DATE 25^th April 2002

OPPOSITION Farmhouse

GROUND Home

With our first win of the season last Tuesday and this being our last game of the season spirits were high and people wanted to play. At one stage there were 18 players down to play. By midday on the day of the kick-off we had 8! This then brought desperate measures, and we started to phone around different first team players. In the end we managed to get the 11 and have 1 sub that didn’t come on.

Out of the 11 only Darren Jones hadn’t of played for us this season. Being the last game of the season, changes were made to give people the opportunity to express themselves. Neil moved into the left back position to make room for Dave Willett at centre back. John Davey was made captain for the game instead of Matt Scott who moved upfront alongside Stu Gardiner. Darren played on the right of midfield with Kevin Downes and Rob Davis in the centre. Elvis occupied the left wing instead of his normal left back role.

The game didn’t start off the best with different people in different roles it took a while to get going. Neil was looking to get forward at every opportunity from left back, and was linking well with Elvis. Darren loved his right midfield role and was helping young John out.

When the break through did come, it wasn’t really a surprise who got it. Kevin, who had 6 goals from 13 games for the reserves this season, was our top scorer by one goal. But with Ross Holbrook not playing due to work commitments, Kevin was certain of the top scorer post. Rob crossed the ball and Kevin rose majestically to head home, 1-0!

After this goal we kept going, which for us was unusual. Rob had a good run and shot that the keeper saved. Also good work down the left again between Neil and Elvis resulted in yet another corner. And it was from one of these left wing corners that it became 2-0. Elvis, with his sweet left foot, delivered the corner into the danger area where Kevin again beat the defence to it. This time, it was a controlled volley from our top scorer and within the first 20 minutes we led 2-0.

There was a spring in our step, and not surprisingly either, as it was the first time this season that we’d led by two clear goals and we were determined to hold onto it.

But, in all honestly we didn’t need to hang on. Elvis had a shot but it wasn’t the best. We were looking dangerous every time we went forward, and with the centre defence mopping anything up that came their way it looked comfortable. Preen in goal was having an inspired game. During the season he has become more and more confident in his own ability, coming off his line quicker and claiming crosses. It was from one of these that he launched the ball. As the ball went sailing over the defenders heads Matt ran onto the ball. As the keeper came out to narrow the angle, Matt calmly slotted the ball into the corner. 3-0, not even half time and everyone playing well!! This was unheard of for the reserves, but after all the hard work that had gone into the season maybe it was just rewards. Somehow there was still time for more drama in the first half. The slightest hesitation in the Farmhouse defence was capitalised upon quite superbly by OG (Daren Jones). Not only did he manage to nick in front of them and get the ball, he somehow managed to stay on his feet when kicked. He wasn’t finished there, OG continued his charge towards the goal and finished it off by rifling the ball into the top of the net from the edge of the area. 4-0! To Farmhouse’s credit they kept going and late in the first half lobbed Preen to make it 4-1 at the break.

4-1 up at half time and with the players in jubilant mood, we knew we had to keep it going, as weve let more than 3 goals in, in one half plenty of times this season. Jason, our sub was happy to let the 11 players stay on the pitch and try to continue their fine form.

The second half was much the same as the first, good football all round and yet more goals. John came into his own, passing the ball well, tracking back and even going on a solo run in which he beat 3 players, but unfortunately his shot lacked power. Even Neil managed to do a little showboating of his own.

With the team full of confidence, both full backs looked to get forward. It was from one of these occasions in which we got number 5.

Neil picked the ball up in the middle of the Farmhouse half, and with a defence splitting pass found OG on the edge of the box. Unselfishly OG squared the ball to Matt, who took a touch before firing the ball into the net for his 2nd and our 5^th.

Our 6^th goal came from a break down the right. OG, on the edge of the box squared it across to the unmarked Stu, who took a touch to steady himself. The Farmhouse keeper to his credit closed Stu down very quickly and instead of panicking or just shooting and hoping for the best, Stu squared the ball to Elvis, who controlled the ball before finding his spot to score his first goal for the club.

The 7^th goal, with Farmhouse pushing forward, came via a counter attack. Matt, suddenly found himself just inside the Farmhouse half with only one defender to beat. When Matt had skipped past him, he still had most of the half to run. As he closed in on the penalty area the keeper again advanced to try and narrow the angle. Matt kept his head and calmly rounded the keeper before running the ball into an empty net for his hat-trick. This was the Reserves first hat-trick in there very short history. Also Matt’s first goals of the season and his first ever hat-trick.

We didn’t really have many more chances after that, Matt was brought down on the edge of the box and Neil’s free-kick narrowly missed Kevin, who was also on a hat-trick.

Farmhouse did manage to score again and the game ended 7-2, not a bad way to end the season, and hopefully we can start off the same way next season.

In this game there were a few firsts. It was the first time:

• We had 4 different scorers
• OG and Elvis’s first goals for the reserves.
• Our first hat-trick

And another record to be proud of is, this was the most any Argonauts team had scored in the past 3 years.

The Game Ended Up 7-2

Goal Scored by: Matt (3), Kevin (2), Darren & Jonathan

Man Of The Match:

Starting Line Up:

Simon Preen

John Davey

Dave Willett

George Mullholand

Neil Gardiner

Darren Jones

Kevin Downes

Rob Davis

Stu Gardiner

Matt Scott

Jonathan Nash