After starting 2013 with a 2 and 0 record the Stallions were keen to keep our good run going as we rolled up to take on Miramar Rangers who had had a win and loss in their first two games. Thoughts turned to 2012 when we had a similar strong start only for the season to turn into a scrap to avoid relegation.
The rain had stopped by kick-off and underfoot conditions were best described as “lush”. Rauru named the starting line-up with the only controversial calls being the inclusion of Dan in goal despite conceding two against the Raiders (what does Graham have to do to get a start in goal?) and me up front in place of returning Uni legend Carrick “Careca” Lucas. Ironically I had just said to Aaron 2 minutes earlier “I can’t see me getting a run up front this year as we now have proper strikers”…
The Stallions took early control of the game and we went ahead after 5-10 minutes. Rauru got free on the right hand side of the box and after cleverly beating the last defender rolled the ball square to me and I tried my best but just failed to miss the un-missable chance. 1-0.
Shortly afterwards it was 2-0. Some nice play featuring Gerald culminated in a corner which Tim nodded down at the far post and Heath forced home. Miramar then had a couple of dangerous looking sorties which were well snuffed out by the Stallions’ back four.
After 20 minutes it was 3-0 as a free-kick was awarded just outside the box. While the Miramar team milled around in typical Cap 6 confusion their ‘keeper decided to wander over to his near post leaving 80% of his goal unattended. I took the free-kick quickly and despite its complete lack of any pace it dropped in off the far post.
By this time a flurry of substitutions had been made as the Stallions made full use of our (unheralded) four man bench. One such sub was Carrick who shortly after coming on (and potentially with his 1st touch as a Stallion) received a beautiful reverse pass from Rauru and slipped it past the advancing ‘keeper to make it 4-0.
To be honest I can’t remember much more of the half apart from Paul skying an effort over the bar from inside the box, and Rauru applying a lovely finish to a pass from someone (who may have been Lloyd going from Aaron’s assists stats).
Halftime: Stallions 5 Miramar 0.
At half time Graham replaced Dan in goal and Dan took up a place on the right of midfield where his lack of fitness and athleticism was soon abundantly clear as he struggled up and down the flank. There was much conjecture that it was this that may have contributed to a much poorer half by the Stallions and I can only concur with that.
The half, however, did start well as Tom scored our sixth after (apparently foolishly) being passed the ball by me after some lovely play in midfield. At this stage it looked like it could be double figures, but Miramar then came strongly into the game. They created some glorious chances which Graham dealt with admirably, however after a spell of pressure he palmed a shot directly into the path of their striker who was completely unmarked and 5 yards out. The bench dropped their heads at the loss of our clean sheet only to look up in time to witness the miraculous sight of the striker blazing wildly over. According to Paul he then blamed the person who had had the earlier shot for not passing it to him instead of shooting….
There was still time for the Stallions to go up the other end and make it 7-0. Tom played a defence splitting pass to me from his role at CB and I knocked it across to Tim at the back stick who finished with aplomb. There could have been a couple more but chances were missed and their ‘keeper made some decent saves. Best moment was Aaron screaming “get out of my way” (I think at Rauru) as he repeatedly and desperately shot at goal in a pinball style piece of action in the last couple of minutes.
The game ended with ref Lachy refusing to give a stonewall penalty (his words) out of sympathy for Miramar and instead blowing for fulltime.
Fulltime: Stallions 7 Miramar 0. Stallions go top of the league on goals scored. We have scored 19 and conceded 2, Olympic have scored 17 and are yet to concede). And it’s the Greeks who are next up for the Stallions…..
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