Ashburton got the maximum reward for their hard work in wet conditions to hold off Booroondara Eagles 2-0.
After a monsoonal downpour before the start of the match, Ashburton was happy to defend in difficult conditions early on. The boys in green managed to hold off Booroondara, and gradually started to push out of defence more. However, with conditions hardly improving, chances were few and far between for either side. Unsurprisingly, the sides were still deadlocked at half time.
After the break Ashburton seemed to gain the upper hand, through some hard work in the midfield by Adam Lambert and Yiannis Harper. After a couple of threatening set-piece opportunities, Ashburton finally took the lead through a fine header by Ger Post, playing in his last game for Ashburton.
Booroondara kept Ashburton honest with some threatening counterattacks, but keeper John Psihogios made some good saves and Ashburton’s defence held firm. After 70 minutes, Ger Post was once again involved in a goal, controlling a long ball on the edge of the box and laying off to Yiannis Harper who made no mistake; 2-0.
This proved to be the final margin, with neither team creating clear-cut opportunities for the remainder of the game. The second win in as many weeks means that Ashburton stays in 9th position on the ladded, but closing in on the teams above them.
Ashburton’s next game will be away at Princes Park Oval against University of Melbourne on 13 August 2011.
The game against Booroondara was Ger Post’s last game in Ashburton colours. Ger will return to the Netherlands after finishing his study project here in Melbourne. We thank Ger for his efforts playing for Ashburton this season and hope to see him back at Ashy some time in the future.
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Meanwhile, Ashburton Reserves played through monsoonal conditions to beat Booroondara Eagles Reserves 1-0.
Bolstered by the return of Carl Nelms and Michel van Eijk as well as Paul Alexopoulos, Ashburton Reserves dominated Booroondara despite heavy downpours throughout the first half. Ashy got no reward for their hard work though, with a goal by Michel van Eijk disallowed and a header by Steve ‘Stretch’ Giannitsadis being cleared out of the goalmouth. Half time score: 0-0.
While the rain eased off in the second half, Ashburton continued to dictate terms. Dan Azzopardi tried his luck with some long range shots, and Andrew Dodds undertook another super solo slalom, finishing off with a low shot that was saved by the Booroondara goalkeeper. Shortly after, a left-footed shot by Michel van Eijk just missed the top corner.
Ashburton finally broke through late in the game when Howard Wong charged up the wing and found Nolan White on the edge of the box, who steadied and calmly slotted home for a 1-0 lead.
Ashburton kept pressing for a second goal, but the score remained 1-0.