SL1 Vs. Doncaster [Rd 17]

Waverley 3 defeated Doncaster 2.

The Panthers stamped their authority on the State League 1 competition with a stirring win against top of the table Doncaster at the State Hockey Centre. The win ensures that Waverley will be part of the finals race in 2009 as well as retaining third spot on the ladder with one round left in the regular season.

Both teams found themselves with dangerous opportunities early in the match. However, it was the Panthers who were able to capitalize first whilst displaying their familiar attacking flair.

The unrelenting pressure imposed by Simon Preston was rewarded when he was able to strip Olympian Andrew Smith of the ball – he continued his characteristic run down the right wing and delivered a inch perfect pass to Sparrow who crashed the ball into the goal for a one nil lead, Waverley 1-0.

A lapse of concentration and discipline shortly after saw the Panthers reduced to nine men for a 10 minutes. This period proved to be very hard-fought as Waverley persistently repelled Doncasters’ attempts to draw back the scoreline. The Blue Boys defended solidly until the team was returned to full strength and continued this drive until half time where the score remained at 1-0.

Doncaster entered the second half with fire in their belly and quickly leveled the scores within the first five minutes from a deflection, 1-1. The Panthers awoke from their half-time slumber and an arm wrestle followed with the game in a state of suspense. The deadlock was broken by the hard working Tim Wischusen who was able to slide the ball past the keeper during a goal mouth scramble, 2-1.

Just as Waverley were beginning to take control it came crashing down with another professional foul seeing the Panthers down a man. During this time Doncaster bought themselves another goal with a desperate diving deflection finding the corner from a cross, 2-2.

With less than five minutes on the clock the Panthers reapplied its aggressive style of play and found themselves with a well constructed chain of passes ending with a short corner. Steve Jarvis took the reigns and found the back of the net with a well-timed dragflick, to continue his cracking form of late, to put Waverley in the drivers seat with a 3-2 scoreline.

The last two minutes proved frantic with Doncaster having nothing to lose. Waverley maintained its composure and iced the clock to ensure the three points at the end of the day with a 3-2 win at the final whistle.

Waverley will be looking to hit its straps against relegation bound TEM’s next week in preparation for finals and to finish third. The game starts at 3:30PM on Saturday at Hawthorn (H-1).

Goals: Swindells, Wischusen & Jarvis

The Skin Institute “Player of the Match”: Luke Young

Team: Greaves, Glasscock, Brennan, Freeman, Thompson, Jarvis, Joseph, Preston, Wischusen, Mutimer, Young, Swindells and Moore.

Round 17 Kid Quiz – Name the Gold Olympic Medallist that was ballboy on the weekend?