Sep 7 - Ressies start strongly but run out of legs

A very young Reserves squad faced off against Fremantle United at home; a general lack of fit players in the senior squad made it necessary for three U18 players to help out. Fremantle looked a little shaky in defence in the early stages and the Ressies took advantage well. Tricky left back Saul Rosenheim delivered a superb switching cross from the halfway line to find young recruit Will free on the right; unfortunately the shot sailed over the bar. Soon after, striker David Siano closed down two defenders at the edge of the box and managed to cause the ball to spill to the side, and he pounced and drove the bouncing ball spectacularly with his ‘weaker’ left foot off the inside of the right post and in. Fremantle responded straight away with a shot from the edge of the box that sailed into the top left corner to make it 1-1.

In the second half Fremantle capitalised on being a bit quicker to the ball, possibly due to their ability (unlike the Ressies) to make substitutions and replace players tiring in the hot spring sun. After about 15 minutes a cross was played into the middle of the box and a Fremantle player got to it first and scored, making it 2-1. Soon after ‘Bruce’ Goldman saved a shot but a Fremantle player was first to the rebound and made it 3-1. On the break, Adam Levitan played a through ball to Siano on the left and Siano found the net with a fine finish. However, Levitan released the ball a moment too late and Siano was ruled marginally offside and the goal was disallowed. Fremantle vanquished any last hopes of a revival when a cross was played from within the box to a player who charged in and headered home from close range. It was then 4-1, and that is how the game ended.

- Terence Fuhr and Anton Finberg