2008 ROUND 12
LUSC Old Boys vs Waverley Wanderers 8 - 0

Goals:

Liaskos, Sava (10)
Carmichael, Matthew (14)
Devuono, Pasquale (23)
Cifone, Luigi (31)
Liaskos, Sava (36)
Liaskos, Sava (63)
DeBon, Alfred (72)
Finanzio, Luca (73)

Go Back to Old Boys Team Page here


The Flight of the Bald Eagle

It was an emotion packed day at the Landsdowne Road Stadium (formerly Lower Playing Fields) for the Kilkenny Draught Game of the Day between the La Trobe Bald Eagles and the Waverley Wanderers. It was the last game in an illustrious career for the very Bald Eagle, Lou “Mick” O’Cif before he transfers overseas to the dizzy heights of Irish County Football. With clubs such as Limerick 37, Sporting Fingal and the Lisa Zipps managed Cobbs United all vying for O’Cif’s services it appears the front runner is the Irish superpower, Missen United.

With Jimmy being added to the growing injury list, no goalkeeper and the Flying Dutchman still suffering Euro depression, the backline was looking rather thin with just Van der Baxter and O’Cif. A late Friday night fitness session saw Frankie pull up alright in front of the selectors and was a welcome return into the backline. Although, it was touch and go for Frankie right up until kick off, with rumours going around that a slat had fallen off his gate during the night. (No, that isn’t special jargon for some kind of injury – we are talking about his gate). The rotating goal keeper policy, which has worked wonder this year, was back again with Shay ‘Tranner’ Given donning the gloves for the first time. With Bruno and the Thai Superfreak back again and Sarkis making his long awaited debut the squad was ready for a goal fest.

La Trobe started off where they left off last week – in first gear and really stayed stuck in this gear all day. Fortunately, the opposition lived up to their name and really showed that “wandering” around is their game plan. Sava exploited this early and headed his first goal in from a beautiful Robbie Slater cross at the 10 minute mark. He was rewarded with a goal of his own four minutes later and “Paddy” O’Pasquale finished off some hard work to put the third goal in at the 23rd minute mark. Then came one of the greatest moments in Irish-La Trobe Football history. With Waverley having just crossed over the half way line for the first time in the game (not including kick-offs) and sensing that 3:0 was a ‘very dangerous result’ for the Bald Eagles, O’Cif decided to stamp his authority on the game. The corner cross came in to the back of the box which Boz headed back into the path of the rampaging O’Cif. With a superb over the shoulder scissor kick volley the Wanderer keeper had no chance. With the game telecast live into Dublin, you could hear the cheers go up on the other side of the world. Missen United knew they had arguably the transfer of the century even if they had to add another couple of zeros to the end of his contract amount. Sava, unselfishly cleared a Frankie shot off the line, to put away his second goal just before the break.

The half time break was rather subdued. The euphoria of O’Cif’s last game was potentially draining on the team and they were looking flat at 5:0. New Supercoach Luca suspected this may happen and arranged Senior player and team psychologist Nick O’Moutis in for some motivational words. Nick was inspirational at half time! Sometimes it isn’t what you say but rather what you don’t say and there was no doubt he meant every word of it. With spirits lifted, the Bald Eagles went out full of vigour and conviction. O’Cif had been carrying the team all day and we needed to lift for him. Sava got the ball rolling with his hat trick at the 63rd minute mark and the Superfreak and Luca both scored 10 minutes later to make the score 8:0. But really, all those goals were the fine work of O’Cif in the defence, midfield and forward line. He was everywhere and simply unbeatable. As crosses were whipped in from the wings, the ball literally whistled “Ciffffffffff” as it sailed into the box. Unfortunately, Frankie didn’t hear it and took a certain second goal away from O’Cif when he headed a corner away over the bar. In Frankie’s defence he believed Sava was behind him and there was no way he was going to give him another one. When the whistle blew for a Bald Eagle penalty late in the game, the only player with the courage to come forward and take it was O’Cif. Not wanting to seem above the mere mortals playing around him, Lou, unselfishly, put the ball wide like a true champion. With a shot like that, it is probably ironic that he is going to play for a team called “Missen’.

The defence has often been labelled the ‘back bone’ of the La Trobe Bald Eagles. Well, O’Cif is like the bulging disc in that backbone. You know his always there for you 24 hours a day. He will be sorely missed and we wish him the best in his new hydroponic potato venture. A great day all round.