Lightning Doesn't Strike Twice

26th August: North Caulfield 2-1 Doncaster Rovers

Goal: Jeffrey Xu

Rovers made the long journey down to Caulfield Park for the return match against North Caulfield. This was promising to be a challenging match for Rovers as North Caulfield would be looking to avenge their only defeat of the season, 3-4 at Anderson Park.

Rovers started the match with the in-form Adam Bove in goal. With Jarryd Pickard and Marc Graziani at fullback, coach Bill Vassiliou decided to fill the troublesome centre-back berth alongside Michael Kil with Gareth Tanner to add some strength at the back against the division's leading scorers.

In midfield, Karl Pimlott anchored the midfield with Ashley Stevenson on the right, Ian Branch on the left and Ben Vernes and Oskar Petersson in central midfield. Trevor Bird was the lone striker as Rovers looking to reinforce the middle with the aim of getting players forward early in support.

The game kicked off in bright sunshine and North Caulfield immediately pressed forward. Gareth Tanner made an early impression as he cleared under pressure from two players.

Minutes later, the ever-dependable Michael Kil made a last-ditch tackle to prevent a shot at goal. He released Ashley Stevenson on the right who in turn found the busy Oskar Petersson ahead of him. He found Trevor Bird on the edge of the box who turned and shot, forcing the North Caulfield into a smart save down to his right.

The game developed into a midfield struggle and on 15 minutes, Oskar Petersson played a finely judged ball through to Trevor Bird who turned inside two defenders but was unable to beat the keeper who was quickly off his line to cover.

With both sides finding chances difficult to come by, North Caulfield had two chances in two minutes but missed the target with both. However, on 30 minutes they took the lead in controversial circumstances. From a corner, Rovers were unable to clear the ball, and with Adam Bove clearly being impeded by a North Caulfield striker, a North Caulfield player had a simple tap-in unopposed.

Four minutes later, North Caulfield almost doubled their lead but the shot ht the inside of Adam Bove's left-hand post and rolled across the goal before going out for a goal-kick.

Rovers then started to get a hold of the game with Ben Vernes, Oskar Petersson and Karl Pimlott playing well in midfield. On 38 minutes, Ben Vernes broke down the right and swung a high cross which eluded the North Caulfield keeper allowing Jeffrey Xu to meet the ball at the far post and knock it home. It was a goal that Rovers deserved for their efforts as they went in at half-time with the score North Caulfield 1-1 Rovers.

North Caulfield kicked the second half and almost immediately retook the lead, but for a fine save from Adam Bove. A minute later, Rovers defence was again under pressure and it took some good work from Gareth Tanner to shepherd the ball back into the safe arms of Adam Bove as two North Caulfield strikers threatened.

However, it wasn't one-way traffic and Rovers were unlucky as a bad bounce prevented a chance for Trevor Bird after good work by Ashley Stevenson. In the 55th minute, Karl Pimlott won the ball deep in the Rovers half and quickly found Oskar Petersson. His surging run upfield was only halted by a last-ditch challenge on the edge of the opposition box.

With the game now flowing from end to end, both defences were now dominating and chances were few and far between. the back four were dealing well with everything that that North Caulfield could throw at them, well-protected by the midfield.

However, in the 72nd minute with Rovers pressing forward for a winner, a long ball forward by North Caulfield finding their best player who gave Adam Bove no chance from 10 yards to give North Caulfield the lead.

Rovers responded for the last 8 minutes, throwing caution to the wind by moving the dynamic Michael Kil up front in search of the equaliser. With North Caulfield packing their defence for the last few minutes, there was no way through and the game finished with the score North Caulfield 2-1 Doncaster Rovers.