The annual petering out of Sydney Olympic’s
season has begun, after witnessing a very lacklustre performance against
Blacktown City on Sunday Afternoon. We always seem to save these types of
performances at the most important times of the year, we can’t seem to get it
done when it matters most and it has been that way for years. We are sliding at
the wrong time of the year and it’s going to take something miraculous to halt that
slide.
In the first-half we were second-best as Blacktown controlled proceedings and
had most of the chances. We needed to be saved on multiple occasions by Paul
Henderson who made a series of great saves. Where would we be if he wasn’t with
us? And where will we be when he eventually hangs the gloves up? Up shit creek
is where. We had a couple of chances as well but we failed to deliver the
killer blow, a well-known story for Sydney Olympic this season. At the half-time
break the score was dead-locked at 0-0 and we needed to improve in the
second-half if we were to get the result.
The second-half was more of the same and within the first few minutes of the
re-start we had gone behind and were now down 1-0. After this we reacted well
and went in search of an equaliser, but it was not to be. Blacktown countered at
pace, knowing full well that there would be space left for them as we pushed
forward. Luckily for us they could not extend their lead, leaving us the
opportunity to maybe go on and snatch something late on. Unfortunately, we
could not manage to find a goal, thus ending a quite frustrating afternoon.
If it was not for Paul Henderson in this match we would have conceded more than
1. The continued absence of George Timotheou in defence leaves a big hole in this
team and it was quite obvious again today, when he is due back no one is quite sure
of. As for our attack, it has stagnated, the signing of James Demetriou was
meant to help us in this regard, but he has been unsighted in the team since he
re-signed with us nearly a month ago now.
We’ve had a strangle-hold on 1st place for many weeks now, but we have not been
able to capitalise on the situation. We have not been able to increase our lead
at the top and significantly gap the rest of the competition. When you also consider
that our closest competitor APIA Leichhardt have had the handicap of playing several
extra midweek matches in the last few weeks and are actually crushing their
opposition in the process, it is even more pathetic from us.
Apart from 1 game this year against Wollongong where we put 5 passed them, we
have scraped passed teams for the most part, struggling and generally edging
them out by the odd-goal. We should be murdering sides and have had chances
during matches this year to do so.
In the last few weeks we have lost to a shocking Bonnyrigg team, struggled to a
draw with Hakoah, squandered the chance to beat APIA and have now lost to
Blacktown City, we are hitting poor form at the wrong time of the season.
And the worst part is we do not have any excuses for it, we were knocked out of
the Cup long ago, and that was supposed to be a “good thing” as we re-focused
on our 1 mission, and that was to finish 1st. Despite still being 1 point in
front, that looks like being a tall order now.
In the Club Championship, the U18s lost 1-0 and the U20s also lost, going down
3-1. So, zero points for the entire weekend. If we are not careful we will be
dragged into something we don’t want any part of.
Our next match is next Sunday Evening July 8, a tricky match against Rockdale
at their dump. 468 West Botany St. Rockdale. Kick-Off is at 5pm. A win is
essential here.
No comments:
Post a Comment