Pretty safe to say that all Knights fans have had a nice
kick up the ass at work all week thanks to the boys heroic efforts during the
away game at Bentleigh last Friday.
I know for me, it’s just given me that little bounce in my
step, knowing that at the end of the day, the team can rip out a solid 90
minute masterclass against league favourites and come out of it feeling pretty
untouchable.
It’s not to say that we’re out of the woods yet in terms of
stagnating plays, but jebiga, I’m gunna enjoy this one and stay hopeful that
Stabba and the squad do the exact same business that they did last week; for
the rest of the season, or at least most of it.
Last Friday Night: Feelin’ Good
It was a decent drive from my friends place out to Kingston
Heath Soccer Complex, when I got there after work – we were both starving and
jumped straight in the car.
Jacket – check, keys – check, trip to the ATM – check.
We arrived and lunged straight into the all-to-famous Bentleigh gyros, at $12 a pop for an over-filled pita pocket of goodness, we weren’t complaining – although I did wonder if George Calombaris had been there earlier in the day adding the finishing touches to achieve the price-tag.
The game kicked-off, and we found refuge from the relentless
hurricane of insects on the hill-side of the park, my beer got necked and it
was time to focus on some serious action.
Both sides running their guts out for the first 10 minutes,
earning as many chances forward as they could, and a succession of about 246
Bentleigh corners; it definitely wasn’t a slow start – but in the 12th
minute of play, I let out an all-to-familiar “for fucks sake, man” .. a soft
pass being stolen and placed clear of the helpless stretch of Harry. I just hoped
that it hadn’t smashed his confidence, or the teams .. and then what happened
next was what you always dream of after going a goal down.
The boys hit the go-baby-go button and the rest of the half
was filled with chances for Dixon, Hicks, Harris and eventually Tom Cahill got
up and bashed one in with his head at the half-hour mark to equalise. It must
be mentioned that both keepers were outstanding for the entire 90 minutes, some
of the saves I saw were just plain outrageous.
Half-time came and I didn’t know how to feel, happy that we
were playing the best I’ve seen in a long time, or worried that we wouldn’t
capitalise on the chances in the second half and fall short. I distracted
myself, passing the time with a cigarette and some non-football conversation
with my mates. It worked, just.
Second-Half After-Marth
The ref had made a few bad calls and had been justifiably abused
just the right amount, as was the linesman. Everything seemed to be in place,
and I felt strangely calm for a knights fan at an away game against arguably the
league’s best performers.
Elvis came out all-guns-blazing in the second half, clearly chasing to get on
the score-sheet a third week in a row, it actually amazes me the situations this
guy can get himself out of. At one point I remember seeing three green shirts
around him, and he just ducked and slipped through and kept running down the
line with the ball still at his feet. Skills, man, skills.
Timmy Purcell was copping it from Stabba on the sideline,
and seemingly trying to defy the coaches every request, instead of what would
have been a golden through-ball opportunity along the line, he decided to run
straight into the box, in the firing line of two greens – he knew exactly what
he was doing. Penalty received after a frustrated and tired tackle left him
face-planted at the top of the box. We went up 2-1 after Hicks did what he
does; and smashed it in, low and to the right.
The last goal was the one I was the happiest about though –
Caleb Mikulić, another one of our clubs youth products, delivering possibly the
most devastating goal that Bentleigh have copped at home in a while – a low flying
belter from outside the box; what a feeling for him, the team and the fans.
Off the bench, I like Miku as a player, I think he’s quick, has got good technical skill and I always like when he gets a run because the kid will run his guts out for the badge, every single time.
Off the bench, I like Miku as a player, I think he’s quick, has got good technical skill and I always like when he gets a run because the kid will run his guts out for the badge, every single time.
Relive our first win of the season, and this stunner from #MKFC youngster Caleb Mikulic!— Melbourne Knights FC (@MelbKnights) February 25, 2017
FULL HIGHLIGHTS: https://t.co/H6OOAc8GM9 pic.twitter.com/JUMezVTYXO
This Friday Night: Feelin' Good
In two days’ time we’re back at home to face NPL newbies
Kingston City, who I don’t know too much about. All I’m hoping is that we can
back up last week’s performance and lock-down another convincing win. One would
think that as they’re newly promoted they can’t be too much of a threat, as
opposed to last week’s opponents.
But, if there is one thing that following
this league has taught me, it’s that on any day, any team can beat another.
Constant form is hard to come by, and most clubs can have a bad day, or a
really good day – some days this is frustrating, other days it’s magical.
It will be exciting if the squad can lock down the way they
played against Hume and Bentleigh, and harness it and create a dominant form of
play as the week-in, week-out regular style; cause I tell you now, it is the
most joyous thing in the world when your football team plays well.
This will be our second home fixture for the season, I’m
hoping that a lot more people turn up as the season goes on. The crowd against
Pascoe Vale wasn’t pathetic, but for the first home game it was certainly a
little disappointing.
The Friday night 8.30pm games I think will be a success, the
general vibe around Knights Stadium is better when there’s music and kids
running around kicking a ball. It’s a happier place when there’s drinks, food
and laughs flowing – rather than on rainy winter Sunday’s – so we’ll see how
numbers add up at this years AGM.
We’ll be enjoying dinner again this week, I think I’ll call ahead and make sure there’s a pržene lignje there for me this time, still pissed about missing out 2 weeks ago!
Hope to see you all there, Živjela Croacija.
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