River reveals promise in season opener

April 12, 2010 on 4:58 am | In MATCH REPORTS | Comments Off

Men’s Premier League Football South/West
Dalyellup 3 v Margaret River 3
By coach, Gary Leigh
If Margaret River were offered one point for a draw before this, our opening game of the season in Bunbury, I would have taken it with both hands. But with the amount of possession the River had and chances we made I feel its 2 points dropped.

River dominated the opening stages of play with chances for Ned Allington and Glenn Skyrme both going close to scoring.

Against the run of play Dalyellup where awarded a penalty to the surprise of both teams, when a River player was penalised for pushing in a pack of at least 6 players attempting to met the cross from a corner.

Dalyellup converted the penalty 0–1.

River continued to play flowing football with Alex Costa in the midst of everything in midfield.

Tom Panarello shot from outside the 18 yard box the ball took a massive deflection off a Dalyellup defender which spun over their keeper to level the score at 1-1.

Redar Saber was having a solid game in the heart of our defence and had his work cut out containing Dalyellup’s man mountain of a forward, which he did successfully.

As half time neared what seemed to be a simple stop for our keeper found its way into our net to give Dalyellup a 2-1 advantage at the break.

Nine times out of ten mistakes by outfield players go unnoticed but when a keeper makes one there’s nowhere to hide, that’s the pressure of being the last line of defence.

Margaret River still made most of the running at the start of the second half and Glenn scored from close range to once again level the score, 2-2.

Although River where controlling most of the midfield exchanges Dalyellup’s forwards still posed a threat, Kel Murray now had the job of containing their centre forward, which he did well through his pace.

Tom Pararello beat 4 Dalyellup players in the opponent’s 18 yard box only to see his shot rebound off their crossbar to safety.

But once again with only 5 minutes remaining a goalmouth mix up and lack of talk allowed Dalyellup to take the lead for the third time, 2-3.

Most teams with only a couple of minutes left would have thrown the “towel in” but as with our reserves game, including myself who came back from 5-3 down to win 7-5 in the last 15 minutes, we equalised again, 3-3 through Glenn Skyrme with his second goal of the day.

With the size of squad and the amount of injuries we suffered, including 3 facial injuries in the reserves game, you should all be very proud of yourself for the commitment shown by all.

Eagle Boy’s man of the match awards go to both Adrian Nathanielsz and Nick Versteegen -for his 2 goals- in the reserves and Glenn Skyrme for the league game.

I would also like to thank the likes of Sam Parrott Brad Tweedel and Ned Allington, all younger members of our squad for playing almost 2 games this day.

Training is at 6.00pm every Tuesday and Thursday at Gloucester Park Oval, all welcome.