Team (3-1-3-3): Bradders (GK), Mike, Tim, Stu, Andy, Jarrod, Brett, Justin, Jamie, Jason, Richard; No Subs

Goals: Jarrod (2), Jason

Cards: Jarrod (Green)

Man of the Match: Jarrod

Dick of the Day: Whitey

Match Report by Justin

Easts entered the match with at least 8 players normally considered for selection unavailable. This forced us into several positional changes and a very different look to the team.

We started the game very slowly and ???were allowing the Macquarie players too much space and were fairly soft with our tackles. In attack we were still quite strong creating several very good chances which were either missed or saved by the keeper.

Macquarie in one of the first true attacks of the game managed to free up some open players in our 25 and when one of them got a strike at the top of the circle he managed to fire a beauty past Bradders who just managed a touch of the stick to it. In truth Bradders done well to get any stick on it at all.

Strangely going up a goal made Macquarie pull back and attempt to defend their lead, from this point forward they relied on our turnovers and counter attacks to attempt attacking raids.

Easts went into halftime 0-1 down but the halftime talk was focused on putting more effort into 50-50 balls and picking up our chat to each other. We felt if we lifted our determination and communication we could play our own game and the chances would eventually lead to goals.

After halftime we Easts didn’t fly out of the blocks but we were talking a lot more to each other and the effort had definitely picked up. Jarrod was terrorizing the opposition midfield and they were starting to get rattled and a little bit frustrated by his physical presence and Stu and Andy were stifling any half chances that were making it as far as them at the back.

A green card to Jarrod for a strong tackle seemed to galvanise the team and we started to maintain possession for long stints and the ball was being given to the strikers on numerous occasions in good positions.

To be honest I can’t remember how we scored our first goal but it came after several good opportunites. Jason was able to get the finish.

Pulling a goal back shook up our opponents, they attempted to break out from purely defending a lead but were struggling to get the ball past the halfway line. Multiple turnovers led to some great attacking raids and several more missed chances by Easts.

Eventually an overlap on the edge of the circle gave Jarrod an open shot and he put it past the keeper. Easts 2-1.

From this point forward the chances really started to flow our way. Richie ended up 1 on 1 with the keeper and managed to fire over the goals from a metre out. Jamie was denied a open deflection chance by the slightest of nicks from an opposing defender and several short corners went astray.

Jarrod forced yet another turnover at the 25 yard line in the dying minutes and passed to myself open at the far edge of the circle, my shot was slowed by the keeper and ended up between him and the goals. I can’t be certain if it was still rolling but Jarrod was on hand running through after his pass to put the ball into the back of the net for his second. 3-1 up and it remained this way till the end.

All in all a spirited performance in the second half in which we were never seriously threatened in attack. Great effort by everyone to put in a full game. Especially to Tim who was only asked to play as we were running on the field.