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Tuesday, 27 April 2010 |
 Winners & grinners
A long break of 4 weeks between the last Callan McMillan game and a steamy ANZAC day’s grand final resulted in a few nerves finding their way into the Blue Dogs dressing room. The girls came together from 2nd, 3rd and 4th division to take on the inform Casino Cobras at Crozier. Long time 2nd division Coach Russell Barker gave his girls a motivational pre-game speech which calmed the nerves and inspired the Blue Dogs to work hard to take the trophy back to Bangalow.
Casino started the game strong with their young guns making the doggies defence work hard. Our half a dozen fans in the grandstands were vocal and helped to inspire Bangalow’s defence lead by captain Catherine Kelly, Katie Willey and Anna Boyle to keep the cobras attack in check. Mia Frappell in goals confidently fended off numerous attacks despite carrying a bad hand injury. Meanwhile, up front the doggies were making numerous chances with Bec Plumber working the ball around the Casino backline and Kahlia Flick crossing the ball, both sending Casino’s defence into panic mode.
The Bangalow mid field remained strong with Kath Barker (refusing to
admit that she is no longer 16 years old) running circles around the
Casino players. Rachel Lowenstein, Kez Warburton and Marsha Warburton
chipped in helping to keep the centres strong forcing Casino to take
their play wide.
20 Minutes into the game Casino managed to find the back of the net. The
blue dogs rallied and lifted their game to another level. Lucy Barker
on the wing consistently fed her forwards perfect through balls and
Carol Mitchell leaving her usual post of fullback put on a show up front
for the now swelling Blue dog fans in the stands. Bec on a solo run for
goals found the inside post resulting in the goal being disallowed.
This injustice put the fire in the belly of the strikers and Casino
could only stand and watch as a champagne display of football was
happening around them.
Just before half time the Cobras young legs led to a runaway 2nd goal
taking the score to 2 nil. Russell and team manager Leanne Lovett, after
a meeting of the minds, decided to move young gun Michaela Hutchinson
to the striker position. And strike she did, finding the back of the net
not once but twice before the end of the first half.
The second half saw a newly inspired Bangalow take to the field with a
confident attacking attitude. The doggies fitness and finesse far
outshone the Cobras in the 2nd half. Julie Bianchi confidently joined
the girls for a run up front helping to create chances and opportunities
whilst Kez and Marsha made a dynamic sister duo in the centre of the
park.
A hand ball in the Casino box resulted in the only Dot shot of the game.
Rachel Lowenstein stepped up to the challenge and confidently slotted
the ball into the top left hand corner of the net taking the doggies to
their first lead of the game. I’m told the cheer could be heard from the
back deck of the Bangalow Bowling Club.
 Kath Barker - Woman of the Match
Casino consistently tried to break down the Blue Dog defence but the
back line remained rock solid with Mia, Vicki Flick, Anna, Carol, Katie,
Jules and Catherine effortlessly stopping any Casino challenge.
15 minutes before full time Michaela Hutchinson decided to challenge her
father for the Bangalow clubs “Golden Boot Award”, and on a through
ball from Anna took on the Casino sweeper and gave herself the first hat
trick of the season, taking Bangalow to a 4 – 2 victory at full time.
FFNC presented Kath Barker with a well deserved man of the match trophy.
Not bad for a 35 year old!!!! |
