View from the 18: Week 14

It was a good start to a late-season game. A well-placed free kick in the first half set us back early. But our Wolves played on. With play getting heated our opponent’s lead increased to 3-0.

We put forward a good effort, despite the final result, we’re proud of how we stuck with our game plan and tried to stay away from engaging in our opponent’s negative on-field banter.

Our MR2 ‘Player of the Game‘ was Moises. He kept his head up and never stooped to the opponent’s level of trash talking. 

Westboro started the match aggressively and in the 5th minute, our Alireza Zarepour made a run down the right wing and crossed the ball into the Fitzroy Harbour penalty area, where our striker, Mohsen Haghighat, scored to make it 1-0 early in this game.

However, this lead did not last long, as Fitzroy quickly responded with a counterattack, managing to score the equalizer with some luck and several rebounds in the penalty area to level this game.

Both teams exchanged several scoring chances but to no avail. We hope to see this through in our last game of the season on September 4th.

Our MR3 ‘Player of the Game‘ was our keeper.

Congratulations, Saeid!

Make no mistake, this was a tough game against a strong opponent. With 4 of 5 of our midfielders missing, and only two CBs, we played the kind of game champions play when their backs are up against the wall. Was it pretty? No. But we left everything on the field and made sure to see this game through.

We all put in shifts wherever needed. Carlo Zito and Q. Vuniqi up top… Michael Maguire, Stefano Giamberadino, and Joseph Catanzariti covering in multiple positions, Kevin Ridgway and Kevin Pereira getting us that first goal and almost another (barring an amazing save from their keeper) … a generational midfield of Alonso and Diego Gartner… and an unwavering back-line allowing for our keeper Anthony Weber to be aggressive off his line to grab-up over-hit through balls, standing tall and commanding, in his 18-yard box. 

Over the course of the game, I feel we had the better chances. But there were brief periods of about 10-15 minutes in each half where we could not keep control of the ball. We weathered that turbulence. They didn’t create any chances of note during period.

We did what I can only describe as a professional and dutiful champions’ performance.

To those who missed this game, you can be thrilled for every player who laced up to represent this club.

One more game to go. Come on you Wolves! 

Our MR4 ‘Player of the Game’ was Jahbaar, who made it his personal responsibility to make life as difficult as possible for our visiting opponents… allowing few chances and timing his tackles to perfection. His celebratory song was ‘Sun is Shining‘ by Bob Marley.

We’d like to sincerely thank co-managers, Mark Burger, Eamon Kavanagh, and first-year team manager Liam Smithies for their exceptional efforts. There were weekly challenges and Liam met them head-on.

I have no doubt they will have a bounce-back season next year!

The game started with scoring chances from both sides. Following a good attacking play at around 20 mins. of the first half, our Q. Vuniqi scored the first goal with a great shot towards the lower left side of their keeper. Just like that, it was 1-0 for our Wolves. We knew what this game meant for us (up until recently, Red Star were in 2^nd place), so everybody kept pushing. Just after the water break, our Ami Barakat hit a beautiful volley that crashed the top post. It should have been a goal for Ami. Fortunately, Kevin Ridgway was there to get the rebound and score. Towards the end of the half, Q scored 2 more goals, giving the Wolves a comfortable 4-0 lead.

At the start of the second half, the Wolves kept playing like it was a 0-0 game. At approximately 10 minutes into the second half, our Hasim Hoti scored our 5th goal, after a good fast break. The remainder of the game, the mid and defensive lines kept their attacks at bay. There was a lot of passing and good coordination and support between the lines. Red Star had good scoring chances, but our D-line worked well, trying to help our keeper, Bryan Lefebvre, achieve his first clean sheet of the season. Towards the end of the game, Qemail scored his 4^th goal of the match, following a great attack led by Marco Piacentini.

The final was a victory for the Wolves. Despite the result, this was a hard-fought match and Red Star showed why they are a top team in OT6. The ‘Players of the Game‘ of the game were Mahamadou Samake, Ami Barakat, Kevin Moorhouse, and Salvador Herencia-Carrasco. However, the entire team also gets a mention as they came to play and this was, by far, our best unified game of the season. For our next match we will play against Saigon United Truong-Sa.

!!! Vamos !!!

Our OT6 ‘Players of the Game‘.

The second half continued in the same pattern, and you could feel a few in the crowd getting nervous as we let the boys from Fitzroy hang in this game.  Not surprisingly, we ultimately paid for our wastefulness around the net and Fitzroy grabbed a goal from an improbable angle, but a lovely shot, right into the top corner. The question being asked then, was whether we had learned anything from our last game, or if we would begin to unravel again.  Fortunately, we got a much more positive response this week and everyone seemed to button down.  The last part of the game saw us come forward in waves, and once again it was Mark slipping a pass through to Alonso to put us back on top with about 10 minutes to go.  Tired legs and tired minds made for a few breathless moments, but broadly speaking we saw out the rest of the game with comfort and registered another three points.

Lots of noteworthy performances in this game … Mark was our notable ‘Player of the Game‘, but a few others, including Tom Prowse, Matthew Crosier, Andrew Specogna, Tony Zito, and Gerry Valente had stand-out performances that kept us in control most of the night.  And our keeper, Dom, proved once again that we will not lose with him roaming the ’18’.

Some observations from our own ‘Corn‘ keeper and humorist, Domenico Pecora…

-The evening started off warm and ended rather cool, much like property prices in Fitzroy Harbor.

-Frank Briglio recalling a possible Italian Festival in the early 1980’s being the last time he came out to Fitzroy Harbour.

-if Dom didn’t climb the ladder it is quite possible that the game would never have resumed – his bravery (having watched the horror movie – ‘Children of the Corn‘).

-During this match, Charles continued to explain his ankle injury to anyone sitting next to him. Every occasion, the story got more embellished, we get it…you nearly died for the Wolves’ cause!

-Our Team discovers that Mark can play midfield without moving much other than passing the ball and creating scoring opportunities for the team. We found our own Pirlo!

-Our mid-fielder, Fred Scaffidi, being complimented by the opposing player for his clean tackles and ball turnovers – he received a handshake (note:  In early May 2025, Fred will be running a training practice on how to properly tackle and force turnovers without being booked).

-Rob Badger running up and down the right side of the pitch and crosses to the middle reminded everyone of Deli Alli before his descent to footballing obscurity – Rob is rather like the Phoenix…he rises again!

-Frank Maiorino could be seen rolling his hips or thighs on a roller during the match – stiffness occurring because of all the feta cheese he ate in Greece!

So that brings us to the BIG game… this Friday we get our crack at Rockers United and revenge for our only loss of this year.  

Our worthy MOT4 ‘Player of the Game‘!