When a loss is still a win

The dark clouds of weeks gone by were looming, but thankfully failed to arrive. Despite the dry weather AC yielded to the stronger and numerically superior Bayside team, going down 3-1 in the end.

A skeleton squad was hastily pulled together as it seems the Ex-pat footballers Union deemed this would be a bye weekend for many of AC’s footballers. Missing seven players from the line up the Malvernites were heavily reliant on ring-ins to ‘fill the void’. All was going well until the night before when a couple pulled out.

Eleven fine men were left (with Dave’s dad on standby) to take the field for battle. In the face of adversity true men stand up – and today was no exception.

From the off there was a steely resolve to the boys in red and black. Brilliantly led by the stand in keeper Jay; the lads ran their guts out and staunchly defended their goals. A switch to centre back for Dave seemed to create extra stability and with Damo and Adam having the games of their life things were looking good.

Pete and Engel were on top of Bayside in the midfield and playing tantalising through balls to Stu and Garriet, but they just couldn’t break through despite some great efforts and running.

Disaster struck at the 19th minute mark when a freak goal came from a lob from outside the box off the boot of number eight. Jay was unlucky to see this sail past him as I’m sure even Pepe Reina wouldn’t have stopped this one. Unfortunately for AC, soon after a second equally freakish lob from the same man would sail into the back of the net and have them two nil up. We were later to find out that he does this at least five times a year.
For the first time this season AC showed some fight, a positive attitude and they were united in a quest to come back instead of dropping their bundle.

Attacks began from the back with Rich and Dave and Pete was on fire winning the ball with ease. Eventually AC won a corner and the old duo of Engel and Owen combined with Owen heading home his first for the season.

The panic button was hit and Bayside were worried. An arm wrestle ensued with neither team gaining the ascendancy until late in the piece. A leg weary AC left a gap on the right which Bayside took advantage of, slotting home the games last goal past a hapless Jones who had just stepped into goals.

The score line might not be pretty; however this was truly the first competitive game for the season where AC had a chance without the freakish goals. A lot of positives today – let’s hope they roll into next week.

AV Malvern 1-3 Bayside
Owen

Best in show: Pete Phillips
WAGs player of the match: Damo Buellens
Best lead role in a mini series: Jason Byrne