Barden Ridge hosted Engadine in a round two fixture out at the scorching hot tip. The midday kick off and distinct lack of uncontaminated soil for trees to grow and provide shade really taking it’s toll on both players and fans alike. Just ask a certain white coach who looked very fashionable, sporting a lovely brown bucket hat and giant black glasses throughout the match!
Engadine welcomed back Chris and Corey for this fixture. Chris returning from a medical condition a lot earlier than expected which was great to see, while Corey silenced his midweek critics (Jeff *cough*) and immediately started in what he has made his own left fullback spot. Blake on the other hand was disappointingly a late omission due to external contractual commitments.
The match couldn’t have started any better for Engadine, going 0-1 up in the first two minutes through Jeff and 0-2 followed soon after with a lovely run off the ball and a tap in for Jenko.
An off the ball incident where a Barden Ridge player ‘allegedly’ told the referee to “f**k off and go to Specsavers” saw him rightfully shown a red card and left his team to play with ten men in the heat. The match was all but over from this point on as Barden Ridge continued to hit their head against a brick wall, complaining and trying to contest every decision that the official made from this point on.
Engadine just carried on with the job at hand. Football. Luke, Ben and Marto rounded out Engadine’s scoring at five. This was Luke’s first goal for the club, overheard saying “God I look good in Maroon and white” as he made his way off the pitch after ninety minutes.
Barden Ridge did get a late consolation goal but that’s all it proved to be as the score finished 1-5 to Engadine.
It was an overall composed and mature effort by Engadine. Today was a prime example of why you don’t get drawn into stupid arguments with referees that you are never going to win. After the send off everything was suddenly about how hard done by they were and the football was left to just one team. Very impressed with how Engadine handled themselves and it’s something that all involved should be proud of.
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