WA Over 60's - 2015 Match Reports

WA vs QLD2 - Monday, September 28, 2015

With coach, Pesty, unable to travel due to serious illness, the team gathered in tropical Cairns. 
Dudley Evans stepped in at the last minute to help out the leadership group with managing the diverse group. 
Also of note was the debut of Dave Kerslake in WA colours playing against his former team mates. 

Playing quarters to assist with coping with the warm/hot conditions WA opened strongly taking a 2 nil lead within the first 10 minutes. 
Captain, Rudy Keswick, was influential in running at the defence, and was acknowledged by the opposition with the best player award. 
The first goal came from a penalty corner. Trap at the top, a pass left and then with the shot at goal going slightly wide Peter Komyshan deflected the ball in. 

WA’s second came from Keswick setting up the play passing to Herro whose first time touch seemed to have been too wide and fast to find the intended team mate. However, Shep sprinted forward reaching the ball just cm’s from the back line and with the goalie out of play a gentle tap was sufficient to score from the “impossible” angle. 

Queensland then became even more defensive playing just a single striker. Consequently, play was primarily in WA’s attacking half with the defensive unit mopping up the opposition forward thrusts. 
WA continued to create scoring chances but good work from the goalie and limited space conspired to keep WA goalless until the fourth quarter. Then it was Keswick collecting a rebound out of the circle drawing the defence and squaring the ball to Ric Staynor who would have pleased coach, Evans, by trapping the ball before finishing, evidence of the value of the previous day’s training drill.  

A strong start to the tournament by WA with all players contributing positively and finding their feet and touch but with ample opportunity for improvement. 

We're thinking of you Pesty! 

Result: WA 3 – QLD2 0 

WA vs WAC - Thursday, October 1, 2015

A late game and a mild evening were excellent conditions for our second game. After a strong start and an early goal WA were able to control the game and record a solid win. Our country cousins adopted played a defensive and close marking strategy so once WA took the lead the result seemed somewhat inevitable. All WA players are playing their part although Lenny in goals hasn’t had to stop many (not yet close to a handful yet) shots on target so far. 

Again it was a penalty corner that brought about the first goal within the opening quarter. It appeared as WA were determined to let all six players around the circle have a touch before finally Herro finished it off. To be fair the WAC goalie did make a couple of saves along the way and WA didn’t quite make the 6. Goal two also came from a penalty corner with the trap at the top a pass to the right and then back to injector Peter Aylmore to sweep in. 
WA 2 nil up at half time. 

Almost in complete control for the second half, WA had lots of possession but found it difficult to find space in the circle. Kommy claims his touch was inside the circle despite the umpire with much younger eyes, but questionable eyesight, ruling it was hit outside the circle. The final score was one of those rare opportunities with a quick transfer of the ball to inside left found Colin Howell in space and he neatly raised the ball over the prone WAC goalkeeper.  

Result: WA 3 – WAC 0 

Goal scorers: Herro, Aylmore, Howell

WA vs NSW2 - Saturday, October 3, 2015

Episode 3: “The path to enlightenment” 

Pre match coach Dudley announced that the team was on the path to enlightenment. Clearly we were on the path as the players pondered the deep implications of such a momentous step. 

Once the game was underway, it was no clearer where the path led however WA started the game strongly mounting successive waves of attack and establishing their dominance from the outset. The NSW strategy was clear as at every opportunity they hit the ball long up field in the hope of finding a teammate and from the turnover WA would mount another attack, building the play through their midfield. 

This pressure continued to build until inside left Colin Howell received the ball just outside the 23 in space, ran the ball into the circle and with the defence retreating was allowed direct entry to the circle and placed his shot just inside the left post to score what turned out to be the only goal of the match. 
So by quarter time WA were ahead. 

While WA continued to dominate possession, control the game and generate scoring opportunities, no goals resulted from that work. 

In coach Evan’s words: “you’ve started on the path to enlightenment, went down the cul-de-sac of indecision and avoided going down shit creek.” 
An ugly win but a win nonetheless ensuring WA finish top of their pool still with a pool game to go on Monday with three wins from three outings. Of note is that the team thus far has not conceded an opposition goal. 

Stay tuned to see where the Path goes. 

Result: WA 1 - NSW2 0 

Goal scorer: Howell

WA vs ACT - Monday, October 5, 2015

Episode 4: 

From the start it was obvious that the ACT were aiming for a draw. Although they had some forays into attack, the stout WA defence held firm. WA forwards pushed hard for a goal with several mesmerising moves and were finally rewarded with a goal from a “rocket” (well placed at least) shot from Maurice Giles. 

In the half time pep talk our captain (Rudy) asked us to give an extra 5% above the 10% extra he had already demanded, although with seniors discount probably this amounts to more like 8%. 

The second half started well enough, however a very dubious call by the umpire resulted in a penalty corner against us and an ACT equaliser. 

WA’s defence decided it was time to get some more practice and passed the ball (note no names) to the opposition. No goal resulted but there was copious amounts of sweat coming from the bench and particularly the coach’s forehead. 

The senior’s discount finally kicked in and we scored our second goal via Maurice to Shep, who like a typical seagull, picked up the scraps. In the final seconds the ACT goalie introduced a new play which confused his defence (and everyone else on the field). An ever alert Peter Komyshan stole the ball and as if mesmerised by a sudden red glow emanating from the goals, stopped. We can only assume this wasn’t coming from the road to enlightenment but from the gateway to purgatory. Finally with the seconds ticking away, he realised he wasn’t committing a sin and pushed the ball into the open goal. 

Result: WA 3 - ACT 1 

Opposition best player award: Komyshan 
Goal scorers: Giles, Sheppard, Komyshan

Qualifying Final: WA vs SA - Tuesday, October 6, 2015

WA take another step on the Path to Enlightenment with an 11 – 0 drubbing of a poor South Australian side. 

Not satisfied, literally, despite winning their pool with a game to spare and a 100% record, this group of pre pensioners answered captain Rudy’s call to make an early statement of intent and keep that level up. 

Four goals in the first quarter could almost have been 10, as quick delivery from the back was matched by better midfield control and much improved infiltration up front. 

Trainer Phil must be a miracle worker as his patients Colin Howell dominated the middle and Jim Campbell consistently found space up front. 

Ian Sheppard and Peter Komyshan were tireless in the forward line, as was Peter Aylmore in the midfield. Although untroubled, Len Collier in goal found time to impress with soccer like skills and Keith Gilbride continued his good habit of injecting precision into forward passing. 

Eleven goals but 15 heroes (absentees Graeme Nicholls and Ric Staynor were replaced by the cool player coach Dudley Evans). Ian Simes, John Ostaszewskyj, Greg Wood and Maurice Giles all displayed their skills honed over years of State representation while Rudy Keswick was recognised by the opposition as our best player. 

Pride of place, however, must go to the two Davids: Herrington and “Joh” Kerslake for their hat tricks. 

Result: WA 11 - SA 0 

Best player as nominated by South Australia: Rudy Keswick 
Goal scorers: Herrington 3, Kerslake 3, Giles 1, Sheppard 1, Komyshan 1, Howell 1, Campbell 1 
Cards: None 

Semi-Final: WA vs VIC - Thursday, October 8, 2015

Episode 7 "The dream" 

Following the disappointment of missing out on a grand final appearance, we played Victoria in the bronze medal playoff. An inspiring, insightful and to-the-point set of subtle instructions from coach Evans went like this: (please use appropriate pausing for effect) 
“I was talking to Joh (aka Dave) and he said he had a dream. … 
And in this dream he was on the right wing here (pointing to a spot on the whiteboad). He was in front of his man and the ball was smacked to him. … 
And, he trapped it dead. … 
He laid it off square to Rudy running past. And then I asked him what happened then? And he said I ran forward and Rudy passed it back to me. I was inside the 22 and I smacked it across the circle. .. And then I asked him again what happened then? 
And he said it went all fuzzy! 
And then I spoke to Herro who said I had a dream. And I asked him what he dreamt. 
He said, "I was playing on the left wing and ran into the circle, Joh smacked the ball across the circle. I stopped it dead and pushed the ball into the corner of the goal.“ 

We started the game strongly in the first quarter. Our forwards were able to find space easily, pass the ball around and we dominated possession in our attacking half. Short corners were plentiful and our first goal came from left inner Morrie’s pass or shot flying off Shep’s stick. The second came when Howlie penetrated the top of the circle and his powerful flick was only parried by the goalie and Joh was in position to ensure we went 2 nil up in the first quarter. 

With the pressure we applied all over the field Vic were rarely able to build attacks, frequently looking for long balls out of defence that were picked off by our defenders. Ari was jumping in front of his winger, Woody, Johnny O and Gilly picked the lines superbly to resupply our midfield and forwards. 

Despite our dominance it was still 2 nil at three quarter time. Had we clinically finished off the good work we might have scored 12 by this stage but credit must also be given to the Vic keeper who saved two with his head. Our third came from our umpteenth corner. The zig-zag became the zipper with the seemingly never ending sequence of passes between Rudy and Colin ending with Herro’s slap into the goal. Herro will prefer to remember that one rather than kneeling before the Vic keeper!  

Another clean sheet for Lenny, and a very satisfying finish to the tournament. We had scored 24 goals and conceded just 3 and walked away with our bronze medals. Unfortunately our achilles heel was achilles injuries forcing Ric “Snake” Staynor and Nico to miss games. 

And where were we on the path of enlighthenment? Perhaps we are in the dreaming? 

Result: WA 3 - VIC 0 

WA Ended up with the BRONZE medal. Congratulations team (Ed)