Saturday, September 14, 2019

Bombers and Lions draw 1-1


Photo:  Kingborough's Sebastian Jarvie shields the ball as his goalkeeper, Warren Iles, is about to grab it [PlessPix]

(Southern Championship 6, KGV Park, Saturday, 14 September 2019)

University Bombers 1 (N Di Falco 80)
Kingborough Lions United 1 (M Aliste 35)

HT:  0-1   Ref:  D Bowerman

University Bombers:  J Di Falco;  Briggs, N Di Falco, Fletcher, Hargrave, Herbert, Mummery, Poole, Reeve, Selkirk, Shellard, Swain, Arellano, Dimsey

Kingborough Lions United:  Camargo;  Coleman, Jarvie, Pereira, Quin, Sneddon, Stephens, Tarros, Vavoulas, While, Williams, Aliste, Daley, Iles, Molano

Photo:  Kingborough goalkeeper Warren Iles cuts out a cross [PlessPix]

There was still ample talent on view despite the age of some of the players in this hard-fought game.

Nick Di Falco, one of the younger brigade on view, has pace and an eye for a chance.  He hit the post in the first half when through on goal, while 10 minutes from the end, his lob from the right sailed over a surprised Kingborough keeper Warren Iles and the ball dropped like a mortar shell and nestled in the far corner of the net to make it 1-1.

Photo:  University's Nick Falco lobs the ball over Kingborough's Adrian Pereira and scores the equaliser [PlessPix]

Marcos Aliste had given Kingborough the lead in the 30th minute when he attacked down the inside-right channel and lobbed the ball over the keeper.

Photo:  Marcos Aliste chips the ball into the net to give Kingborough the lead [PlessPix]

University goalkeeper John Di Falco had been playing well until he strained a thigh muscle and had to be replaced before the interval.

Manny Vavoulas and Adrian Pereira were solid in defence for Kingborough, while Tony Tarros still has some nice touches in midfield and wide on the right flank.

University’s Chris Hargrave ran the line in the first half and came on during the second.  This veteran of the highest level of the game in Tasmania, lacks pace now, of course, but he still reads the game to perfection and he never wastes a pass.  He plays the ball short and simply, but always finds a team-mate.

Photo:  Warren Iles, who played in the outfield in the first half, controls the ball in midfield [PlessPix]

The draw was probably a fair result.  I have nothing but admiration for these men who are still willing to go out and have a go at the game they obviously love and enjoy.  There’s no way I could have done that at their average age.

As the saying goes, if you can’t play anymore, you have to be content with writing about it.  That still comes a distant second, though.

Photo:  Kingborough's Adrian Pereira comes away with the ball but referee Daniel Bowerman awards University a free-kick [PlessPix]

1 comment:

John Di Falco said...

Thanks for the coverage, Walter.

Particularly appreciated as it was the final game for the Bombers after 21 seasons which is not to say we are all hanging up the boots but finding the numbers to field 2 veteran University teams has become increasingly difficult.

Many thanks and best wishes to the many weekend warriors who have donned the black and yellow for the Bombers over the past 21 years.