Southern hosted the previously undefeated Melbourne University at Farm Road on Saturday, 16 June. The home side eventually won 5 goals to 1 in a game that they always led, but didn’t always control.
Michael Pearce opened the scoring after a Rowan Yeo breakaway run in the first 5 minutes and after a second goal was added a short time later it looked as if an easier afternoon was being offered up. That was, however, the end of the scoring for the first half and the sides settled into an even contest with neither dominating greatly during this period.
The second half started in opposite fashion – with MUHC scoring an early goal and then maintaining considerable pressure on the Southern defence. Southern ‘keeper David Hammond made a series of important saves as his team struggled to find the energy required to get back in the contest. Poor ball-handling became the order of the day and for a long period the game was in the balance.
Finally, another piece of clever lead up work from Yeo found Craig Hardham in a good position and with enough conviction to shrug off a defender and deflect the ball across the goal line. This was enough to jettison the lethargy of the previous 20 minutes and spark a strong finish. PC conversions from Mark Tesoriero and Yeo followed and Southern completed the game well on top.
Another bag of goals and a much improved defensive performance were the stand out positives from the game. On the other side of the ledger, the quiet period in the 2nd half was concerning, as was the return of the ‘yellow-card fairy’.
At the half-way point of the regular season the team is placed equal second, or fourth when goal difference is taken into account. The second half of the season should bring some epic contests as the top four teams’ battle for the coveted 1st and 2nd positions on the ladder.
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