Relics Resurgence Continues

A rejuvenated Relics have recorded their second easy win in succession smashing Doyalson 4-0 at Frost Reserve. Playing the graveyard shift the Relics had to withstand the blinding setting sun in the first half courtesy of another failed toss from skipper Mickledinho. Mickledinho is known far and wide as a good tosser, but his form in the tossing department has been well below his usual high standard in recent weeks.

The Relics have now scored seven un-answered goals in the last two matches and have clearly signalled that they are ready to have another crack at competition heavyweights the Smuggers and the Tossils.

The Relics entered the match without club stalwart Maximillion and were further hampered with the late withdrawal of The Silver Brumby and a fitness cloud over Diamond and Banker. Pre-match Diamond looked worse than usual, and obviously feeling the effects of a recent visit to the Melbourne, the Pig Flu capital of the World. Diamond wheezed and spluttered his way through the match. Note to Relics - If you feel like crap today, your tail is beginning to curl and you have ‘flu like symptoms’ - thank Diamond!

The opening ten minutes was dominated by the Relics who were unlucky not to score on several occasions. The match then shifted noticeably when Doylo realised that the Relics right defence was severely hampered by the Sun and they began to almost exclusively use their left side attack. Despite Doylo dominating possession for the next twenty minutes the Relics managed to score after Coach Vic loomed on a loose ball close to goals to find the back of the net. Many on ground had thought that Coach Vic had pushed his shot wide, however, a fortuitous deflection off a Doylo defender saw the ball head goal-ward and evade the desperate keeper.

The second half was all Relics - complete domination. The backs including Shadow, The Hat, MM, Roy and BB were impregnable. The Relics’ halves swooped on any loose ball, delivering razor sharp short passes to the feet of team-mates. The Crow and The Toe completely dominated their respective halves and were poetry in motion. Downhill, again, stunned the crowd with his magnificent control and poise under pressure.

Banker, despite playing with a torn hamstring, groin strain, medial ligament damage and a suspicious looking cold sore on his lip still managed to out-sprint and out-manoeuvre his opponent. Diamond was relentless, repeatedly turning his opponent, so much so, that by the end of the match he had picked up the nickname “turnstile” from his Doylo comrades.

Statue was anything but a statue. He was simply outstanding. A key player in attack, Statue was always in perfect position to receive the ball. Every time the ball was turned over though Statue sprinted like a Christmas turkey back into a defensive position to support his backs. Dallas, too, has returned to career best form and will certainly be looking to Coach Vic for a move to striker in coming weeks.

The play of the day, however, went to Tolly who, after a long run fell to his knees, motionless over the ball. It was as if he either ran out of battery power, or was shot by a sniper. Concerned team-mates looked at each other wondering who was going to deliver mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to get their fallen comrade back into the land of the living. No immediate volunteers! Then, again, for no apparent reason, Tolly lifted his body from the soggy Frost Reserve soil, gave a grin, and sprinted back into position.

By the way, Coach Vic scored another goal and Mickledinho bagged a double.

Relics 4 Doyalson 0

BB