Miko urged the Braves to get more excited after scoring....
It was a game that the Braves Brain Trust had approached with some degree of trepidation-there were rumours that Merimbula could possibly use first graders with the weekend off, so the Braves would be up against it for sure. It turned out that they had their normal Ressies lineup, and the Braves will be washing the shirts for at least one week postseason after winning today.
Speaking of style, the Braves were blessed to have the Bevitt-heavy Braves Orchestra trot down the hill with various weapons of music to inspire the Braves. Inspire they did- some amazingly witty chants, prasie for Rocket Wilton, Miko and the rest of the Braves when they did something clever. If only they were there every week!
After much pre game chat about throwing themselves into it from the first whistle, Maz did well with a 15 metre shot from the kickoff. And the Braves thought Dunko was a dickhead with his kickoff move last game.. At least we kept possession then.
The Braves started pretty well, probably getting the better of the opening exchanges, with the first choice defensive lie of Barney (goals), J Mac, Buzz and Ad keeping things tight as fox's wallet in a shout.
The midfield with Miko on the left, Rocket Wilton on the right( who received chants from the orchestra all game), and the regular central 3 looked pretty good- passing was settled and accurate from word go. Maz (making up for another lost toss and his kickoff disaster) and Mcloskey up front appreciated the balls to feet and were busy and threatening early.
The Braves were doing well playing down the flanks- Fox at his blistering bustling, and ever improving best was a real threat again- until he tried to give the final ball, but they're getting closerto the target each week:)
Miko was his streaking (pace wise) self down the left and was linking up really well with Maz who was hot stepping about the Grasshoppers defense all game. With Rugby done for the year, El Capitane could be a key figure come semi time.
It was (self proclaimed player of the season)Crouch who found himself johnny on the spot yet again to open the scoring for the Braves, a neat tuck in from closish range from some handy passing and buildup play from the braves on the left. After 19 duffed shots from the edge of the area, he was glad to have a short range finish. Can't remember who got the ball over, but it was a goodie.. Dunko started the goalscoring excitement buildup by taking the big man down in a front on hit on his way back to halfway.
Another Braves attack soon after saw McLoskey streak down the right and angled in towards the keeper after beating a defender with Braves lined up in the middle ready for the cross. It turned out to be a pretty shit cross (even Fox agreed), which beat the keeper at the near post. A bit sheepish on the way back on his goal celebration, but taken down in a heap again nonetheless, in order to build the excitement.
Halftime saw lots of positive words bandied about by the Braves, with more of the same for the second half the order of the day. It was not Braves' goalsneaking midfielders, but a weary Dunko who had pushed Maz momentarily back into the mids after a surge forward in the previous attack. Barney got the ball in his hands and Dunko took off on the left on halfway hoping like hell that Barney hit one clean (and not clean over the fence). He did and Dunko ran onto a glanced header from a Grasshopper defender, saw the goalie out and volleyed from at least 60 yards into the net. Had to score one for the year I guess!
Dunko trotted off to the bench(celebrating like a madman), which saw a quick reshuffle in the mids- the amazingly versatile McLoskey slotting into the centre. It wasn't long before a bit of a mess up at the back led to a looping ball sailing towards an empty net, and Barney and McLoskey decided to argue over it. No clear winner in the end- Barney missed the ball and poor old Dan ended up in the net, with a nasty graze making Lenno's one and only slide tackle for the year mark look like a mozzie bite. The big man came off for a little while, but was courageous enough to come back, even though Miko had called the helicopter ambulance for him after looking at his graze. J Mac heard McLoskey squeal when he hopped in the shower at home in Grasshoppertown later that evening.
His Bravery was to spur the Braves on, with Paddy slipping in possibly the most deserved goal of the year soon after, Dunko putting the old man up on his shoulder in his joy. Paddy's passing , patient play has been a boon for the Braves durig the season. At this stage, Goal celebrations had reached fever pitch- the Braves worrying that if Miko knocked one in, he might strip naked, so passing to him was kept to a minimum.
The game came to an end in a hurry as per every week- the Braves were really happy with themselves, the constant beat of drums making the unassailable cauldron of Brave Park that much more intimidating this week. A big Bevo thankyou to our esteemed enthusiastic misicians, backing up weary eyed from Jeff Bevo's 75th the night before!
As ever, A big thanks to Muss Hill who waved the flag on the far side (safer over there he says) and Drake, who came out of the refereeing retirement home, much to the annoyance of Lenno who thought for sure he was off towards goal:)
Wolumla next week (with coach J Mac on a weekend jolly, we'll be looking for a new centre back), then Bega in the last round in a relaxing run in for the semis on August 31.
Go you Braves and the Mighty Braves Orchestra!
Speaking of style, the Braves were blessed to have the Bevitt-heavy Braves Orchestra trot down the hill with various weapons of music to inspire the Braves. Inspire they did- some amazingly witty chants, prasie for Rocket Wilton, Miko and the rest of the Braves when they did something clever. If only they were there every week!
After much pre game chat about throwing themselves into it from the first whistle, Maz did well with a 15 metre shot from the kickoff. And the Braves thought Dunko was a dickhead with his kickoff move last game.. At least we kept possession then.
The Braves started pretty well, probably getting the better of the opening exchanges, with the first choice defensive lie of Barney (goals), J Mac, Buzz and Ad keeping things tight as fox's wallet in a shout.
The midfield with Miko on the left, Rocket Wilton on the right( who received chants from the orchestra all game), and the regular central 3 looked pretty good- passing was settled and accurate from word go. Maz (making up for another lost toss and his kickoff disaster) and Mcloskey up front appreciated the balls to feet and were busy and threatening early.
The Braves were doing well playing down the flanks- Fox at his blistering bustling, and ever improving best was a real threat again- until he tried to give the final ball, but they're getting closerto the target each week:)
Miko was his streaking (pace wise) self down the left and was linking up really well with Maz who was hot stepping about the Grasshoppers defense all game. With Rugby done for the year, El Capitane could be a key figure come semi time.
It was (self proclaimed player of the season)Crouch who found himself johnny on the spot yet again to open the scoring for the Braves, a neat tuck in from closish range from some handy passing and buildup play from the braves on the left. After 19 duffed shots from the edge of the area, he was glad to have a short range finish. Can't remember who got the ball over, but it was a goodie.. Dunko started the goalscoring excitement buildup by taking the big man down in a front on hit on his way back to halfway.
Another Braves attack soon after saw McLoskey streak down the right and angled in towards the keeper after beating a defender with Braves lined up in the middle ready for the cross. It turned out to be a pretty shit cross (even Fox agreed), which beat the keeper at the near post. A bit sheepish on the way back on his goal celebration, but taken down in a heap again nonetheless, in order to build the excitement.
Halftime saw lots of positive words bandied about by the Braves, with more of the same for the second half the order of the day. It was not Braves' goalsneaking midfielders, but a weary Dunko who had pushed Maz momentarily back into the mids after a surge forward in the previous attack. Barney got the ball in his hands and Dunko took off on the left on halfway hoping like hell that Barney hit one clean (and not clean over the fence). He did and Dunko ran onto a glanced header from a Grasshopper defender, saw the goalie out and volleyed from at least 60 yards into the net. Had to score one for the year I guess!
Dunko trotted off to the bench(celebrating like a madman), which saw a quick reshuffle in the mids- the amazingly versatile McLoskey slotting into the centre. It wasn't long before a bit of a mess up at the back led to a looping ball sailing towards an empty net, and Barney and McLoskey decided to argue over it. No clear winner in the end- Barney missed the ball and poor old Dan ended up in the net, with a nasty graze making Lenno's one and only slide tackle for the year mark look like a mozzie bite. The big man came off for a little while, but was courageous enough to come back, even though Miko had called the helicopter ambulance for him after looking at his graze. J Mac heard McLoskey squeal when he hopped in the shower at home in Grasshoppertown later that evening.
His Bravery was to spur the Braves on, with Paddy slipping in possibly the most deserved goal of the year soon after, Dunko putting the old man up on his shoulder in his joy. Paddy's passing , patient play has been a boon for the Braves durig the season. At this stage, Goal celebrations had reached fever pitch- the Braves worrying that if Miko knocked one in, he might strip naked, so passing to him was kept to a minimum.
The game came to an end in a hurry as per every week- the Braves were really happy with themselves, the constant beat of drums making the unassailable cauldron of Brave Park that much more intimidating this week. A big Bevo thankyou to our esteemed enthusiastic misicians, backing up weary eyed from Jeff Bevo's 75th the night before!
As ever, A big thanks to Muss Hill who waved the flag on the far side (safer over there he says) and Drake, who came out of the refereeing retirement home, much to the annoyance of Lenno who thought for sure he was off towards goal:)
Wolumla next week (with coach J Mac on a weekend jolly, we'll be looking for a new centre back), then Bega in the last round in a relaxing run in for the semis on August 31.
Go you Braves and the Mighty Braves Orchestra!
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