AOTFC competed in the Fans Day Tournament, a round robin event comprising AOTFC... Lokomotiv Cove (Sydney FC supporters) and The Marinators (Central Coast Mariners supporters). The games where held at the Tempe Reserve in Sydney
MATCH ONE: Lokomotiv Cove vs The Marinators
The first game was the local derby and the Marinators took the field with 2 AOTFC players, Ianski as goalkeeper and go-scottie playing an unfamiliar role at fullback. The Loko Cove team started strongly and created many chances in the first half, but where repelled time and again by last ditch defence and some brilliant saves from Ianski. The Cove took the lead late in the first half and went to the break 1-0 in front.
The second half saw some more energy and fight from the Marinators, and although the Cove had more chances, it was Eggy from the Marinators who levelled the scores halfway through the second half, and it looked likely the Marinators could well scrape through with a draw. However, the equalizer seemed to sting the Cove into action and soon thereafter they scored to deservedly take the game 2-1.
MATCH TWO: AOTFC vs The Marinators
The second game began and ended with AOTFC playing with only 10 men against the Marinators who had a full compliment due to some players from Loko Cove filling in. The game began in a cautious manner, but it was the AOTers who produced the best chances. Near the end of the first half, our token female Angie delivered a pin point through ball to her brother Cbead, who rounded the keeper and with his left foot slotted away his maiden goal in the gold and green colours. There was much rejoicing in the team, as Cbead's goal-less monkey was finally off his back. The score remained 1-0 at half time.
The second half saw the AOTFC players gelling better and producing some fine football. Big Kris, Angie, Cbead and Rusty2 began to dictate terms in midfield, and our defensive trio Tezza, BigMan and Guyza along with Ianski made sure that no chances where going to get through. Go_scottie and meatpopsicle began to capitalise on the midfield dominence and gun striker go_scottie scrambled a dusty goal- mouth shot to put AOTFC up by two goals. After some further sustained pressure, go_scottie put the game beyond doubt with a fine chip from the edge of the 18 yard box into the back of the net giving the Marinators keeper no chance. The final score of 3-0 was the team's first ever clean sheet, and equalled it's highest winning margin. And this with only 10 men!
AOTFC 3 (go_scottie 2, Cbead goals) vs The Marinators 0MATCH THREE: THE FINAL: AOTFC vs Lokomotiv Cove
As the Marinators could not feature in the final, it was decided to forego the AOTFC vs Cove group match and move directly to the final. The final was played over 4 x 20 minute quarters. The AOTFC secured two Marinators to play for the team in the final (Eggy and Tiger), which gave us one sub. Later in the game, MathewKenna arrived and donned the boots for the first ever time for AOTFC.
First Quarter:All the positive energy which came from defeating the Marinators was soon lost by the AOTFC team as they went down by a goal within a few minutes, followed by a second, followed by a third goal, all within the first 20 minutes. The break had done the Loko Cove the world of good, and unlike their game against the Marinators, they put away most of their chances with surety. It wasn't all gloom though, as AOT where matching the Cove in general play, however could not put away any of the chances created. And although going to the first break 0-3 down, the team was far from discouraged and talked only about a comeback.
Second QuarterAOTFC came out firing in the second stanza, and began to dictate the terms of the game. More chances were created, initiated by Big Kris and helped by Cbead, and that pressure finally was rewarded with a penalty for handball against the Loko Cove. Go_scottie came to the spot and gave the keeper no hope by neatly putting it away off the right post. This seemed to spur on the AOTers and soon thereafter a brilliant lead up from midfield propelled Angie and Rusty2 forward up the left flank, and they skilfully played the ball to each other mesmerizing the defenders before Rusty2 cooly slotted the ball into the net. In doing so, he became the youngest goal scorer for the team at only
15. 2-3 at the halftime break and it was well and truly 'game on'.
Third QuarterThe Loko Cove team came out determined and began to dictate the game into the second half. After about five minutes their dominance was rewarded with a goal which took the score to 4-2 in their favour. It seemed that all the goals where only going to be scored at the southern end, as all six goals had come from that one end only. Fatigue, and lack of subs was starting to get to the AOTFC team but the guys kept on putting in hard. The defence of Guyza, Big Man, Tezza and Ianski came into their own during this quarter as they quelled many Cove attacks, with some spectacular saves from Ianski. When AOT finally got some possession, a free flowing move sent striker meatpopsicle through on goal, who duly slotted away his maiden goal for AOTFC and put them right back into the game. 3-4 at 3/4 time.
Final QuarterBoth teams came out firing for the last 20 minutes, both knowing this game was up for grabs. The game became very open and although both teams were showing signs of fatigue they kept up the intensity. Mathew Kenna had arrived and was thrown into the pressure cooker for his AOTFC debut. The quarter saw goal mouth scrambles and desperate defences keeping the opposition out. AOTFC conceded a corner, and the ball sailed past the far post, when one of the Cove's female players, standing just about on the goal line, had the ball hit her knee, and from an impossible angle the ball went between the defence and the post in for a goal to put them up 5-3. It became desperate for AOTFC now and the team pushed forward. With 5 minutes to play, meatpopsicle carved his way through the defence and neatly slotted away another, to make the score 4-5. The final few minutes saw further attack and counter attack, with defensive desperation, but as the final whistle sounded it gave the Lokomotive a narrow but deserved victory against AOTFC.
Lokomotiv Cove 5 vs AOTFC 4 (Meatpopsicle 2, go_scottie [pen], Rusty2 goals)A few interesting facts and figures from the day:
