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Round 9 and the midpoint of the season, time to see where we are as a team. Unfortunately, today we didn’t get up – another tight loss, this time 1-0 at home to Richmond. In a game that was tightly and keenly contested, helped by a referee who was happy to let the game flow without too many picky decisions, the Knights tried their hearts out and gave good account of themselves against a determined and well drilled opposition. Despite arranging for the Monash Freeway to be closed and the ground being shrouded in fog, Richmond made the earliest arrival of any of our opponents and were determinedly warming up for a long time before the match, seemingly oblivious of someone having chained a dog to the bench in the visitor’s dugout.
The Knights lined up in a now familiar formation with Filip in goal, Michael, Luke, and James at the back, Adam and Adrian playing defensive midfield, Aussie, Felix, and Karan formed the attacking midfield combination with Ben Irvine and Ben 10 in attack. John, Ari, and Zac were held in reserve on the bench, ready to enter the fray.
So how about today’s opposition – Richmond looked very well drilled and were the best team that we have faced for passing the ball. They moved the ball well through their midfield and used the wings well with overlapping runs that tested the Knights’ midfield and defence. They had been practising their set pieces and crucially could clear the ball from goal kicks. Their defence looked solid, but offered enough gaps to give the Knights hope when on attack, and their keeper, who if he keeps on growing at the same rate will be a good 7ft tall by the time he’s 18, looked comfortable between the sticks.
In the first half the teams were evenly matched, although Richmond it has to be said had the better chances on goal. It was the Knights’ turn to have a goal with a charmed life as two Richmond efforts came slowly, very slowly, off the post, the first to rebound to Filip and the second to roll along the line, come off the other post and roll back into the field of play. In fact if you look at the goal at the western end, there is a dip developing in front of the line (any deeper it will look like a golf bunker) that makes a handy collector of balls rolling around the goalmouth. John and Karan made incisive runs from midfield and Felix and the Bens applied sustained pressure on the Richmond back line. In defence, James and Adrian were both having solid games aided by Michael, Adam, and Luke. Zac and Aussie were everywhere in midfield and Filip was his usual confident self in goal, aided by the defence giving him enough space to work in.
The goal when it came, late in the first half, followed a period of sustained Richmond pressure with a good run from midfield through the defence and a shot that left Filip with little chance. Halftime arrives (25 minute halves today – not sure how something as basic as how long a game is causes so much confusion; perhaps we should pay the ref by the minute and we may get the full 90 minutes plus stoppage time) with the boys 1-0 down and happy of the break to sit down and take stock.
The second half was similar to the first with the Knights gradually getting the upper hand and in the end they finished the stronger side – perhaps the early start to get in from Richmond was taking its toll on the opposition. Felix had a shot on the turn that flashed past the post, Ben 10 and Ben Irvine combined on several runs through the centre and down the left and both had genuine opportunities. Ben 10 went over close to the edge of the penalty box – with a different referee it might have been a free kick in a promising position, but consistent with his decisions all day, the referee waved play on. Karan and John pushed forward while the boys were competitive in the midfield and strong in defence. Richmond had a few second half chances but looked dangerous when they ran at the Knights’ defence. They continued their passing game with patience looking for the gaps. To the boys’ credit, tight marking meant that often the Richmond possession did not translate to pressure on the Knights’ goal and certainly did not result in scoreboard pressure, to borrow an AFL term. All too soon though the 25 minutes were up (time seems to go so quickly when you’re chasing the game) and all that remained was for the teams to shake hands.
So the halfway point of the season, nine gone and nine to go. Heading into the mid-season break, the Knights’ record has a certain symmetry about it – won 3, drawn 3, lost 3 (looks like a genuine soccer season), and having played all the teams we are more than holding our own. In fact, all but one of the games – our 6:2 win over Ringwood City have been the type of tense, tight, hard fought affairs that clear the cobwebs from the head and leave you feeling like you have started Sunday with a couple of triple-shot espressos (perhaps we should call them Bens after the two hat trick heroes so far this season). There seem to be no easy games at this level and most of the teams in the league are capable of winning against any of the others on their day.
The training is paying off – all those freezing cold and at times soaking evenings up at Highvale and Glen Waverley North developing skills and learning everybody’s strengths. The boys are playing with great understanding all over the field and the defence, midfield and attack are working as tight units. Opposition attackers aren’t finding space, our midfield is feeding our forwards, and our forwards are passing the ball and making space. At times it is the beautiful game, at times it is just hard work and effort – whatever, it is always worth getting out there to watch. A week off next week and time for a well deserved lie in before returning to cheer the Knights on in their run in to the end of the season – can’t wait to hear that whistle blow again in two weeks.
This week’s Youtube highlights are a few moves that we might try for our next match
Until next time, Rest Up, Train Hard, and Go Knights!
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