MATCH DAY EVALUATION
Match Day 17 – Box Hill vs. Glen Waverley
Conditions: Teams faced a windy day with the wind favouring the skate park end. BH lost the toss and played to the old Clubrooms end of the ground. The referee was my favourite guy – from 2 weeks back
PLAN: Team was asked to:
• Play as quickly as possible
• Play to feet and move the ball around
• Shoot hard and often but most of all…….
• ENJOY The game
First Half – Given sickness and training non-attendance, the team started with Bryden and Mills-Warthold in the centre of defence, James on the left and Jake on the right as wing backs. Glody was trialled as a forward. Chris V from the BH started slowly……..AGAIN. Coaching staff couldn’t believe the lethargy and lack of anticipation and passion being shown. What was most disconcerting was BH’s inability to pass and hit feet which is the team’s strength and what its success has been built on all year. In addition, the defence, midfield and forwards were too far apart horizontally allowing the GW mids some room to move and to play long balls forward. After 15 minutes of basically poor soccer, a poor clearance and inability to quickly clear the lines lead to a speculative shot from the GW player. It took a mild deflection but true to our bad run of luck, it ballooned over the keeper and JUST under the cross bar. Nguyen was hit on the face by a ball and was replaced by De Blasio. However, none of the 3 forwards had any impact and time after time, refused to play the ball back OR maintain the ball and bring others into the game. After 25 Clark was replaced by Pagotto but an ineffectual and disappointing half ended with the BH boys down a goal.
Half time score 0 - 1
Second Half: Again, the team was stung into some action following the break but in another twist, after only 5 minutes play, a cross/shot lead to a poor punch and the ensuing mix up resulted in a scrambled second goal for GW. Unbelievable!!! They, like Ringwood the week before, had had two speculative efforts and had scored twice. This finally seemed to kick the pants of the BH players and their intensity and passion levels rose and they started playing to feet. It was good to hear some encouragement and drive from the players urging each other on, especially Orlando who was vocal and driving the team on. A fine piece of individual play and dribbling skills by Pagotto led to a drive across the face of goal that nestled in the far corner and BH were back in the game. The old adage ‘2-0 is the worst score in soccer’ was found to be true again. From this point, GW could not muster a single attack and within 5 minutes, Pagotto drove a thunderbolt from near the edge of the box past the GW keeper and scores were tied. We then had further pressure build on the GW defence and Lee replaced Orlando who was exhausted after a great day’s effort and commitment. However, free kicks, shots at goals and runs into the box hit the wall, were weak and ill directed or directed straight at the keeper or reactions and anticipation from midfielders and forwards was non-existent. We couldn’t find the vital winner and in the last minute of play, Pagotto seemed to find room for a chance to shoot but lost control at the last moment. The whistle blew and BH had managed to dig themselves out of what was a huge hole……..many ‘phew’s, that was close’ were muttered in the pancina (bench).
Final Score 2 - 2
Overall Comments
Opposition: GW relied on long kicks and fast breaks and one of these lead to their opening goal. They were well covered by the last man defender who cleaned up loose balls but who play was erratic as pressure was piled on in the 2nd half. Again, committed and passionate and strong defensively given numbers in defence.
Box Hill: A poor display in the 1st half. Not one player can say I played to my ability, I controlled the ball and hit feet or I made intelligent decisions. It’s baffling but we need to get over this and concentrate on the last game of the year against Rovers and play at our best from the first kick to the last !!!!!! ONE MORE TEST awaits us……….
NOTE: Training all week is mandatory for all. We will be concentrating on nothing but formation, structure, quick feet and play to feet.
However, I can now finally say, we have the chocolates!!! Well done to all players coaches and parents for your effort and support al year, bring on Super League…….BUT WE HAVE THE CHOCOLATES!
IMPORTANT: READ THIS EXCERPT FROM THE ROVERS BLOG THIS WEEK. IF THIS DOESN’T FIRE YOU UP, NOTHING WILL…… “ROVERS – the last game coming up, wouldn’t it be nice to show Box Hill who is the best side in the competition”
Coach: John Di Martino 31st August, 2009
