The
final score is a true indication of how close the game was as last
years top two teams went head to head for the first of three times
in ’07. Roosters took the initiative from the whistle, putting the
defence under early pressure, hoping to pinch an early lead that
would leave the Hawks playing catch up.
The
resilience of the defence held with the tide turning as defence was
turned into counter attack and the game settled into an end to end
affair with both defences and midfield called on to cover their full
area of responsibility. Davis Alvarez had a fine game in goals
mustering his defence and pulling in high crosses with controlled
confidence.
Raph
Larnach in central defence had an outstanding game, cutting out
numerous attacks at an early stage against some very experienced
opposition forwards.
The
middle of the park was a battleground as the Hawks forwards came back
and combined with the midfield to contest possession in a agame that
reflected the closeness of this year’s competition.
Man
of the match was Raph Larnach.
Reserve Grade: Hawkesbury 4
Roosters 0
Expecting a tough game the Hawks went out with a game plan of
defending early and supporting the attack with numbers. The first
goal fell to Andrew Jones after Michael Goszko had stolen the ball
and run into the box before off loading to Andrew for a neat tap in
after 20min. With pressure
being
applied well up the park, desperate defence by Roosters resulted in a
corner that was clinically finished off with a headed goal by Nathan
Gray.
With
the half time score 2-0 to the hawks the second half was about
consolidation after resisting the expected forward thrust by the
Roosters side desperate to get back in the game. The game settled into
a possession battle until Chris Gee popped up inside the box to score
from close range and seal the match mid way through the half. Andrew
scored his second of the match after David Lloyd put through a fine
through ball for Andrew to round the keep put the ball away for number
four.
