Purple, yellow and red......If only it were a rainbow!

You win some and you lose some, but with AC Malvern they lose more, or at least at this point in the season. The boys headed into this game with a streak no one wants, four loses in a row and facing a formidable opponent; well at least based on their ladder position of third. Armed only with 11 men ensuring no respite and sans goal keeper; the lads faced the challenge ahead with resentment toward Swine flu and all that it had taken down during the week.

The laughs started before the kick off, and not just because the purple uniforms sported by the Boroondara Eagles, but with the performance of the ref. Officiating in what is unofficially the beer league, the ref requested an independent escort (similar to that pictured right) from the rooms to the pitch [circa 27.35 metres] and refused to come out of hibernation until two were provided. With Eric, Engels dad, the only option; walking stick in hand and the walking speed befitting a man of his age, sense finally prevailed. The ref, talking his life in his hands managed the treacherous walk unescorted from pavilion to pitch without injury or even one bottle/coin thrown in his direction.

Not long before the first whistle the boys turned to see a bunch of “men” dressed in purple in a circle, arm in arm talking up the pre-game before all putting their hands in to scream “Eagles”. It was just plain weird in this writer’s opinion, or potentially a little Mardi Gras; whatever floats their boat.

[Insert sound of whistle here]………and the game began with much pomp and ceremony and foot touching ball action.

Following on from the second half performance of last week; the boys in red and black looked to have control of the action. The new formation; 3-5-2 seemed to settle well with Owen, Dennis and Nolan holding down defensive duties and JT occupying goals; allowing Pete and his merry men in the midfield to control the ball delivering to Price, Ralpha and Hendo to create goal scoring opportunities.
The first such opportunity came as a result of a left side attack from Colin who delivered to [insert name here] eventually finding the Wee Weegie who pulled the trigger……bang the ball hit the right post and deflected back out to a salivating QE2 who sank the right boot into the ball. A thunderous strike was the result, but unfortunately the ball sailed over the crossbar and ended well onto Bourke Road.

The rest of the half saw a standout performance from AC as a team, but in particular the midfield as the created plenty of opportunities, unfortunately without result. Boroondara on the other hand had only one or two chances which were snuffed out by the back three.

AC, despite depleted stock, went to the change rooms brimming with confidence, after playing some

of the best team football for the season.

HALF TIME
Buoyed with confidence, Captain JT led the half time speech clearly stating “lads we've only got 11, so if you're feeling tired - there's nothing we can do about it, so

don't do anything silly out there this half". Prophetic words from our humble leader.

The second half was a very different proposition all together.

Two minutes is all it takes to cook noodles, boil an egg, run a half mile (if you’re John Landy who trained at Central Park) and sit through mind numbing ads amongst other things. However, two minutes on this occasion is all it took to lose the upper hand in this game.

The first attack came from the Eagles number six who seemed to waltz through the left side of Malvern’s defence. Then, with all the time in the world steered the ball to the back post, and the waiting Eagles attacker to head home goal number one; 0-1

The next foray forward was like watching the march of the light brigade as a hapless AC defence was left undermanned. Again, the number six shot forward before crossing to an unmarked attacker who, this time, put the ball into the back of the net by foot…..your eggs are boiled and the score is now 0-2.

After a two minute powernap, AC managed to wake up refreshed and full of vigour wrestling back control of the match. A brilliant sequence of play that began with the QE2 running the ball through the midfield before a measured pass to a rampaging Damo who returned the favour passing back to Pricey just outside the box. Pricey, under fire slid the ball back to Damo (again) who sent forth a stunning cross to Ralpha playing the Viduka holding role. Ralpha looked left, turned right and duly slotted the ball home; 1-2.

I take you back to some vital words in the half time speech “don't do anything silly out there this half”. With that message resonating in the heads of the players, JT launched several, in the eyes of the ref, dubious defensive lunges. Numerous warnings (and yellow card) were issued and it was later discovered that the Eagles were intent on antagonising the rampaging bull with exceptional success. JT saw red (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKj4upY1VYI), and eventually the same coloured card……..and then there were ten.

It sounds cliche, and I hate them, but this was the moment that changed the game. A man down, no subs a deflated Malvern battled on in the face of adversity. Engel marshaled the troops, changing the formation hoping to sneak an unlikely goal as dominance shifted away from the black and reds.

The remainder of the game saw an outstanding effort by all and sundry; however it was too much with the Eagles pouring vinegar on the fresh wound by scoring another goal; 1-3.

To add insult to injury, or in this case a red card the Eagles finished the game with a display that this little green man hasn’t seen since U10’s; “three cheers for Malvern, hip hip….hooray”. Yet another weird display, but luckily we were spared a rendition of their club song, assuming they have one.
Now AC is left contemplating the real possibility of relegation unless their form changes. The one positive being they still have one remaining shot at some silverware with the return leg of the McRopod Cup on Sunday 16th August.

AC Malvern 1 – 3 Boroondara Eagles
Ralpha

News in brief:
- Sparky Coulter is rumoured to be undergoing a fitness test during the week to potentially have him back for yet another vital clash against St Kevin’s

- Thankfully Real Madrid have run out of money and will not be picking up any AC Malvern players during the European summer.