SPC Blue Soccer Report – May 28, 2015

St Patrick’s College (Blue) 4 dft Mt Clear College 1 – By Evan Green, SPC Blue Vice Captain

Goals: Patrick Collier 2, Eddie North, Alex Baker- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Best: Sam Laidlaw, Alex Baker, Patrick Collier

SPC Blue continued their strong start to the BAS soccer season with a convincing 4 1 victory over Mount Clear College at Tom Brown Reserve. The performance from the boys was impressive, with all players contributing by working hard and fulfilling their duties.

In terms of team selection, there were eight inclusions this week due to the side’s large squad, although only six of those played due to the Tom Martin’s and Billy Hoye’s late decisions to pull out due to general soreness. The changes did not only apply to substance, with their also being internal decisions made, such as moving experienced keeper and captain Patrick Collier to striker. Regardless of the changes and limited bench, the team chemistry was still high if not better than the previous week with fantastic teamwork from the lads.-

The game was a close contest early on, the first goal coming from a SPC set piece. The ball was curved into the box and Eddie North the hero of last week with two goals slotted the chance home with the class and arrogance of a quality striker. The goal was soon followed by another, this time from the skipper who tapped home a cross from midfielder Kyle Schorback. This appeared to increase the endeavour of Mount Clear College, who enjoyed a period of success going forward prior to the halftime break. However they were unable to score due to solid defending from the SPC back four and an exceptional performance from goalkeeper Sam -‘Ladle’ Laidlaw who had high expectations put upon him coming into the game. Laidlaw’s best on ground performance was summed up in a reflex save with his left hand tipping a threatening shot over the bar.

With St Patrick’s up two nil up at half time, the emphasis from the coach and manager John Franzin (who has been compared to Pep Guardiola) was to -not concede in the first 10 minutes- of the 2^nd half. The lads didn’t disappoint, with Collier scoring a 2^nd goal with a cool finish past the keeper and young rising star Alex Baker a year 8 student with the ball on a string, dancing past 4 Mount Clear defenders then caressing the ball into the back of the net. This goal was surely the goal of the year so far and after the game he confirmed his commitment to SPC Blue for the remainder of the season which brought relief to his team mates. It should also be acknowledged that Alex Langdon’s cameo appearance at the end of the game, was one of high quality with an elegant first time flick off the outside of the boot to a team mate and an impressive header down the line to the feet of right winger Conor McKee.

While the boys unfortunately conceded late from a corner to give up a clean sheet, the mood was still a jovial one on the bus travel back to SPC. With Franzin awarding the quote of the day to the description of the shirt odour to be one of -victory squared’ as the side has achieved back to back victories. When I asked Mr. Franzin post match of what he thought were the sides chances of being BAS premiers, he acknowledged that it was a possibility but stressed the importance of taking it -one week at a time-.

By Evan Green

SPC Blue Vice Captain

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