Games don’t get much closer than this. All square with a couple of minutes to go. Blues scored a scrappy “2-iron” goal – but they all count – to take the lead with the clock ticking down fast. Blues won the re-start and called a time-out. We had 90 seconds in the game to win the ball back and equalise. As Blues tried to retain possession, we won the ball and got a penalty. A Spencer time-out was called with 30 seconds left on the game clock with a man advantage.

In that last 30 seconds we got three good shots off on goal. The first missed by a whisker. The second was destined for the top corner but somehow the Blues keeper got something on it to deflect it away. The last throw of the dice was a long range rocket from long-stick Jesse Churchward but the force was not with us as this fizzed past the keeper inches over the goal.

The bulk of Spencer’s goals came from midfield, especially Will Walker who’s dodge and shot proved very effective this week. Ed Lubawski was on debut and performed well. We put 100% into this game from start to finish.

As the score suggests, this game was close all the way with never more than two goals in it. The Spencer squad included six long-stick players so Rob Gooch tried out with a short-stick in attack alongside regulars Peter Sayia and Mark Davies. Rob should of scored twice from the crease thanks to great feeds from Peter but only one hit the back of the net to mark his first goal since a dodgy kick-in against Cheadle ‘C’ back in 1996 when at Uni.

Blues took their chances well and in Matt Bagley have a player who can turn it on when it really matters. He created the goals that clawed Blues back on level terms in the 4th quarter.

It was disappointing to lose. We rued a disallowed goal due to a crease violation and some early offside penalties. However close games are what competitive sport is all about and it was great to be part of it.

Spencer were;
Colin Byrne, Matt Blom, Craig Simkin, Alan Keeley, Jesse Churchward, Ed Lubawski, Dan Hughes, Colin Rutter (2 goals), Will Walker (5), Louis Villard, Peter Sayia (2), Mark Davies, Rob Gooch (1)