Match Reports
Metro 5 KPR v Brisbane Wolves 02/05/10
Result: KPR 7
Date: Sunday 02/05/10
Kick Off: 15:00
Conditions: Surreal…
Playing against a winless side can be a tricky prospect at times and often a potential banana skin in the making. Coming off the back of 2 big losses to Ipswich & Annerley (Metro 3!!) respectively, the pressure was on KPR to break the cycle and get their faltering season back on track against cellar dwellers Brisbane Wolves.
With 40 minutes to go until kick off, the boys slipped into the black & gold (that’s the colour of the home kit, not the cheap corner shop margarine) and waited for the Wolves to roll into town….and waited….and waited….and waited…
With 10 minutes to go, a lone wolf strolled into the KPR sheds, followed shortly afterwards by another. By the time the whistle sounded for the start of the first half, there were only 7 players standing in the visitors half of the field and a cricket score looked to be on the cards.
Just as an inferior team can sometimes find an extra dimension when faced with great adversity and rise up to the level of their superior opponents, unfortunately the same thing can also happen in reverse! KPR seemed to have a mental block in the first half playing against such a depleted opposition. If they played their normal game it could have been all over within 15 minutes, but instead it looked like they were recreating the old Tuesday night training drill where the aim of the game is to string as many passes together as possible but NOT to score.
No one seemed game to take a shot, instead choosing to pass the ball from one side of the pitch to the other (and back again) like a hot potato. On the rare occasions that KPR did open up and have a dig, it was generally reminiscent of an NFL field goal attempt and more often than not ended up rolling half way towards the Piney.
Taking pity on their hosts, and proving what a sporting side they are, the Wolves decided to lead by example and banged one in their own net for good measure to break the deadlock. Tommo Ishiguro then bagged a quick fire brace, cleverly beating the off side trap for his first and coolly slotting a penalty home for his second, and KPR’s third.
The second half was marginally better for the home side as they started to find their natural game and the Wolves began to tire (despite a latecomer bolstering their numbers to 8). Tommo capped off a man of the match display when he completed his hat-trick and also chipped in with a couple of assists for Neil Gibson and Fitz late on. The goal of the game award though must go to Niall Clancy for an outrageous effort from a good 30 yards out. Tommo was again in the thick of the action, initially winning the free kick, before Niall stepped up and unleashed an absolute pearler into the top right hand corner, leaving the keeper grasping at thin air. It was reminiscent of Paul Gascoignes stunner for Spurs in the 1991 FA cup semi final against Arsenal at Wembley. Surely the best goal scored on the field of dreams for many a year!! (Niall – I accept cash, cheques, all major credit cards & Kitty’s beer vouchers).
So KPR eventually ran out comfortable winners as you would expect, but you had to admire the effort and pride shown by the visitors, as they worked tirelessly and showed great endeavour to keep the score reasonably respectable considering the circumstances. The KPR boys felt a bit cruel belting out the club song afterwards, but the president hadn’t had a chance to sing it yet with the Ressies so it was for a good cause.
The only negative of the day for KPR was seeing Brent Compton rise majestically to get his head on the end of a cross….only to land awkwardly and disappear down a particularly large bobble, reinjuring his suspect ankle in the process. He looked to be in more trouble than a flatulent spy as he was carried off on the new $1000 stretcher (if you ever need it, it’s behind the fridge in the canteen!!?) and was seen shortly afterwards mumbling incoherently whilst washing down a couple of womens nurofen with a bottle of
Get well soon Brenty!!! And thanks to Tim, Poli, Padraic and anyone else I missed for helping out.
