9/4/Noble Park 0 – 2 Middle Park
Following last weeks rout of Baxter, the MPFC boys turned up to a windswept Norman Luth Reserve in high spirits. As the team gathered to watch the reserves notch their first win of the season an ominous smell wafted across the pitch. Quickly realising that SMITH was not the culprit, it was established that the Noble Park fans were either roasting East Bentleigh’s star striker from last week or a wild boar, no doubt caught and trapped overnight in a cunning trap.
The boys got changed in the smallest room ever seen by this writer, since viewing Danny DeVito’s bedroom on ‘Through the Keyhole’, hosted by Sir David Frost. Strati’s team talk was stirring and the team ran out to start their warm up. The ref told Nath that his 2 inch shinpads would have to be replaced and MPFC’s new signing looked aghast. He was heard moaning Ashley Cole never has these problems. About 20 minutes before kick off, the MPFC lucky mascot George ‘The Leprechaun’ McKenna turned up. Although he claimed to have got lost on the long and difficult journey from Richmond to Noble Park, all the boys knew he’d been searching for those pesky Lucky Charms. He quickly got chnaged and joined in with Wayne’s ‘warm up’ and the game was ready to start.The game started off fairly slowly with both teams creating chances as the game ebbed and flowed. Parkers were missing winger Chris Stevenson, who was off getting a chest hair transplant to ensure that his fading looks were restored to their David Hasslehoff greatness circa. Baywatch 1995.
The Parkers were getting some chances down the left wing through Nathan and Mikhail Loftus, while Noble Park were concentrating on the counter attack. After what can only be described as an unknown and invisible sniper, hiding in the bushes surrounding the park, took aim at Noble Park’s left winger and left him in a weeping heap a little scuffle broke out in the MPFC half. Both teams eventually put their handbags away and this seemed to kick start the Parkers into 1st gear.Some good work down the left resulted in a corner which George headed in to make it 1 – nil Parkers. The first half ended with neither team playing particuarly well.
The second kicked off with the wind having chnaged directions and the cool change bringing a wall of rain into the Parkers faces. Noble Park seemed intent on getting the Big Dane sent off, alas their dastradly plan failed and one of their defenders paid the price for too many sneaky kicks and was sent off for kicking the soft-hearted, flower arranging Viking. Noble Park down to 10 men.Parkers began to tunr the screw and were awarded a penalty shortly after. This writer forgets the exact circumstances behind this decision but does know it was a stone wall penalty. The Don stepped up and scored. Easier from 12 yards than on the goalline for the captain. 2 nil Parkers!!The game continued to be an open affair with the weather causing a few problems. And although Parkers probably had at least 179 crosses and about 96 shots at goal during the game, it reamined 2 nil. The defence satisfied and the boys knowing that sometimes you have to grind out those wins, the Parkers retunred to Albert Park with another win.
Team: B.Donlevy, Osland, Cook, Nigel, Loftus, Hogan, Furness, M.Donlevy, Helena, Meade, McKenna. Subs: Roberts, Trev
Goals: M.Donlevy 1 & McKenna
