Mixed Reserve Ladder (Winter 2010)


#

Team

Play

Win

Lost

Draw

Bye

FF

FA

For

Agst

Goal Diff

Total
Points

1

Wendys Team

10

8

1

0

0

0

1

69

40

29

32

2

Take It Easy Bro

12

7

4

1

0

0

0

50

41

9

30

3

11eleven

9

6

2

1

0

0

0

28

15

13

26

4

Swingers

7

5

2

0

0

0

0

37

19

18

20

5

Rock Lobsters

10

3

7

0

0

0

0

43

57

-14

12

6

Last Place

12

2

9

1

0

0

0

41

73

-32

10

7

Purple Monkey Dishwasher

10

2

8

0

0

0

0

43

68

-25

8

8

Bbo's

12

1

10

0

0

0

0

30

67

-37

4

Monday, September 20, 2010

Round 12 – Rivalry Rematched

Round 12
Rock Lobsters vs 11eleven

Score: 1-3

Best: Ree
Goals: Chris 1

Team: Chris, Em, Pete, Ray, Ree, Sylvia
Injuries: none

Last week’s defeat had steeled the Lobsters resolve to stand and fight this one out. The match was much closer than last week’s encounter and really should have been a 1-1 draw had it not been for some sloppy goal keeping. If anything should be drawn from this match it is this, the Lobsters can match it with anyone.

Some early match argy bargy, carry over from last week’s antics, dissipated and the match was played in the competitive spirit it should be. Again the Lobsters were only able to sneak the 1 goal past 11eleven’s sound goal keeper who acknowledged she had been doing it for a while and should be attributed with the fact that they have conceded considerably fewer goals than anyone else this season. Her impenetrable performances allow 11eleven to deploy 3 guys in the field which often make 11eleven very difficult to defend against.

Enter a new rock in the Lobster defence. ReeBee stepped up to the plate and won her fair share of tackles against the 3 pronged male attack. She was in their faces at every opportunity and didn’t take a backward step. Not only was she able to win her challenges but she was poised enough in the heat of battle to look for the open teammate rather than boot the clearance to no-man’s-land. Well done on earning your first BOG!

Chris again was strong in attack and Sylvia helped complete the defensive foundation with another solid performance.

Round 11 – A rivalry begins

Round 11
Rock Lobsters vs 11eleven

Score: 1-6

Best: Chris
Goals: Pete 1

Team: Chris, Em, Pete, Ray, Ree, Sylvia
Injuries: none

11eleven had a deep bench and rotated thoroughly to keep fresh legs on the ground. This was the first match in which the Lobsters were matched for fitness. Unfortunately the Lobsters didn’t bring the ball control and delivery required to match it with the 3rd placed team. Often the Lobsters were exposed with the long ball and again allowed far too many long range shots. This has to be removed from their game if they are any chance of making finals.

The game turned spiteful by match end when a male 11eleven backed into a contest and lost a cleanly won header by Ray. He was quick to seek revenge and tried to take out Lobster players for the final two minutes knowing his team had stitched up the victory. A lack of respect was also shown after the game. The scene has been set for the rematch that is to follow next week.

The game was a disappointing affair and everyone looked flat except Chris who was the only Lobster with poise on the ball and played a lone roll up forward in creating opportunities... for himself. He was very unlucky not to have scored 2 goals and was a clear standout in a disappointing outing. Well done on earning your second BOG!

Round 10 – Last Minute Call Up

Round 10

Rock Lobsters vs Purple Monkey Dishwasher
Score: 2 - 5

Best: Pete
Goals: Pete 1, Ray 1

Team: Em, Matt (late inclusion), Michelle (late inclusion), Pete, Ray
Injuries: Michelle (broken wrist)

A last minute request to see if the Rock Lobsters could play this Father’s Day clash meant that half the regular team line-up would be missing. In came Em’s brother Matt and Em’s friend Michelle. Both played with the spirit in which the Lobsters epitomise. However the Dishwashers were a solid unit and provided plenty of run and dash. Too many long range bombs were allowed however the Lobsters were without their defensive juggernaut in Sylvia.

Matt was creative and worked hard all night. He was unlucky not to be rewarded with a goal or two. Unfortunately for Michelle, who also worked tirelessly, she took a hard strike to her wrist which was later found to be broken. While she went to the bench, which should have been to sit out the game, the Lobsters were down a player and were exposed by the Dishwashers. This was when Pete came to the fore. However sensing that her team needed her presence, Michelle came back on to finish out the match in one of the gutsiest efforts I have personally witnessed.

Pete played the game like a man possessed. Not content with being down on the BOG’s in his household, he tore the game a part. Up forward he was harassing and pressuring like we have come to expect from Pete. However it was in goals that Pete took his game to a new level. Pete was on the end of every driving shot! Had he not been so on song in goals the Lobsters would have lost by far more. It was clearly the standout performance from a goal keeper this season and worthy of a brew or two! Congrats Pete!

Monday, August 30, 2010

Round 9 – Slippery Fingers

Round 9
Rock Lobsters vs Wendy’s Team
Score: 7 - 10

Best: Em
Goals: Chris 2, Em 2, Ray 2, Sylvia 1

Team: Chris, Em, Pete, Ray, Ree, Sylvia
Injuries: Ray (blood rule) - available, Pete (corked thigh) - test

The first early match in a long while caught some of the Lobsters napping with Chris not even bothering to turn up till well after play had begun. While his cheery absence was missed in warm up, it was a buoyant mood surrounding the Lobsters as they finally entered a match where things all seemed even. Wendy’s Team had two useless Wendettes and three Wendellows, two of whom were stars. However not even five seconds into the match Wendy’s Team had scored the first goal with a strike from the opening kickoff. Clearly Chris’s lackadaisical attitude had spread amongst the team. The opening score really knocked the wind out of the Lobsters and left them looking flat. It was not long before another goal was let in and the Lobsters had the sinking feeling that they were facing the Swingers reincarnated. But all was not lost, the Lobsters regrouped and managed to cause some damage of their own. The goals scored by the Lobsters were all from great creative attacking plays rather than long range strikes and cheap knock ins from the back net. Having said that, gifting Wendy’s Team so many cheap goals and allowing them time to load up on long range strikes really should have been avoided. It left the Lobsters heading into half time 3-6 down. Still, while the team went into the half down, there was a buzz and knowing excitement that they would get back into the game in the next half. This positive attitude could be attributed to Sylvia converting her first goal which was quite the team lifter when the Lobsters needed it. Not that Chris had bothered to notice.

Entering the second half the Lobsters felt confident that their one great strength they hold over most teams, their superior fitness and willingness to run all night, would play a big part. So apparent was the disparity that Wendy’s Team vented their frustration and acknowledged our superior work ethic. Utilising ‘Lobster time’ the team caused many headaches for Wendy and her band of cocky men. The Lobsters even scored their first header.... unfortunately it was an own goal scored by Ray. Had that not happened the Lobsters would have won the second half however it ended in a 4-4 draw. Again the Lobsters let themselves down by allowing cheap goals and not supporting the keeper however the costly lesson hopefully has been learned and a tighter defensive effort will be produced next week. Also it wouldn’t hurt to have some stickier fingers from the goal keepers.

Chris’s clear priority of work over the Lobsters obviously counts him out of the running for best on and Ray’s own goal effort also let the team down. Ree ran hard all night and clearly had her best game yet, she managed to hold up plenty of attacking forays and began to take her passing to a new level, however best on had to go to Em with a strong return to form. Kicked 2 goals, created others, danced around defenders and brought teammates into the game, this award couldn’t be bestowed on anyone else. I’d also like to point out that she now holds the most best-ons as well as the pants in a certain household..... Glad you’re on the Lobsters team Em!

Round 8 – Dodgy League Rules

Round 8
Rock Lobsters vs Size4Bobcats
Score: 3 - 6

Best: Sylvia
Goals: Chris 1, Pete 1, Ray 1

Team: Chris, Em, Pete, Ray, Ree, Sylvia
Injuries: None

A late scheduling change saw the Lobsters match up against the Size4Bobcats. While the name is not very intimidating the fact they are in a league above the Lobsters would justify any pre-match nerves, especially after the pantsing the Lobsters received the week before. However when the match started the Bobcats were a man short and the Lobsters could not believe their luck.

The Lobsters made short work of their stretched defense, scoring the opening goal before ‘cute blonde’ or more affectionately referred to by some female lobsters as ‘that pushy biatch from the BBO’s’ joined the field, (most female lobsters condone themselves as ladies). With the addition of the ring-in, the Bobcats were able to quickly turn the tables and were not only able to reduce the deficit, but head into half time with a 1-3 lead.

The Lobsters knew they were still in the hunt and also had the fresher legs, (cute blonde had just played a match beforehand) due to a crazy rotation policy that worked well in theory but broke team momentum and never really allowed the Lobsters to settle into the game. Having said that, the Lobsters came out guns blazing to get the first goal of the second half only to let a cheap goal get scored seconds later. Down 2-4 the lobster found that extra gear and lifted again to bring the deficit back to 3-4 before letting the game slip with more cheap late goals.

Credit must be given to the Bobcats, who were able to play the long ball well and had two aggressive female competitors without having any male stars. The Lobsters got caught double teaming too many times which left the easy cross there to be converted. Fortunately the Bobcats were a nice crew and the Lobsters look forward to playing them again and squaring the ledger.

Sylvia again took best on for her ability to cut out the many scoring opportunities the Bobcats had and covered for a Lobster team less willing than usual to push back and defend when necessary to help out the goal keeper. She also created many attacking plays from the back half with the amount of turnovers she was able to generate. Keep up the good work Sylv!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Round 7 – Reality bites

Round 7
Rock Lobsters vs The Swingers
Score: 0 - 8

Best: Sylvia
Goals: -

Team: Chris, Em, Pete, Ray, Ree, Sylvia
Injuries: None

The Lobsters headed into this game full of confidence. Facing the Swingers, which had only played one game for a 5-4 result against the competition the Lobsters had already faced, seemed like an easy proposition. The Swingers contained four guys and three girls. The girls were competitive but not of the same caliber as the female Lobsters however, the guys clearly outshone any of the Lobster blokes.

This match was by far the toughest match the Lobsters have played and for the most part they did a reasonable job at defending. It was once the Lobsters created the turnover that left them with few options. The need to constantly defend meant that the Lobsters could not afford the luxury of a prowling striker and so the long ball forward would quickly rebound back into the defensive half. The Swingers were a very well rounded, technical unit. They did not have to run as hard as they were able to stretch the Lobsters with long passes and were able to switch from defense to attack instantly. The ball remained in the Lobster’s defensive half for the majority of the game which made defending the constant pressure very difficult. This intensity clearly caught the Lobsters off guard after last week’s white wash and resulted in the Lobsters being down 0-5 in the first half. The second half was a similar story although the Lobsters were more composed at the back and were able to generate more meaningful counter attacks even though they were few and far between.

The skills of the swinger’s male quartet were at the very least the equal of any of the players that the Lobsters had faced so far. They were fit, powerful and had talented dribbling skills which meant for the first time the Lobsters were somewhat intimidated on the pitch. The swinging males, when working in tandem (one male was always in goals the other on the bench), were able to produce more time and space than the Lobsters would have liked to permit as it generally took two Lobsters to tackle one of these players which also resulted in a loss in the second half, losing it 0-3.

The final result 0-8 may have been unlucky but the Swingers were clearly the better team on the field. Despite their skill superiority, they lacked in unity as one of the males berated a female teammate for missing a shot on goal reducing her to tears. Hopefully they had fun beating the Lobsters 0-8 or their might be little for them to play for on Monday nights.

Chris should count himself unlucky not to have received best on as he was the only Lobster to push forward with any real purpose with his spin and drives off the wing. Had he managed to score he might have got the cookies however the best player was clearly Sylvia who was able to shut out any female presence in front of the defending goal and give the swinging male quartet a run for their money. The amount of contests she was able to get to and pressure surely saved more goals to the already uncomfortable score line.

The night was a tough lesson to learn however I am sure next week will be more positive for the Lobsters.

Round 6 – Sky high

Round 6
Rock Lobsters vs The Oxymorons
Score: 16 – 2

Best: Everyone
Goals: Chris 5, Em 5, Pete 5, Ray 1

Team: Chris, Em, Pete, Ray, Sylvia
Injured: Ree (Sick)

A last minute cancellation by Ree was nearly dire but Sylvia, who was still getting over her leg injury, stepped up to the plate and saved the Lobsters from forfeiting. Not only did she get on the field (and would have been well within her right to just rest in goals) but she dominated in a defensive role in the field. Nice to have you back Sylvia!

Once the earlier drama was resolved, (Ree still to get scolded) the night had an aura of just being perfect for the Rock Lobsters. Waltzing out onto the field high from their first victory the week before, the Lobsters ran hard from the get go. The team was light on their feet and there was a passing chemistry not previously reached by the team. This can be accredited to in no small part all the weekend training sessions that had been put in by the Lobsters. The amount of goal scoring opportunities created was enormous and after the first half the score line read 9 – 1.

The Oxymoron’s had a team of very delicate girls, a guy who didn’t contribute much and another guy who was clearly the best player the Lobsters had encountered to date. He was able to beat everyone one on one and tried to set up his teammates wherever he could. Unfortunately he could not carry the team any more than he did and while creative when pushing forward, didn’t have the legs or the support to be a defensive force. That being said, he had a lone hand in the goal scored in the first half by the Oxymoron’s, was instrumental in their second goal scored in the second half and was unlucky not to have scored a third which went in after the siren.

To the Lobsters credit they continued their first half pressure deep into the second winning the second half as well 7-1. The Lobsters were faultless in attack, looking to pass at every opportunity, intercept loose passes and create space for each other. The only criticism if one was looking to find one on a night where a team wins by 14 goals was a tendency to again not push back defensively when the fast break was on. This resulted in the 2 goals scored against but was a minor blemish on a wonderful performance and some well deserved beers.

It was impossible to single out one person for best on. Em scored some amazing goals from impossible angles and created about a dozen more opportunities for others. Chris bedazzled the hapless defense of the Oxymoron’s and got forward to score some powerful strikes. Pete was a good focus up front, troubled the main defender, held the ball up long enough to bring others in and still managed to dominate the goal sheet and Sylvia was there to cut out just about every attacking play the Oxymoron’s could muster. Great team effort Lobsters. More beers are surely on the way!!!!