Ballina has succumbed to an unfortunate defeat in the final of the Anzac cup losing on penalties to some Lismore team.. . I don’t know which they all have the same vacant expression and shifty eyes.
The Balllina boys started proceedings well with some solid passing and constructive play only to allow the other team to net an easy goal. This however seemed to spur the seahorses on and they pushed forward repeatedly only to be denied time and again.
With Ballina enjoying the bulk of possession for the first half, the Lismore team were left looking ambulatory and disinterested, as if they were passing time until the centrelink opened the next day. This allowed Ballina to push forward and create holes with Troy Percival looking dangerous up front being supported by Shannon Macjieski (apologies for the butchering of your name dude) and Brent Manieri.
After the half time interval, the Lismore team still appeared disinterested and intent to only attack on the break. A tactic that was thwarted time and again by the Ballina backline, with big ups to Dave Betteridge, Dane Seymour, the unflappable Thommo and the webmaster himslef Lucas Wagland.
Apparently having not read (possibly due to lacking the ability to) the always entertaining football article in the local “newspaper” by their football “journalist” Lismore were again pedestrian at best after the half with Ballina able to turn concentrated pressure in to goals through a cracker from Phil Amery and penalty from Troy Percival after Cerys Hawkins expertly picked out a defenders arm in the box.
The seahorses pushed for a third goal to finish the tie, however this allowed the other team to score which brought the game back to evens. Then we scored through the ever reliable Adam Izzard and they got one back. It then went to extra time and then penalties. Afterwhich the game ended. Oh and Shaz got the player of the match. Huzzah for Shaz. Well deserved.
The Ballina squad did well in the game and should supporters should be bouyed by the teams efforts as the controlled the majority of the play and played some attractive football and created a lot of chances.
Oh and post script what the heck were the talking about in the “newspaper” article about them using the “spirit on Anzac day” to help them win? What the hell does that make us the Turks? They do actually read what he writes before they print it don’t they?
