RESULT: Week 12 Sparrows VS Caulfield Untied.

A very encouraging performance from a Sparrows Seniors Team looking for only its third win of the season. The first half saw a dominating performance by Sparrows squandering a number of chances before going ahead with David Schulberg splitting two Caulfield defenders and coolly tucking the ball in the net with the keeper closing him down. Following a free kick awarded to the Sparrows, Ariel Valladares marked his return to the team with a fantastic free kick which found the top corner putting Sparrows 2-0 at half time.

The second half started slowly and Caulfield started to control the play and were lucky not to go ahead, only for some fantastic goalkeeping by Michael Therese with a double-save to keep Sparrows in the lead. But, it wasn't long before Caulfield scored following a scramble in the 6-yard box, which the Sparrows defense failed to clear.  Within 5 minutes, Caulfield found the back of the net with a headed goal from a corner, bringing the game back to level terms.

That was the wake up call Sparrows needed. With 10 minutes to go, Sparrows went ahead with substitute Alistair Jennings racing onto a long ball from Michael Therese, leaving for dead two Caulfield defenders and completing a great individual goal with a clinical finish.

David Schulberg then put the icing on the cake with a typical strikers goal, beating a couple of defenders, dribbling past the goalkeeper and tucking the ball into an open net and the Sparrows celebrated a much-deserved win.

Next week will bring on another challenge with a visit to Lyndale. The Sparrows have a score to settle with a 2-0 loss to Lyndale earlier in the season after completely dominating Lyndale throughout the game, but failing to take its chances.

It was a deserving result for the Sparrows Reserve Boys this week with a win over Caulfield 4-3 at home. The boys started the first half in style with some good football scoring 2 goals in the first 20 minutes. Some nice passing through the midfield and a good finish by David Clair started off the campaign. Rachid Soukkane then crossed in a beautiful ball to David Clair at the back post making for an easy header. The Sparrows boys were in control knocking the ball around and making it look easy.

However, the beginning in the second half saw the Sparrows boys come out half asleep and  Caulfield pounced on this opportunity and got back into the game scoring 2 goals in 15 minutes. The Sparrows looked to be falling into old habits putting their heads down and didn’t look as though the team really wanted to win the game. There was some good play which did appear at times and a nice play through the midfield with support from the strikers led to a lovely through ball which Rachid Soukkane drilled into the back net. Then Caulfield quickly responded with a goal leveling it 3-3. It was with 20 minutes remaining that things started to get heated on the pitch with some sporting banter and physical tackles exchanged between the teams. This was just what the Sparrows needed as they began to awake from their slumber and you could see the boys get fired up and want to win the game. The Sparrows boys then lumped on the pressure with several plays forward with some promising opportunities. With things going this way it was only a matter of time before a goal was going to be scored. A free kick was launched into the box which wasn’t cleared by Caulfield and a quick shot by Jason Munso deflected off Rachid Soukkane finding the back of the net.

I’m certain the referee would of had a difficult time of picking votes for this game with several players from the back to the front of the pitch standing out playing true Sparrows style football.