With the Hawks First Grades last game of the season washed out and
still one other game, coincidentally against the same team, to be
fitted in before the 26 August the side faced no mean feat against
the team on top of the comp and looking unbeatable for the minor
premiership and needing three points from the last three games to
sow up the title.
Enter
the Hawks, a side stricken with injuries and sickness over the past 6
or 7 weeks to change the complexion of the final game of the season
proper.
With
Bensons Lane under water and no other fields available to play the
catch up game from when the lights went out at Bensons Lane a couple
of weeks ago, NSW Soccer rescheduled the game to Valentines Park at
midday on game day. A quick phone around got the team there albeit
with 15min to kick off for what turned out to be an exhibition of real
character and determination by the Hawks on a rain soaked field that
really should have been closed.
Marc
Sluiter opened the teams account with a deft turn and shot from just
inside the box, starting off a frenzy of attacks from the injured
Roosters against a Hawks defence camped in their back third of the
field that was determined not to conceed the equaliser.
Eventually the pressure told in the second half as the ball was
scrambled into the goal from close range. The boys replied with a show
of spirit to grab back the lead through a Paul Cooper volley after
only 3 minutes to set up a battle for the remaining game. Although
under intense pressure the Hawks mounted counter attacks, failing by
only the narrowest of margins to put the game out of reach. The
roosters restored the equilibrium with a low drive from outside the
box with 10 min remaining, setting up a fast and furious run home to
the final whistle.
