen so many guys with cramp!
The Barker 2nd goal was a screamer from a young sub and that was the decider as it opened up play all over the pitch which left the Unley back 4 exposed as they pushed forward with a 3-5-2 change to formation.
The ground is pretty good and certainly better than Burton to watch, get to and play on but theres nothing like proper grass! I can imagine a number of the guys having sore knees on such a hard, uncompromising deck but like I said, better than Burton in my humble opinion.
Unley will be back next season to try and nail some silverware and as always will be consistent which is why they were in the mix for the title and cup.
Barker lost their first 4 games in Div 1 this year...... A number of biggish ins are already in place / planned which will cement their capability and they will be competitive...