Oxley Reserves move into the top 4 with another hard fought win against rival finalists Bayside

Another mid week catch up game which brought yet again more rain causing the game to be played on the second field. It was another match giving me a selection nightmare for the good with yet again more players returning just at the business end of the season. We had plenty of pace on the wings with Aaron Denny and Zaheer Riaz. We also had our two best goal scorers up front with Ako Array and Steven Manganaro both bagging 18 between them so far. I was sure we would create chances and that we would have goals in us. We started with a flat 4 in he midfield however gaps began to appear between our defence and midfield giving their midfielders time with the ball at their feet. Once again it was a game where we went behind first and came back to win. This time we replied within 2 minutes of their goal when Chris Dobinson slotted home for his fourth goal of the season. It remained evenly balanced till half time when we came into the dressing rooms at 1-1.

In the second half Riaz dropped in the middle to plug the holes which he did an excellent job in front of Colin Jamieson and Liam Mercer.  And it was Mercer who grabbed our second after 51 minutes finding the back of the net with the outside of his foot from distance. This cued our first chance resting Manganaro and bringing on Christopher Maclennon in the middle. We had great stints of possession at times and created some excellent chances. However the next goal scorer was the unlikely centre back of Warwick Burt on 73 minutes who also had a fantastic game defensively eventually earning him man of the match. A ball dropped to him around 20 yards out and he did not hesitate to pull the trigger and where some were looking to the trees for the landing it was actually the inside of the post and my goal of the game.

This triggered my second sub Patrick Cranley, still not a defensive move as I anticipated 3 goals would not be enough to win the game.  And it was Cranley who made the impact just three minutes after coming on scoring our fourth goal making it 4-2 with only nine minutes to play. Finally i brought on Phil Hein to try and secure the midfield and prevent any late come back. However I knew sitting a bit deeper and defending would only pile on the pressure in our third but hoped they would run out of time and steam. Fortunately for us one of those happened but it was not steam as they continued to press eventually getting a goal and making an exciting / nervous last few minutes of injury time. We did hold out only just but its grinding out results like these against teams on even points in the top 6 at the end of the season that get you into the finals. This result ensures no club this season has won the double against us which is another improve from last season. The lads have now all but guaranteed a spot in the top six and have a great chance of playing a home final depending on our last two games of the season.

This was done by drawing with Logan who looks likely to take second spot and twice with Albany Creek the leagues run away winners. Also by beating Brisbane Athletic twice, Park Ridge and bayside who all are top six finishers. So far during this season we have lost the fewest games in the league being four and got results from all lthe eagues top 5 clubs giving us confidence we can knock over an one we meet come finals time.

Keep up the terrific results,

Garrett McDuling

Man of the match : Warwick Burt