Crankers for the visitors and pizza for the home team........
Piast turned up with two men short and Chuck McGill and Willie Dixon offered to play for the opposition. As another player turned up Dixon was the lone 'home' representative for the visitors. He played the full 90 minutes. Gordie Macklin had several shots in the opening stages. The ones of note were: 9th. minute his shot went well wide; 13th. minute a 25 yard effort was tipped over the bar by the giant visiting keeper who didn't even jump. The resulting corner kick brought rewards. Pat Rohla's right wing kick was met with a powerful header from Sherman Foster that gave the keeper no chance as it hit the far upright and ricocheted into the net. It was Macklin again on 25 as another high effort was pushed over the crossbar. Gino Nonni followed suit soon after when his effort sailed high over the crossbar. Piast had not troubled Judd Boxtart in the home goal... he could have brought an armchair! The half time score remained at 1-0.
The second half was much of a sameness with the homesters running the show. The defence remained tight and restricted Piast to long range efforts which were bread and butter for the keeper. The pressure finally paid midway through the second half when Macklin sealed the victory with a finely taken goal. With time running out it could have been three but Warren Crowley's effort was too close to the keeper to trouble him. It would have been a fitting tribute had he scored as it was his 150th. appeararce.
There was not too much after match banter but the main talking point was the continued absence of coach Jim Eden. With Dave Moore building his resume with three successive victories and two successive shut-outs he would like to dispel the rumour that he will soon be appearing in an episode of 48 Hours; he has spoken with Jim and can confirm that he is not wearing a pair of concrete boots somewhere at the bottom of Blackie Spit. His attendance next week should allay any such fears.
Final Score: Classics 2 Piast 0 (1-0)
Stats
Warren Crowley played his 150th. game
MWG: Sherman Foster
You were crap award: Alan Massender