Won 2-1
Scorers: Charlie Gotke, Adam McHale
MoM: Paul Donovan
DoD: not awarded
Victory Snatched From The Jaws of Defeat
Normally a headline that suggests a Canterbury team on the wrong end of a result but somewhat surprisingly and even undeservedly the Friars found themselves on the winning side. Still….. your writer jumps ahead of himself which is not a trait common on the pitch when the Friars are playing.
The first half saw no goals scored but the sub plot would tell a very different story as the Friars keeper Paul ‘Dono’ Donovan kept everything out and the Friars in – good training for his professional life. At the other end of the pitch a few near misses but nothing really serious to worry the Marden keeper as nothing much on target.
The second half was an altogether different affair. A couple of Friars opportunities should have been taken and were compounded by Marden taking full advantage of some openings to get the lead.
However this situation galvanised the Friars and Nick Tan in midfield and the youngsters (Tan junior, Devereux, McHale and Gotke), in the team stepped up to the plate especially with 2 old boys (Lee and Hayward) being subbed off at this point; not surprisingly the last quarter belonged to the Friars after a well taken goal from Charlie Gotke equalised matters. Just a minute later Jamie Harris from right defence started a move that Adam McHale latched onto driving deep to the top of the Marden D, did a 1-2 with Johnny Devereux and scored to gain the lead. The score stayed that way despite Marden’s best efforts from a couple of short corners which the defence were up to.
Many thanks to Phil Sandy and Spratty for umpiring what was a very friendly spirited match.