The Beautiful Game?????

Look familiar?

The newly promoted Marist Skins went down 2-1 against Stokes Valley Killer Bees in the wet Capital Div 8 match at Cobham Park on Saturday. The match made most players look like elephants on roller skates and left players reaching for their goggles and wetsuits. Variable ground conditions made short passing games difficult and judging the bounce, skid and stopping of the ball was a nightmare.

Both teams had plenty of chances, with few on target shots. The first twenty minutes were even, before the Killer Bees pressure told. A deflected clearance bounced skidded and spun more than the Shane Warne "Ball of the Century" (to dismiss Mike Gatting in 1993) to bemuse the defence and the Valley made the Skins pay as they slotted it for a one nil lead.

The home team were sparked into action and created several chances but unfortunately the skillful Marist team were unable to turn the pressure into goals. The halftime score was one nil to the Bees with the Skins dominating possession with 53%.

The second half started evenly, but for a period in the middle of proceedings the Skins scored a deserved equaliser through left back come central midfield Mark Crookston who put a long cross into the mixer and the keepers waterlogged gloves were unable to stop it going in. Finally the Skins got on the board.

Unfortunately for the home team, the Bees responded with the winner in the 79th minutes from a break down their right flank and a well executed cross created havoc in the waterlogged red zone and a nice finish left the goal keeper stranded. They were a constant threat as they sent players forward up the middle, leaving the Skins defence under pressure!

That is the way the match finished. The Marist Skins went down 2-1 in a close game, which on another day may have resulted differently. There was some great play by the home team and there is plenty to build on for next week!