Classics hang on in 5 goal thriller...........
The Classics returned to action after a long summer layoff. The match against Polonia was switched at the last minute to Sunnyside Park in White Rock, an appropriate name considering the day. Sunnyside was more suited to a game of Subbuteo but it’s smallness was to be an equal disadvantage to both teams. After the pre-match warm up and the physio’s pre-match rub with WD40 the game started with the Classics taking the game to the home side. It was good to see Chas Jones returning back to action after his health problems of last year.

Early chances fell for the visitors and in the 10th. minute a fine right field shot from Larry Thorlakson beat the keeper and rebounded off the crossbar. Bruce Cook was on hand to confidently fire home the rebound to put the Classics a goal ahead. The goal lifted the visitors and it was one way traffic with Garry Hackel a virtual spectator.

In the 25th. minute it was 0-2 to the visitors after a pass from Thorlakson found Rick Geary unmarked about 25 yeards from goal. Geary took the ball with his back to goal and turned to hit a looping shot over the keeper into the far top corner. It was just the fillip needed by the team.

Ten minutes from the end of the first half the Classics were awarded a corner. The ball was sent back out to the wing by a Polish defender and Thorlakson thumped a high centre over the home keeper to the back of the box where Cook was waiting. Cook stopped dead and said, "thank you very much," before heading home his second and the teams third of the day. It looked like plain sailing from here on.

The second half was to be a different story with Polonia posing more problems for the Classics as they visibly tired. The midfield became overworked which put more pressure on the defence. The next goal was to be an important one as it would have a big bearing on the final result. Ten minutes into the second half, Cook was released on a run towards goal with Dave Moore racing and screaming down the right wing. Cook took the more difficult option in an attempt to score a hat-trick and the ball was easily saved by the Polish keeper. Had he passed to Moore, he would have had the simple task of walking the ball into the net (and we all know how well he does that!)

However, the home side came back into the game when a mix up in the Classics defence allowed Polonia to take advantage and give themselves a lifeline with a goal. Ten minutes from time, with Polonia pushing the Classics defence to the limit, a through ball which came from a ball upfield after a Classics corner caught Fisher Crockett flat footed and the result was that the deficit was pulled back to one.

Chuck McGill had to leave the field through injury and Geary dropped back to partner Ray Marrington in the heart of defence. The team pulled all the stops out to defend the dodgy lead and managed to come away with a somewhat fortunate victory. If the game was 10 minutes longer who would have known what would have happened? So it was a relieved Classics team which left the field after a hard fought victory.

Stats:

MWG: Cook
"You Were Crap" award: R. Geary