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After a string of close encounters in recent weeks without any points it was a forlorn Bluedevils Masters Division 1 side that travelled down to the worst playing surface in Canberra last Sunday morning to take on Tuggeranong Rovers. Previously, the Bluedevils emerged victorious on the dog-dropping laden pitch, and the result again went Belconnen’s way with a commanding 1-0 victory. No dog droppings this week, the enthusiastic southerners having obviously taken to the pitch, poop-scooping with gay abandon as the resulting pockmarked, pot-holed minefield stood testament. Mr Hanky was nowhere to be seen. Only the very best calibre of player would be able to control the ball today and all of those players were fleet-footed Bluedevils!
Before the match team Shaman Simon ‘Look Into My Eyes’ Mugford provided a positive pep talk to get the boys in the right frame of mind after last Wednesday’s brave and closely fought 9-0 loss to Weston Creek. The Shaman’s words resonated as the drive and commitment the Bluedevil displayed lead many to declare this the match of the season. For despite the 1-0 scoreline the Belconnen Boys never looked like losing. Their control of the midfield through Mark ‘The Crying Dutchman’ van den Heuvel, Craig ‘Freckles’ Young, Jurgen ‘Herr Wunderbar’ Dahl and Eddy ‘The Match’ D’Amico was comprehensive. Beautiful, beautiful passing and through balls flowed throughout the game and even when the long ball was required, it invariably went straight to feet.
Solid stout defence laid the ground work for the victory, Steve ‘Skins’ Holgate’s welcome return providing calm at the back. Ably assisted by the Shaman, Ian ‘Fiddy’ Reeves, ‘Stay on Your Feet’ Pete Dahl and recent recruits Gerado ‘Son of Alf’ and Scottie ‘Flowers’ Kambah were all but shut out of the Bluedevil half. It was a boring match indeed for keeper Craig ‘Cucumbers’ McConnell, replacing the Wiggle, who’s steadfast refusal to warm up properly before games resulted in a torn calf muscle two weeks earlier. Special mention also must be made of the rampant Nigel ‘Ranter’ Tranter who sought every opportunity to involve himself in the game, desperately trying to compact 90 minutes worth of football into 60 minutes, so he could leave early in order to watch his beloved Newcastle Knights lose spectacularly to the Raiders later that afternoon.
Goal scoring chances were numerous, with The Crying Dutchman almost emulating countryman Giovanni van Bronkhorst with a terrific, screaming long distance shot just wide of the upright. Alf ‘The Silky One’ Cirino too created havoc for the Kambah defence with his impeccable control of the ball and constant dribbling. However, lobbing the ball over the Post from within the 6 yard box was almost unforgivable if not for the notorious ‘Kambah bobble’, which has claimed many victims in the Past. In any case, Matty ‘The Bull’ Lapworth, running the line, decided to raise his flag for offside so as to spare the mercurial forward any further embarrassment. Other victims of the bobble included a bewildered Fiddy Reeves who watched a pass along the ground hit a pockmark and bounce over his head.
The goal came in the second half, a lovely through ball to the Silky One which was delicately turned around the formidable Kambah keeper, resplendent in a bright red keeper’s jersey, black leggings and black gloves. The innate style of the keeper was matched by some magnificent saves during the game. Truly a keeper’s keeper.
Late in the game The Crying Dutchman, who had insisted on playing in orange, and perhaps still playing the World Cup final through his mind, suddenly channeled the spirit of van Bommel as he totally destroyed a Kambah defender with his flailing elbows. Taking his cue, ‘The Match’ D’Amico soon followed with his signature ‘lawnmower’ move cutting down another midfielder who had the temerity to enter the Bluedevil half. It can’t possibly be long before the Masters Ultimate Fighting Championship comes knocking on D’Amico’s cage. Effective though in shutting down the attack, and luckily the replacement referee had no yellow cards, his attempt to wave his drivers’ license at D’Amico having no effect whatsoever.
Injured Bluedevils on the sideline Trev ‘The Enforcer’ Magee and Chris ‘The Commando’ Welch agreed that this was possibly the best Bluedevil display of the season, the only missing ingredient being a tasty hot sausage sandwich with onions and sauce. They could focus on nothing other than the faux meat delicacy as others tried to watch the game in peace. If only there were sausages to keep them sated and happy. But not the ‘Hanky Sanga’ disingenuously proffered by the beer befuddled Kambah fans – no thanks said the Bluedevils, we ate one of those last Wednesday against Weston.
After the match all eyes focused on Black Mountain Tower, which the hamstring injured Matty ‘Mighty Kong’ Collins had scaled in order to let out the traditional Bluedevil victory cry. In response back at the club, Blinky Bill Brosnan let the koala trumpet the victory loudly and proudly. All in Belconnen then knew the boys had won.
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