Thirds record 2nd win on the trot.
Tuesday, 2 June 2009

The Thirds followed up last weeks first win with another excellent team effort and took all three points. With Matty not available to keep for the Thirds, it was left to the coach to put his teams interests above all else and assume keeping duties.

Thankfully, his “skills” weren’t tested at all during the first half in which SS had much of the play and the clearer opportunities to score. A 20 metre free kick from Tommy Angelakis was heading into the top corner until the Monash Uni keeper made a great one-handed save to deny him his first goal of the season.

A couple of good half chances followed to Peter Salatas who volleyed both wide.

Tommy Angelakis went off just on 30 minutes with a hammy and Keith Psihogios replaced him upfront. A sweeping move down the right had the ball reaching George Kaplantzis on the left edge of the box. He made his way towards by-line and crossed it hard and low for Keith to knock the ball in with his first touch of the game.

The second half saw Monash Uni, with a couple of changes in midfield, fly out of the blocks and dominate for the first 10 minutes. Their movements down each flank had our defence stretched a number of times during second half.

On 65 minutes, SS could have doubled their lead when a corner from the left was met by a John Marapas header producing a great save by the Monash keeper. With the goal at his mercy, Keith proceeded to tap the ball over the bar from two metres out.

The last 20 minutes of the game was all about soaking up Monash’s pressure which was their best period of the game. As SS began to tire, Monash had a number of chances which produce an equally fine number of saves – the first from a narrow angled shot by a Monash player and the second diving at the feet of a player with the goal at his mercy.

With the referee confirming that there was 2 minutes to go, there was a mad scramble out on the edge of the box. Somehow, with 3 SS players around the ball, the clearance went straight to a Monash player who found himself one on one with the keeper about 6 metres out. His near perfect shot would have found the net on any other given day however the keeper’s outstretched boot, and the subsequent defensive clearance preserved the win.

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