Castlemaine’s Division 1 men managed to test top team Vic Park for 65 minutes of their match in cold, wet weather at Ballarat last weekend.
A goal from Maine first gamer Bear Hackenberger in the second half on the back of some precise passing through the muddy midfield left Castlemaine down 1-2 and apparently well in the game.
In the next 25 minutes, however, Vic Park scored five times to romp to a 7-1 win. What happened? In part, the Mainers ran out of puff against older, stronger and fitter opponents who finished powerfully kicking downhill with the wind behind them.
Castlemaine’s task was made more difficult due to injuries and absences. Midfielder Angus Maclaurin was out with a sore knee, centre-back Steve “Rhino” Marsh was unavailable and fellow defender Paul Hovius left the pitch in the first half with an injured ankle.
As a result, Castlemaine called on stalwart Division 2 defender Nathaniel Muller to play his second full game for the afternoon, joining Oscar Wood in the centre of defence. Nathaniel used his experience, balance and adroit reading of the play to cut off attacks time and again, and was one of Castlemaine’s best two players.
Left-footed midfielder Conner Bethune was the other. His skill, fitness and determination were outstanding, providing the visitors with constant drive forward as well as cover in defence.
Winger Ben Adams was dangerous with his pace and tenacity, goalkeeper Brendan Connelly made some brilliant saves in the mud and the rest of the team battled hard in the difficult conditions.
The challenge for coach Terry Attwood and the team is to extend 65 good minutes into a full 90-minute performance.
Division 2
Division 2 players and coaches face the same challenge. At half-time, they were 1-2 down and well in the match against the top team.
By game’s end, the score was 1-6.
Two quick goals to Vic Park seemed to prick the Castlemaine balloon, and in the words of captain-coach Jim Kourkoulakos, “We lost our shape, composure and fight.”
Highlights included a cracking headed goal by Jim and clever work by the Maine’s defensive line of Dom Crinson, Dan Park, Patrick Wallace and Nathaniel Muller to continually catch Vic Park attackers offside in the second half. Without their sterling efforts, the score would have been even more lopsided.
