SL1 Vs. Essendon [Rd 7]

Waverley 3 drew with Essendon 3.

Donning the new 50th Year singlets, Waverley played host to Essendon over the weekend and were hungry for a win to cement a top four spot going into the Queen’s Birthday break. However, a late error saw Essendon steal 2 points at the death in a game marked with cards, confusion and undisciplined play.

Essendon drew first blood with the ball barely crawling over the line off a corner hit to take Essendon to 1-0. The Blue Boy’s awakened and a string of plays saw numerous opportunities created without result. A late corner was converted by the Panthers which was later disallowed. The scoreline settled at 1-0 for halftime.

Waverley entered the second half with immediate success which saw a goal mouth scramble slotted by Timmy Wischusen, 1-1. As the Panthers gained momentum and applied strain on Essendon’s defence the cracks started to open up. The build-up of anxiety saw two Essendon players yellow carded within 5 minutes. Without delay the Panthers pounced and a remarkable base line pass from Luke Young was again finished by Timmy Wisch on the right post, 2-1.

The struggle between the teams continued and bodies were put on the line. A 50/50 contest between Jarrod Glasscock and an Essendon player caused a heavy collision which resulted in a broken collar bone for the Essendon player. After the collision Steve Jarvis found himself behind the net and a corner awarded against Waverley. Essendon converted the corner to level the score at 2-2. With 5 minutes remaining the undermanned Panthers pressed its agenda which saw a sizzling cross from Lachlan Fooks deflected by Sparrow Swindells into the top corner of the net, 3-2.

With less than 3 mintues remaining Waverley only had to ice the game for a win. Yet an unnecessary offensive was counter-attacked by Essendon which resulted in a late stroke being awarded. Essendon converted to level the scores at 3-3. Waverley’s final assault saw a corner after the whistle, yet we were unable to finish leaving the scores at a draw.

Even though the draw was disappointing for the Panthers we are playing a much improved brand of hockey. It is not long until the Blue Boy’s put it all together.

Goals: Timmy Wischusen (2) and Sparrow Swindells (1)

Team: Scott, Glasscock, Mutimer, Fooks, Jarvis, Joseph, Moore, Preston, Wischusen, Swindells,  Dallimore, Brennan, Young.