Match Report

Landsdowne Rangers 4 3 St George FC
 

Goals scored
Tony Bush (3), Brian Butler

Man of the match
Tony Bush

Today saw Landsdowne play their first home game of the season.

It was their first outing on home soil and their first ever match at home.

They went out in search of their first win of the season and to put to bed their dismal performance the week before.

The team put in a good performance before the match by staging a protest towards "Ze German" after his outbursts the previous week. Everyone looked on in amazement as chants filled the air led by Dean Weaving.

"WHAT DO WE WANT", "BUTLER OUT", "WHEN DO WE WANT IT", "NOW". Placards were everywhere, voices were vocal, but the protest dispersed peacefully enabling Landsdowne to carry on with their good performance on the pitch too.

Landsdowne got off to a poor start watching a pea roller hit a divot and jump over the keeper's outstretched hand, leaving Landsdowne trailing 1-0 after only 5 mins.

However, today where it came from I don't know, but every player relaxed and enjoyed their football and just would not lay down and roll over as in previous matches. Every player today should take great credit and satisfaction in their performance and take that into next week's game.

Within 10 mins of conceding, Landsdowne equalised from a long throw. Chas threw the ball long which was glanced on towards the back post by Ravioli, where "Ze German" managed to creep his small frame into the back post unnoticed, leaving him the task of beating the keeper which he did without hesitation. It was one for the history books, his first ever goal for Landsdowne, even though he did celebrate it like a big girls blouse bouncing all over the place like a bouncing bomb. No, sorry, I stand corrected - a bouncing bum!!

With the game poised at 1-1 what could go wrong?

Plenty really. As Landsdowne were looking threatening, a clearance by "Ze German" hit their player and bounced straight to their player who was at least 2 yards offside, however the whistle didn't come but their goal did with a good cut back leaving Landsdowne trailing once more.

Landsdowne were now behind again thinking, "are we ever gonna catch a break?". Well, we did, when a slide rule pass by Whitey put in Raviolli who was also offside but like ours the whistle never went. Raviolli blasted the ball at goal, the keeper did get a hand to it but such was the venom it dropped into the net leaving the score 2-2.

After being behind twice in the game Landsdowne continued attacking, earning a corner for their graft. This was the moment Landsdowne took the lead for the first time in the match, Whitey put in a superb corner to which Raviolli powered the ball into the net leaving the score 3-2 and a very happy Raviolli, who it must be said was having an outstanding game winning everything in the air and holding the ball up well.

With 5 mins to go could Landsdowne hold a 3-2 lead?

"NO" is the simple answer. The defence stepped as they played their ball 100% convinced their player was offside, however the linesman disagreed, either that or his arm was aching from his Saturday night antics. Either way the score was now 3-3 at half time and the game was there to be won by both teams.

In the second half the teams cancelled each other out with both teams having half chances until St George's keeper dropped the ball, Raviolli was onto the ball as quick as a tortoise when their keeper made a second attempt to grab the ball, but managed to close line Raviolli in the process and concede a penalty.

Up stepped Raviolli - cool, calm and S*ITT*NG a brick - who took a quality penalty, earning himself a hatrick in the process and leaving the score 4-3 to Landsdowne with 15 mins left.

In the last 15mins Landsdowne dropped deep and made two banks of 4 seeing the game out as eventual 4-3 winners.

MAN OF THE MATCH Tony Bush stated in his after match comments that he was truly grateful for his reward and had he not received it he would have quit the club despite only doing his job. He also added, "3 Fu**i*ng goals, I would have sulked had I not laid my hands on Man of the Match."