Archives

« Previous Post | Next Post »

This week's match report is brought to you by none other than Luke "HeadCoach" Andrews...

The football cliche, "it's a game of two halves" has never been more appropriate that in the Tigers V Green Island match at Birchgrove Oval on the weekend.

After nine weeks of consistent performances, the Tigers dished up the football equivalent of stale bread and gruel for its supporters in the first 45 minutes, turning in their most disappointing half of the season.

After showing glimpses of control over the initial period, the team across the park went missing for a ten minute period and were punished severely by a up tempo, physical Green Island side. Green Island managed to score three goals in the space of ten minutes. The Tigers, resembling a set of witches hats at times, were left bemused and frustrated.

To their credit, the Tigers managed to get on the scoreboard prior to the break with a goal to Daniel Totaro. There were however long faces on both the players and the supporters as the Tigers entered the change rooms.

The contents of the half time discussions will remain secret, but the team that emerged for the second half did not in any way resemble that of the first. Right from the start of the half, the Tigers played positive football and began to control the tempo and play.

Louis Soares moved to defensive midfield and controlled the play, while the twin towers of Dominic and Tyrell (on debut) began to get the better of the two 7ft strikers from green island. Up front, Daniel Totaro continued to work hard in the air, with the striking combination, likened by some to "Ren and Stimpy", causing constant problems.

Still trailing 3-1 after the break, the Tigers clawed another goal back through Anthony Trieste, who sent a thunderbolt into the back of the Green Island net from 30 yards out. 3-2 and the tigers were coming back.

After the height of hitting the back of the net, Trieste was to feel a painful low as he was hit in the head by a foot so, so high it needed launch clearance from Cape Canaveral. The sickening kick, which only received a yellow card, opened up Triestes nose and resulted in the immediate substitution with veteran Dave Hardwick making his comeback appearance.

The Tigers come back continued on 75 minutes when left footed still ball specialist Jeremy came into play a neat one-two off the wall from a set piece. Three all. Could the Tigers achieve the unthinkable. Could they win after being 3 nil down?

No. They could not. Green Island, shell shocked from the resurgent Tigers performance, rallied and performed save after scrappy save to keep the Tigers from scoring the winner. As the final whistle blew across a cold Birchgrove oval, the side from green island looked disappointed, while the Tigers looked relieved.

As frustrating as the first half performance was for the Management, supporters and players, the character shown in the second half of the match sets a level that must be maintained if the Tigers are to be true finals contenders.

Strong performances by Tyrell on debut and Daniel Totaro highlighted the match that will go down as a great escape for the Tigers, but at the same time as a reality check. With solid performances from bench players, and good depth from the under 20s squad, changes can be expected for this weekends match with the Bathurst 75s.

As for the 20s, they brushed aside their opponents 6-1 in a game that could quite easily have seen double figures registered by the Tigers. Birthday boy David Pirelli celebrated with a goal that surely must be one of the best ever scored on old Birchy. Approaching a bouncing ball about 30 yards out, he let fly with a vicious half volley that screamed into the far top corner, still rising as it hit the back of the net. It reminded one of Steven Gerrard in the FA cup final so magnificently won by the mighty reds of Liverpool recently, only this was better. Julian Bracewell bagged a double and Uri Gandalf a hat trick as the Tigers ran away with things in the second half, leaving coach Kaltenegger a very satisfied old Tiger.