SUNSHINE, POKÉMON, & WEARY LEGS
The quintessential ingredient for a decent football match is two teams who are prepared to have a go. And having a go is the main element of what makes Capital Football Community League Open 10 Blue a prime example of football being a game for everyone. Not at this level the glitz and glamour of saturation coverage, of a crowd cheering on their heroes, or even the chance to buy a cup of coffee on an autumn morning with the sun blazing overhead and the clatter of studs on concrete as the teams rocked in for what might generously be termed a warm-up.
The respective line-ups from Tuggeranong United and ANU FC contained a myriad of players of differing experience. At least one player had experienced the heady heights of the Premier League at one stage, and most have played some age grade, but on this occasion, at the tree-lined Oval smack in the middle of the University campus, it was all about the enjoyment.
Tuggeranong came into the fixture having lost their opening match by a 0-16 scoreline, a result which apparently prompted their coach to send an irate email to his team demanding more. And that is the rub. It doesn’t matter what level you play at, or what number or moniker is added to the Division, this matters to those involved. It matters a lot. Football is of course, according to Italian great Arrigo Sacchi, ‘the most important of all the least important things in life.’
In classic Community League fashion, the game on the adjacent pitch had two officials whilst the game we were out to cover made do with just the none. Indeed, the club referee introduced himself with a pair of cards in his pocket. Not for these guys the red or yellow standard, we had a choice of the Pokémon battle cards for yellow and red offences, a quite brilliant piece of improvisation, and one that should be used at the highest level. ‘That’s an awful challenge there Declan Rice, here’s a Battle Pokémon Pikachu for your troubles….’ Anyway, our man in the middle, who was in good form had no cause to use his cards as the game incredibly had zero fouls.
ANU possessed two absolute giants on their line-up, physically imposing specimens who would have looked at home on AFL field as a pair of full-forwards, but who scampered around the playing field with energy and gusto. The University side lined-up with two number sixes, not tactically as in two defensive midfielders, but literally two wearing the number 6 shirt (distinguishable as one was peroxide blonde, the other not), and just for good measure a pair of number sixteens, and two number thirteens, one of whom stuck the old tape on the back to become number 131.
It was the University team that would dominate. A trio of fine early saves from Tuggeranong ‘keeper Rachel Duff, pushing a volley around post and parrying away a header from the resultant corner, before denying the lively ANU striker with a brave block at his feet, highlighted her talent. The custodian informing your correspondent before kick-off that her goalkeeping journey began in defiance of her Mum, who wanted her little girl to be playing on the field. None of that for Duff, who appears to be a brilliant ‘keeper.
There was little she was able to do about Sam Guerit’s opener though, a stunning hit from outside the box that cleared the cobwebs from the top corner just before one of the number sixes, not the blonde one, blazed over from two yards with the goal at his mercy. It was 2-0 shortly after though, Lewis Simicella scooting in behind the defence to slide home a well-taken goal. The impressive Guerit added his second with another great hit to put ANU three-up at half-time, this is the man through whom most of the build-up went. ANU had dominated the opening half, Tuggeranong resorting to a few sporadic breaks, and the hosts would have been further ahead but for Duff in the United goal.
There was more to come in the second stanza as the impressive Guerit saw a shot saved that someone called ‘Macca’ converted, as far as we can tell from the cries of ‘nice one Macca,’ later to discover that this was Alexander Stern according to the completed scoresheet. No, I don’t know why ‘Macca’ also, perhaps it was Macca who set it up, or maybe the scorer owns a franchise of the popular fast-food restaurant. Life is often a mystery.
‘Big Bill’ Sandstrom finally got his reward for his hard-running, rifling home on the turn for a splendidly taken fifth, before our blonde number six, Lucas Moelle, expertly volleyed home a cross to bring up the half-dozen. United kept plugging away, Justin Ingram being the outlet and urged to shoot when making a half-break to which he responded to the imploring cry with ‘I can’t even walk, let alone shoot!’ We all feel you mate, we all feel you, as ANU FC ran out winners by six goals to nil. Another great day in the sunshine, watching those playing for the fun of it all. But, let no-one tell you defeat doesn’t hurt, and victory isn’t just as sweet in Community League Open 10 Blue. Just ask Arrigo Sacchi.
RESULT
ANU FC 6 (Guerit 12’, 28’, Simicella 24’, Stern 56’, Sandstrom 72’, Moelle 87’) Tuggeranong United 0