Date Sunday 10th April 2016
Teams Castlemaine Goldfields FC vs Mitchell Rangers FC
Location Soldiers Memorial Park Chewton
Half time score 2 – 0
Full time score 5 – 0
Report Tony Cormack
Images Otto Van Pagee-Anderson
A new season and a new dawn for the Mainers as the Senior Men took to the field for their first game of the 2016 season and their first in the Metro North West League 7.
After a couple of tough seasons plying their trade in Ballarat, a big 2 month pre-season saw an energised squad mixed with youth and experience take to the field at Chewton looking to set a marker for the season ahead. Their opponents were the unknown Mitchell Rangers and as the new faces to the Metro League Castlemaine were keen to set the tempo from the whistle.
The Maine set out to play a high pressing possession based game looking to use their pace and width whenever possible, early passages of play on both wings indicated chances to get behind the Rangers back line would soon be on the cards. With an increasingly high percentage of the possession the Main continued to apply pressure and launch attacks from both wings as well as through the middle of park, but still the opener wouldn’t come after some good early chances, most notably for Angus Doyle on debut.
The first half continued with Castlemaine dictating the pace, but the superb Rangers’ goalkeeper was resisting everything that was thrown at him. The breakthrough eventually came when Sunday ‘Sunny’ Lam, having previously been denied, burst through the back line to break the deadlock. Not long after Tristan Van Pagee-Anderson made it two with a superb strike of his own capping off a terrific opening 45 from the whole team.
At half time instructions were pretty clear – more of the same. Fresh legs were brought on and the Maine picked up precisely where they had left off continuing to take the game to the opposition half with Castlemaine goalkeeper Jules Whitcroft-Mcglade mostly looking on as a spectator. As in the first half it was just a case of sticking to their game and goals would eventually come.
The first big opportunity of the second half came as the Maine were awarded a penalty, which captain ‘Jono’ Burris stepped up and dispatched confidently to the keepers left, only for the referee to call for a retake due to a Castlemaine player having encroached the box. ‘Jono’s’ second attempt, placed this time to the keepers right, hit the inside of the post ricochetting across the goal mouth and away. This moment of misfortune did nothing to slow Castlemaine’s momentum and as Rangers tired under the constant pressure three more well crafted goals came from Rainer Canobie-Harris, a second for ‘Sunny’ and finally one for player/coach Jim Kourkoulakos, who having rounded the keeper kept a cool head to knock it in at the near post. Alongside the fours goal scorers assists on the day came from David Richardson, ‘Jono’ Burris, Alex Larm and Angus Doyle.
At the final whistle it was quickly back to the dressing rooms for a rousing rendition of the club song to cap off the season opener.
For our season ahead, Mens’s Seniors’ coach Jim Kourkoulakos had this to say: “We’re looking forward to playing in a league where we can be competitive, while also having the opportunity to advance up the divisions as our game develops”.
Special mentions to Ray West who stepped in to referee the game at the last minute and to Mitchell Rangers keeper, who despite the score line had an incredible game in goal.
Castlemaine are away in Round 02 to Truganina SC, with their next home game on Sunday 24th 1pm vs Old Trinity Grammarians SC.
In other news the Senior Women start their season after a Home Bye last weekend away to Altona East. Their opening home game will be on the 24th 11am vs Hoppers Crossing SC. Junior football also starts this saturday at Chewton.
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Scorers
Sunday Lam 2
Tristan Van Pagee-Anderson 1
Rainer Canobie-Harris 1
Jim Kourkoulakos1
Assists
David Richardson 2
Jono Burris [c] 1
Alex Larm 1
Angus Doyle1
