Crow and Banker Star in Relics' Semi-Final Win

The Relics' have progressed to final of the inaugural Central Coast O45s competition with a solid 1-0 victory over a gallant Kripples' outfit. The Relics’ will now face off against the Tossils’ next week at Mangrove Mountain.

Centre Midfielder The Crow and Sweeper Banker both had powerhouse matches. They controlled the middle of the paddock and were instrumental in the Relics’ victory. They were ably assisted with strong games from Downhill, The Silver Brumby and The Hat.

Man Mountain again had a gargantuan game stamping himself as the standout keeper in this league. It would not be a surprise to see this ageless keeping phenomenon pick up the 45s player of the year award.

The Relics’ dominated the early stages of the match with some deft passing and good communication. The Kripples', missing some key players, seemed all at sea. Going into the first heat-break it seemed only a matter of time before the Relics’ would score and assert their authority on the game. The hot conditions, however, brought the teams closer together and the next 20 minutes were a dour struggle.

Late in the first half the Relics’ went to their bench and the addition of some fresh legs paid immediate dividends as Captain Kangaroo scored to send the Relics’ ahead 1-0 just before the half-time break. After receiving a great ball from some fantastic lead-up work from the Relics’ midfield, CK was able to manoeuvre around several Kripples’ defenders to hammer home a wonderful goal.

In the second half it seemed the Relics' went into their shells seemingly content to hang-on to a 1-0 lead. The early second half loss of Statue to groin injury added further pressure.

Apart from one enterprising passage of play which saw The Crow swoop on a ball in the box and then unluckily hit the outstretched hand of the Kripples' keeper to deny the balding veteran a semi-final goal, the Relics' were at sixes and sevens. Passes started going astray and many Relics began to feel the effects of the extreme heat.

The Kripples' sensed Relics' vulnerability and it was clear they felt an upset was on the cards.

The Kripples' pushed hard. Banker, however, had other plans. Despite having a broken ankle, a torn groin, medial ligament damage in his knee, a dislocated shoulder, a headache, broken fingernail and PMT, Banker was equal to anything the Kripples' could throw at the Relics' in attack.

In the end the Relics' won the match.

Coach Vic, however, will have noted that many of his first 11 charges wilted at stages during the match and no doubt he will need to come up with a more systematic interchange plan in order to maximise the potential on his bench for next week’s blockbuster against the Tossils’.

In the major semi-final an under-strength Smugglers’ outfit seemed to easily account for the Tossils' 2-1. The Tossils’ now join the Relics’ in sudden death footy. Throughout season 2009 the Relics’ have had some close battles with the Tossils’, but unable to greet the judge.

This correspondent smells an upset in the air next week.
GO RELICS’

PS Captain Kangaroo lost the toss.

BB