Serbia v Classics
Sapperton
23rd. Feb. 2020

Conditions: Rain had finished, temperature mildish, rain returned in second half - Field poor with some puddling

Players on duty: Chris Arcari, Lorenzo Arcari, David Breen, Jimmy Butler, Jason Clegg, Gene Crowley, Mike Deeley, Jeff Dickson, Willie Dixon, Wayne Ferguson, Daryl Lawrie, Gordie Macklin, Pat O’Krane, Pat Rohla, Jerry Szakun, Larry Thorlakson
Coaches on duty: Pat Rohla & Larry Thorlakson
Frustration united...
The Classics took a long time to settle. It could have been the field, the conditions, or even the lack lustre atmosphere generated by the Sapperton field. They did have the better of the opening ten minutes but there was no finished product to admire. The first shot came from Pat O'Krane and it was one of his specials - a 10 metre netting was situated behind the goals but it wasn't high enough for O'Krane to be beaten. The ball sailed high over and bounced on the other side of E. Columbia Street, coming to rest 5km away, somewhere within the complex of the Royal Columbian Hospital near the nuclear medicine department. Dave Moore volunteered to retrieve the missing missile but little did he know that he would need a hail taxi to get it. He returned just in time as Gene Crowley stepped up to take a penalty kick. Recognising the fact that he may get an assist, Moore managed to swap the ball before the kick. However, his shot was saved by the keeper who dived to his left to parry the ball out. Jimmy Butler was first to react and he nipped in quickly to fire the ball home from the rebound to put the Classics ahead. It proved to be justice as Butler had been the one who had been brought down by the keeper to earn the kick.

Serbia countered in the 20th minute when the Classics defence disappeared and they broke through the middle. They had a spare unmarked player to the right who received the ball, only to shoot wide of the net. It was a let off for the visitors. It was a short lived reprieve as, two minutes later, a similar attack was finished with a low shot to the left of Jason Clegg to bring the scores level. O'Krane turned provider when he released Gordie Macklin who turned to beat his man but his shot went cruelly wide of the upright. In the 25th. Macklin centred low for Jerry Szakun at the far post, two yards out, but he couldn't get his legs in gear and he swung with his left foot when a right footed shot would have caused the damage. Serbia took the lead in the 28th when another break through the static defence resulted in another low shot to the left of Clegg. The score remained until the half time whistle went.

G. Crowley conceded a corner kick in the 52nd minute which resulted in a goal mouth melee with legs swinging here, there and everywhere. Unfortunately, the last touch was from a Serbia player who knocked the ball over the line to make it 3-1. Play started to get a bit rough with several players receiving yellow cards, including one for O'Krane. Even Moore, running the line, was involved in an altercation when one Serbia player took an objection to one of his decisions. Butler was unlucky with a long range effort and Clegg also made a good save from a similar long range effort at the other end. The goal of the game followed with 20 minutes remaining when a delightful cross from O'Krane was powered home by Szakun with a text book downward headed which gave the home keeper no chance. Another break through followed from Serbia and they should have made it 4-2 but the forward did all the hard work of beating defenders before he shot straight at Clegg.

Another Macklin-Butler move was unlucky not to bring reward with the final shot just skimming over the bar. It was a day of total frustration for the Classics. The just didn't play with the desired determination and they just didn't get the run of the ball. Serbia proved to be equal opponents although their tactics at times reflected just what is bad in the game rather than what is good in the game. Lorenzo Arcari had the last word when he said, "The way I play, I would never be staying for a beer if I got upset at my performance."

Final Score: Serbia 3 Classics 2 (2-1)

Stats
Yellow Card: Pat O'Krane
Penalty Miss: Gene Crowley
Crap Award: Mike Deeley