Be it the Golden Gate, Sydney’s Harbour Bridge or the Ponte Vecchio – all embody prosperity and optimism in a bustling city. For AC, the ‘Westy’ was to bear witness to 13 Kamikaze’s in red and black, trying their utmost to salvage league survival in one of the most challenging seasons in the clubs history to date.
Despite being victims to the 11am red-eye, opulent amenities resembling a Hyatt bathroom (be even better once they get the hot water on) and a pitch Etihad Stadium would kill for, had the Malvernians upbeat and full of hope for this clash.
Pre-game, and Richie Cunningham (a.k.a the ref) was on hand to offer up his ethos on officiating the game in his best “hey, kids - say no to drugs” type of way. Making it clear that swearing was ok, so long as it’s not directed at him, or any other player -what the fricken else is there then?
Oh…and he also cheekily threw in that he has a “short fuse”.
The AC casualty list again forced changes, Duncan a late withdrawal, and 2nd choice keeper Tim again in the No. 1 shirt in the absence of Wong. Fortunately, Damo packed the Groucho Marx disguise in the wake of last week’s acid tongue fuelled red card and was able to play. Captain Creswell, for the second weekend in a row would start under belated-impending-fatherhood-duress. A fly on the wall was to later hear resident obstetrician Pete Phillips expertly offer “I just hope it doesn’t come out sideways”……(???). Nobody had forgotten that in their earlier clash, OM stole a last minute equaliser to break the hearts of the AC faithful. This time however, OM seemed determined not to find themselves in that position and started the much stronger, exploiting the wide spaces. A typically Port Melbourne gale was behind the home side, complemented by frosty (not just the silly nickname of the OM right winger) conditions that OM were probably well accustomed to.
A dominant display of possession, coupled with AC’s failure to allow OM far too much space out wide gave them early chances to put dangerous crosses forcing AC to scramble away. It wasn’t long before the first aerial raid of the day would bare fruit, as a wind assisted cross most keepers would call ‘bait’ quickly became the one that got away as it sailed over Tim’s head allowing the OM striker to comfortably head home. 1 nil.
The OM attacking raids continued, with AC taking longer to get into the game, however resuming their impressive passing movements of recent weeks when things did start to click. Again though, they allowed OM far too much space as they kept the AC defenders busy and rained down a barrage of, mostly misfired, shots goalward. On a pitch that was seemingly more square than rectangular, it became abundantly clear that the wings were the place to be as Pricey and Pete, showing great energy, moved the ball up and down the right, whilst Steve, Marty and Dave peppered the left with some short and neat passing. Then disaster, with OM continuing their run on the back of an early goal, a counter attack ensued with a fleeting run in from the wing, then finished with a low hard shot sneaking inside the near post for a second. 2 nil.
The tempo shifted as OM, rather than go in for an early kill, seemed to sit back and let AC start to dominate possession. With gusto, Jason began ferreting the ball away from the OM mids, on hand were Dave & Stu to impressively lay off some critical touches whilst intercepting much of OM’s passes through the midfield. After a couple of ambitious long balls in the direction of Hendy had the OM defenders on their guard, they were then on their backsides as he skipped past 3 or 4 defenders to narrowly shoot wide. The contest had truly begun and it was only a couple more solid minutes of football from a suddenly busy AC before Hendy would again be in space and fire home his 10th for the season. 2-1 into the break.
Half Time
Buoyed by self belief that an improbable comeback was taking place, AC started the second half a polar opposite to the first, the eagerness to level proceedings evident from the get go.
Not having things go all their own way was beginning to frustrate some OM, and AC was on the end of a couple of cheap and nasties. One git in particular stood out for the all blues – and it wasn’t just the red shorts and socks – as his inability to control the ball manifested in the form of jersey grabbing, abuse and tripping in his attempts to win back repeatedly lost possession.
AC got on with the job, OM fighting hard to repel wave after wave of attack. Yet another corner came AC’s way, with pinch hitter Owen making his presence felt and getting on to a header. It was Australia V Ghana all over again, as a Harry type moment ensued as the OM defender kept Owen’s shot out with his arm. Ref Cunningham, pointed to spot and gave only a yellow card. There was some justice, as Hendy stepped up and coolly slotted home his second of the day. OM sensed a loss at home brewing.
Tiring legs and a couple of AC injuries (including a kick in the nuts to Owen) saw necessary changes take place and OM take a minute to catch their breath. A run through the middle and then out wide found an overlap as Marty, doing a sensational job in getting back to assist the AC defenders, clumsily fell into the back of an OM actor who drew the penalty.
OM’s captain stepped up and drilled the ball into the roof of the net before Tim even had a chance to leave his line. But a restored lead meant nothing, and AC pressed forward, hard and wide whilst injecting more speed than the nearby Todd Rd servo truckie stop. OM, again well and truly on the back foot, were chasing AC passages of play and lucky not to have 2 or 3 past them in quick succession. After desperate scrambling and a clearance or two off the line, AC was finally rewarded as Jason capped off a jinking run with a ripping goal to again equalise. 3 each and it was turning into a classic.
The next several minutes of play saw AC with as many as half a dozen opportunities to claim the lead for the first time, and you got the feeling they wouldn’t be looking back if they got in front. An inspirational passage of play from Steve beating four opponents and turning defence into attack, found the speed of Marty who got himself into enough space to unleash a shot just after the crossbar.
The AC back four, though weary, tightened and the talk was good with limited space given away between themselves and Tim in goals. OM, to their credit put in a final hard five minutes – including an overhead bicycle kick Steady Eddy would be proud of which was accurately described as “rubbish” from a teammate. Then, an OM free kick found the head of a loose forward, with Tim only able to parry the shot into the post as it fortuitously bounced back off the woodwork and into the back of his head finally before finally resting in the back of the net (he would later claim it as his first AC goal). An unlikely last minute equaliser so nearly fell AC’s way, as Jason, a standout in a quality team display, came within a bee’s dick of getting onto a last ditch cross. The final whistle equalled sighs of relief from OM in a very entertaining game of football.
AC Malvern 3 - 4 OM
Henderson 2, Byrne
Mannies Man of the Match: Jason Byrne
WAG's Man of the Match: Hendy
OM might’ve won the war, but AC claimed many of the battles – A magnificent effort against one of the better sides in the competition – fought right to the end. The character and determination to claw back a two goal deficit and twice equalise was as good as we’ve seen from the red and black this year. The sort of commitment will guarantee an 11th hour survival in the league! Chins up - probably our best game of the season despite being a loss.
