Round 12
Campbellfield Utd vs Old Xaverians Soccer Club
La Torre, Ashe (Voss), Sorani, Marazita, Pearse (Nicholls), Stella, Kavanagh, Vittadello, Lachal (Erturk), Ubaldi, Bramante
Scorers; Bramante, Vittadello

Hard Day in the Saddle
With the Tour de France now in full swing, the Peloton travelled north along the cobblestones to face perennial contenders Campbellfield. In damp conditions, the game was in the balance for long periods and a strong 10 minute spell from the hosts finally put them ahead but for Vittadello to knock in the equaliser with the Xavers in 10 men.

In what could only be described at the most repeated statement for season 2010, there were a few changes for the travel north as Horgan had his European swang song at 1pm and Erturk in Sin City. Back came Lachal into the starting lineup after earning 30 minutes in his World Cup comeback last week and Voss passed Thai Customs to take his spot on the bench to give the coach plenty of options.

The first half resembled a cagey affair not necessarily due to the defensive nature of either side but due to the mutual competent set up in the middle of the park that afforded few opportunities to either side. Stella received his toughest hit out of the year; unable to totally dominate the midfield being rendered from extraordinary to excellent. That’s what you get against Campbellfield, pacy tenacious pressure, a team that works harder than no other without the ball. 

The Xaverians tried to exploit some unsettled goalkeeping from the home side, with some searching throws launched from Vittadello that the custodian continually made a hash of it with Ubaldi pouncing then blocked on his goal bound efforts. Bramante must have felt he spent an hour on the pave’ to Roubiax continually receiving a colonoscopy from the caring hosts who are keen to promote awareness of bowel cancer. Midway through the half, LaTorre showed why the league champs are a tough proposition, expertly swatting away a goal bound header from a Campellfield corner. As the game meandered towards the break, Vittadello set off on another industrious run, skinned his adversary and fired towards goal, the keeper parried away and under desperate pressure, Bramante screamed in at the back posts to put the Old Xavs ahead.

Few oranges and bananas at the break and team concluded that they needed to be more desperate to get to the ball as a means of extending the lead. Sadly Campbellfied were listening and it was the hosts who came screaming out of the blocks with a strong 10 minute spell to change the face of the game. Just after 50 had ticked over a booted clearance bounced outside the area and was not adequately dealt with, and on it went to give the Campbellfield captain the chance to prod it home from the angle. Not long after, Marazita was the victim of freak circumstance as a blocked through ball continued on but spun away on the bounce and fell to the home captain who started away from the ball. Marazita had no choice but to lunge at the captain who coiled back ready to slam the half volley, with plenty of audio, down he went and the referee had no hesitation to point to the spot. Up stepped the Campbellfield midfielder who approached on his right foot, opened up and side footed it into the corner to put the hosts ahead just before the hour mark.

Lachal was initially sacrificed for Erturk as the hosts suffered with the big man’s physique and retreated in submission. Then the theatrics that we’ve all come to love started in earnest. Campbellfield could be considered off off Broadway but there was no doubt about their thespian talent. The home Keeper was first on the stage; holding up play for a good 5 minutes with an alleged cramp and then it was the turn of the left back to be hit by the second shooter from the grassy knoll. In between Ashe pulled up lame in the cold conditions and was substituted for comeback kid Thomas Van Vossy who was itching to make the difference. Los Blancos peppered away at a retreating home goal with Bramante producing a typical powerful display. Stella was controlling proceedings and was firmly in the director’s chair trying to force an opening. With more than 20 to go Cilmi was forced to play his final hand and an impressive Pearse was sacrificed for Nicholls to add more firepower to chase the result. And what has come to typify 2010 shortly after the substitution, Marazita pulled up with a calf strain and was signalling to the bench, much to his dismay, the signal came back ‘stay on, just move up front.’ So he did, with Stella moving into defence, the OXSC poured away at the hosts wave after wave. On one leg Marazita managed prod the forward pass wide to Bramante who slammed a goal bound effort only for the keeper to save into the path of Vittadello to head home the equaliser with minutes remaining. Effectively playing in 10 men, the OXSC still looked the more threatening in the final minutes against a dejected homeside and looked like the more likely to claim the victory. Sadly the referee had spent enough time in Campbellfield and decided to call it quits playing only a notional stoppage time. Disappointing considering the eons wasted in the middle of the half, although a credible point under most circumstances, the OXSC departed the arena disappointed that they would not carry back three points to Kew. That’s what makes this team one of the best over the last 3-4 years, the OXSC expect to win every game but this time it was not to be, with the points shared in both encounters this season.

With Butler and Hainsworth returning in the next couple of days the OXSC can count on a determined performance back at Hays next week against Maribyrnong, see you then.