First Grade
On a day when most games were cancelled Magic traveled to Weston to begin the second round of the season. We needed to win and our game history at Bear Park has not been glowing. Given the wet weather we've been having the pitch was in fair condition. Magic started strongly and the young Weston pack scrambled hard to try and keep some control of the game. Magic were creating quite a few chances but once again our finishing was indecisive.
It took a determined charge on goal by Glenn Cooper who showed great composure to break the deadlock with a class bit of finishing. We should have gone two up when Ibi was harshly brought down in the area by the Weston Keeper who only received a yellow card for his efforts. Peter Haynes stepped up to take the penalty but found the woodwork instead of the net.
This didn't break our spirit and we continued to create good goalscoring chances. We held our lead at halftime.
More of the same in the second half with Magic seeming to control the play.
We played some great structured football and pushed forward relentlessly.
Again poor finishing was the only reason this game wasn't a whitewash with many good chances squandered. Weston could have equalised in the final seconds of the match but for a world class save by Scotty Carter. It was a good victory for the boys who fought hard, together, to grind out this win.
It was nice to here the Magic chant at the end of the game. Magic 1 Weston 0.
Thanks to Tom Trajcevski for the report.
Reserve Grade
Reserve Grade met Weston with everything to play for at the start of round
two. Both teams were on equal points and with the table congested the game
took on extra importance.
Magic started like a house on fire and were unlucky not to score after
numerous forays into the Weston area and some very strong tackling. The
midfield looked settled and defence were untroubled by Weston as once again
there was a fluid display of passing by the players which was seemingly to
be rewarded at any time with a goal. Magic kept the ball on the ground and
were able to move the Weston defence around constantly.
The second half continued to be dominated by Magic both in possession and
territory but despite a number of half chances the goal just would not come.
It was Weston who took the lead with a penalty early in the second
half.
Probably our discipline and patience let us down in the last 20 minutes
as players sometimes ignored the easy call and open player option trying to
play the impossible glory ball instead. Magic had approximately 20 shots to
Westons 2 in the game and would be disappointed that they played good
football but did not get the vital result with the score remaining at 1-0 to
Weston.
Each game from now on must be treated as a Grand final . There is no doubt
the team has the ability and cohesion to win all their remaining games but
the boys realise to do this we must score goals when chances are given.
Thanks to Chris Turner for the reserve grade report.