SL1 Vs. TEM [Rd 18]

Waverley 4 defeated TEM 1.

Round 18 progressed smoothly with the Panthers registering a comfortable win over relegation bound TEM at Hawthorn – The overall winner on the day was the Breast Cancer Awareness effort that was organized by TEM’s which was a sterling success with a large crowd turning out to support the initiative.

The match opened with an intense pace as each side pressed for that initial goal. After a 20 minute stale mate the Panther were finally able to convert through ‘old pro’ Wes Moore who burrowed the ball into the backboard from a well timed cross, his first of many for the day, 1-0 to Waverley.

Shortly after the ever dangerous Timmy Wischusen took advantage of his limited space with a spinning shot from the right finding the sideboard to register the scoreboard at 2-0 for the Panthers. The score remained at 2-0 thanks to some stern defending from Geoff Greaves and Jarrod Glasscock who was able to save a dragflick on the line late in the half.

With all going smoothly the Panther relaxed entering the second half and were punished when TEM’s Adam Seccull found the net with a dragflick from the penalty corner, 2-1. This strike roused the Panthers from their slumber who hit back promptly to snuff out any revival.

This assault was spearheaded by the ‘old brigade’ Wes Moore who found red-hot form with two goals to put the match beyond doubt. His second goal was extremely pleasing to the crowd after he stripped TEM’s Brenton Perry of the ball and continued a one-two combination with Sparrow Swindells through the middle to finally beat the TEM’s keeper placing the ball firmly into the goal, 3-1.

The final goal proved to be methodical for the Panthers with a run along the base line being fired across the goalmouth into the lap of Wes Moore who made no mistake. At the final whistle the scoreline stood at 4-1 to the Panthers – Wes with a hat-trick.

After a successful 18 rounds the Waverley Panthers sit firmly in third position and are now preparing for the finals. We will meet Greensborough in a cut-throat finals elimination round on Sunday starting at 2:30PM at the State Hockey Centre (S-1).

If there was ever a time to jump on the wagon and support the club it is now, all support on the day will be much appreciated and will certainly be a great occasion in our 50th year celebrations.

Further congratulations to all the Waverley teams who have made finals, especially to the Pennant E boys who were minor premiers in 2009 and will be justly promoted next season. Please support your club by getting out to as many games as you can!

Sorry for the late post – Off to the finals!

Goals: Wischusen & Moore (3)

The Skin Institute “Player of the Match”: Wes Moore

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