Match Preview - Stokes Valley

This is going to be a tough battle. A quick scout of the SVAFC website shows that this is a new team, and that they are the club's reserve side mainly made up of 'old first team players, Hendo's team and a couple of young players (to bring the average age down)...'

They have had a pretty easy run of it in Div 7 this season, winning all but 1 draw with the Magpies. Scored 22 goals, goal diff puts them top of the table.

El Grapadura, regular Div 7 commentator on the YF site seems to oddly rate the Stallions, and normally picks us/wants us to win. A bit of a warning from him this week though:

'For the Stallions lads - good luck against Stokes Vegas on Saturday. They're a very good side, but are the biggest bunch of whiners/moaners/complete nutters I have seen in a long, long time. I really hope you beat them, and not just because that would be a good result for us. Also heard from some Marist lads who played them up at SVegas is that they have some of the worst home reffing they'd ever seen. So maybe try and organise another man in black for that game.'

That's you Steve Hodges (hopefully)!

In an earlier message, EG writes: 'shut up that crazy little Irish leprechaun that SVegas have, and their striker who thinks he's way better than he actually is.'

Enough about them though, this is all about the Stallions, and if we can play like we did last week (especially in that first half) we can beat anyone in this grade. Someone made the observation last week that we didn't tire as much in the last 20 as early games - a bit of fitness emerging to match all that flair and skill?

Top four teams playing each other this weekend, points up for grabs are big.

And yes ben, do we have to hurry you up every week, fine report please!

match preview

Marist inter, 2008 - including everyone's favorite goalie.

Let's face it, last year Marist had the wood over us big time. 1st game of the season, we went down 3-1, but the Stallions were in shock after losing Jamie before kickoff, seeing ben squeeze into the reserve goalie jersey, and the brightness of our new strip.

Round 2 at Anderson was a goal fest - for them. This time the Stallions were shocked to see Graham in goal with his purple 70's disco number goalie top, which looked especially nice from behind - seen lots as G-Mann picked the ball up out of the back of the net 4 or 5 times (can't really remember). This was an especially embarrassing game since the Sealords who played the early game came to watch the 2nd and 3rd teams, and saw that one was clearly better than the other.

Were marist the only team to beat us 'home' and 'away' last season? Both have won 1, lost 1 this season. With 2 teams who try to attack it always seems to make for a bit of a pingpong, action packed encounter. The same will be true on Saturday, especially as the Stallions bring the freeflowing efforts of the last 2 weeks to Cobham Park. No dislocated kneecaps , please. No breaking down at all.

Predictions?