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BIG
GAME REVIEWS
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Spirit 1, Grants Braes 0; April 11th
Carl Henderson’s tenth minute goal was enough to ensure Spirit FC claimed its second win in as many games in this season’s Footballsouth premier league campaign as it defeated Dunedin side Grants Braes 1-nil.
No luck for Carl here (2 maroon) though as Braes Josh Columbus safely catches this cross.
The game was played on a surprisingly good surface at Surrey Park in Invercargill and attracted a small but enthusiastic crowd.
On the field it was a day for the oldies though as veterans Ken Cresswell (Spirit) and Robbie Mitchell (Grants Braes) were called on to help their respective teams and did so with all the skill and commitment they are renowned for.
Cresswell
now in his thirty eighth year of football and in the unlikely role for him of
goalkeeper gave a polished performance between the sticks.
His effort was
highlighted when he made two game-saving reflex saves in the second period of
play.
and is seen here doing just that.
Mitchell on the other hand not only played solidly in defence for the visitors but constantly used his experience and knowledge to guide the younger players around him.
Spirit was a shadow of the team that thumped Northern in its previous game, lacking the ball control they showed then and all too often letting themselves down with misdirected passing following some good build up play out of defence.
Grants Braes too were guilty of the same wayward play.
Nothing
was more evident for Spirit than the lack of a quality striker to put away the
opportunities that are created.
...
In
defence Scottish import Craig Milne worked tirelessly to turn in a
player-of-the-day-performance while Josh Frewen in the unfamiliar role to him of
left back and Dion Cameron supported Milne’s effort.
On the
left flank Matty Burgess blotted an otherwise solid display when ten minutes
from time he reacted badly to being hindered by an opponent and “rugby tackled”
him to the ground.
The action left referee Wayne Rayner with no option but to
send Burgess for an early shower.
The highlight performance of the round two games was in Dunedin where
ex-Southlander Aaron Burgess scored all six goals in his Dunedin Tech team’s
6-nil win over University.
Round three games are scheduled for today with Spirit FC having the bye day.