2008 ROUND 5
LUSC Old Boys vs Ashburton 12 - 0

Goals:
Cifone, Paul (1)
Berends, Derrick (4)
Ashburton Own Goal (8)
Umina, Mathew (15)
Gonis, Nick (22)
Gonis, Nick (28)
Cifone, Paul (40)
Carmichael, Matthew (65)
Finanzio, Luca (70)
DeVuono, Pasquale (82)
DeVuono, Pasquale (87)
Umina, Mathew (89)

Go Back to Old Boys Team Page here


The Flight of the Bald Eagle

After sluggish starts over the last few weeks, the Bald Eagles were fired up from the kick off against ladder dwellers Ashburton. The team remained relatively unchanged from last week with Mat Umina replacing the injured Gerry and Paul Umina slotting back into goals.

In what was a planned throw-in set- piece (La Trobe even told Ashburton what they were about to do) Mat Umina threw the ball in to the box for Boz to flick it on to the goal scoring whiz, Paul Cif, to slot an easy one in. That was the 1st minute of play and it only got better from there on. The next goal was an absolute cracker (if I do say so myself) and will compete for the Grinders Goal of the Year against Bruno’s classic a couple of weeks ago. At the four minute mark, Boz pounced on the ball 15 yards outside the box and struck it hard and sweetly into the top of the net. The Ashburton keeper had no chance and even Paul “Grobellar” Umina was thanking his lucky stars he was at the other end of the ground. The third goal may also compete for the Grinders Goal of the Year. At the eight minute mark, an Ashburton defender managed to volley a “rainmaker” from thirty yards out over his own goalies head. Patty and Paul Cif were seen shaking their heads in awe at the shear skills of the defender being able to execute such a difficult shot.

After a number of scintillating runs Mat Umina finally broke into the box and scored a nice low goal giving the keeper no chance. That was the 15 minute mark and at 4:0, the game was pretty much over as far as Ashburton were concerned. The Lat Trobe left wing was absolute awesome with Jimmy, Mat Umina and Patty completely controlling that side with cross after cross being fired into the box. Ashburton decided that since they couldn’t match those players it would be better not to mark them at all and focus on putting 10 players on Nick Gonis. They say looks can be deceiving and Gonis showed them how a big pre-season has paid off with speed and agility never seen at this level before. The first of his goals came after he used his height to head the ball clear of the defender before neatly slotting the ball in the corner. Six minutes later, Gonis showed that you just can’t go to the shops and buy experience. A La Trobe corner kick was cleared out by the Ashburton defence only to by fired back in and neatly tapped in by Gonis in the six yard box. It’s this ability to read the play and know that if you stand in the one spot long enough that the ball will eventually come to you, which sets this superstar from the rest of the pack. Paul Cif finished a fantastic first half by scoring his second goal of the match.

With the scores being 7:0 at half time one might thing that La Trobe may have lost some of the hunger showed in the first 45 minutes. And you would be correct. For the first 20 minutes of the second half La Trobe seemed to be just going through the motions. Then Matt “Robbie Slater” Carmichael got his fourth or fifth wind, finishing with a nice goal which seemed to get the game back on track. Paul Umina swapped with Chris “Van Der Saar “ Baxter and got himself into action with some lightening runs into the box but let himself down with the finishing. He is only a one legged keeper so he can be excused this time. However he did manage to earn a free kick on the edge of the box. The Bald Eagles were hungry for another goal so they phoned in an order for a “Luca Special” with extra chilli in the 70th minute. And does the boy know how to deliver?? If it ain’t in the back of the net in 15 seconds then you get your money back. Top right hand corner guaranteed. We believe LA Galaxy are looking for a set-shot specialist so don’t be surprised to see some talk of transfers in the next few weeks.

Patty worked hard all day and should have finished with a bagful. In the 72nd minute he was finally rewarded with a well worked goal and followed up 15 minutes later for his second. Mat Umina finished the day off where he started with his second goal in the last minutes of the game. With the score 12:0, the Bald eagles showed what they are capable of and will need to take this game into next weeks top of the ladder clash with South Yarra.