Match Reports
Metro 5 Slacks Creek v KPR 31/03/10
Result: Slacks Creek 4 KPR 1
Date: Wednesday 31/03/10
Kick Off: 20:30
Conditions: Humid/light drizzle
It was always going to be a big ask playing arguably the best team in the comp, away from home at 8:30 on a Wednesday night - and so it proved for KPR, although the final score line by no means tells the whole story here.
The Rovers began the game where they left off the previous weekend, knocking the ball around assuredly in defence and through the midfield and controlling the tempo and flow of the game. They were guilty of over working the play at times, surrendering the football and getting caught in possession on one or two occasions. Nonetheless, there's a real sense that this outfit is starting to develop a passing game that has the potential to leave other teams chasing shadows, and as they say, you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs!
KPR dominated possession for the first 20/25 minutes before the home side started to string a few passes together and adopt a more direct approach, running hard at the Rovers back line and trying to exploit the gaps when they appeared. The Creeks first goal came courtesy of one such mazy run, with the KPR centre back tripping the Slacks playmaker just outside the area and picking up a yellow card for his troubles. The resulting free kick was literally millimetre perfect! If it had been a bees dick higher or to the right it would have struck cross bar or post but as it was, it grazed both and hit the back of the net, leaving the keeper stranded.
The home side doubled their lead shortly afterwards, with a KPR defender stretching to head the ball away from a corner kick and inadvertently knocking it down into the path of one of the Creek midfielders, lurking just outside the penalty area. He took advantage of the melee of players between himself and the goal, and with the keeper partially unsighted, struck the ball low and hard into the bottom corner.
Marcus Chamo was introduced into the fray for the visitors on the half hour mark and had an almost immediate impact. Some more good build up play out of defence and through midfield saw a shot ricochet off at least two Creek defenders before falling perfectly for Chamo to poke home from 5 yards. The Rovers had the momentum now and Marcus was again in the thick of the action 5 minutes later when he appeared to be scythed down by the opposition keeper. The visitors went up in unison for a penalty kick but were waved away by the referee and the half ended with Marcus limping off as a result of the agricultural challenge, unable to take any further part in the game.
Whoever invented the saying about football being a ‘game of two halves’ would have banked a decent royalty cheque after this one! It would seem that Kangaroo Point were guilty of having a bit of a Braveheart moment and went out all guns blazing, when the more sensible thing to do might have been to concentrate on keeping their shape and not conceding another goal. Their formation, which had been effective for most of the first half, resembled a 2-4-4 at times and the substitutions became slightly undisciplined and ineffective as KPR lost their focus and their passing game.
Slacks Creek took full advantage of the visitors' offensive approach, putting 11 men behind the ball and then breaking in numbers whenever the opportunity arose. Despite the mounting pressure, it was actually a KPR mistake which gifted the home side their third goal. The Rovers centre back ran forward to meet a long clearance on the half way line and was caught out by the high, fast bounce of the ball on the slick surface. It sliced off of his boot laces and over his shoulder, directly into the path of the speedy Slacks forward, who charged towards goal and chipped a ball over the advancing keepers head.
KPR were in more trouble than the early settlers soon afterwards, with the Creek number 23 claiming his second of the evening and the home sides fourth, once again with a low, well struck finish in the bottom corner. Keeper Grant Preston would normally have had this covered, but he was still seeing stars after an ugly looking collision with the Creek centre forward which left them both pole axed for a good 5 minutes.
A promising KPR performance in parts against a Slacks Creek team who could well go unbeaten at home this season. Losing Marcus Chamo was a blow for the visitors and they shot themselves in the foot a little bit by not sticking to their game plan in the second half. There were definitely plenty of positives to take away from the game however, with one of the Slacks players reporting on the Taringa forum that this was their toughest game in the last 12 months. The referee also poked his head in the Rovers dressing room after the game to say what a pleasure it was to see a side trying to play football ‘the way it’s meant to be played’.
A quick mention must go to James Kelleher, playing his last game for KPR before moving interstate. Another solid performance from a player who will be sorely missed. As for the rest of the squad, it’s Clairvaux next Sunday at the field of dreams and a perfect opportunity to get back on track. Onwards & upwards!
