A huge weekend for me, on Friday night I was in the area and decided to go and watch Ringwood City against Eltham. A win for Ringwood would of meant they would of been crowned champions heading into this weekend after Melbourne Uni could only manage a draw at Whitehorse on Saturday.
Having not had dinner, I was looking forward to getting to Ringwood and having something to eat. It was my first visit to the new Jubilee Park and it was a trip I had been wanting to do all year.
On the canteen menu were lots of the usual, but burgers were the big ticket item, I went for the Chicken Burger (and it was a burger, not a schnitzel) because of what was on it compared to the regular burger. Lettuce, Avocado, Grilled Red Capsicum and a Garlic and Avocado dressing! Something very different!
The whole lot was a bit on the small side (about the size of a Big Mac), but it was very nice and a good change from the usual.
Saturday I had decided early on in the week to go to Cairnlea as I had also been asked to photograph two Roller Derby bouts in Braybrook ten minutes down the road.
There was a standing offer of a free kebab the next time I went to a Cairnlea match which was gratefully accepted at half time (as well as an extra generous second kebab for the lady in the stands travelling with me for the Roller Derby).
I think the Cairnlea people would be pretty confident with their product, and I have absolutely no problem in saying that it was the best Kebab I have had in suburban football. It was the real deal, all the ingredients were spot on. Better than the kebab van on Ballarat Road I stopped at last time I was in the area! It's just a pity their club isn't open the same hours.
Tuesday 17 September 2013
Monday 9 September 2013
The Man at the Canteen - Darebin United
Fridays at my place of work is the day all the employees get together and order a take away of some description, I was hankering for a Souvlaki, but I was unfortunately out voted and had to settle for Pizza (again).
I made it my mission on Saturday to find a club who could do a good Souvlaki, I was tossing up between a few games to travel to although there was no real stand out for the smaller round of catchup games.
Moreland City's encounter against Sydenham Park was on my shortlist so I started searching around for another fixture nearby. Low and behold Darebin United were at home to Northern Falcons just a kilometre away. Their logo (which features the Greek God Apollo) had Souvlaki written all over it so I was sold.
As the grounds were so close together, I decided to park at Moreland and walk to Darebin. After my quick stroll across the Merri Creek Valley separating the grounds I arrived at the far side of Mayer Park nose high in the air hoping for a whiff of the familiar odour of meat and garlic. Nothing straight away and with little action at the club house on the far side I was a little concerned.
I kept on moving towards to pavilion, still getting nothing on the radar. I had a look at the locals, there were a few supporters from both sides and nobody was eating so I started to formulate a Plan B in my head, until like a shining beacon I saw it, a few of the old boys tucked away in the corner were shielding it from the wind, but I know a spit when I see it.
Excited I went straight to the window and ordered one of their finest, found a quiet unoccupied bench behind the goal and went to work on it. It looked fantastic, a proper souv in a wrap, not a roll, it was a little light on the filling considering it was $8 on the price list, for that price I want it to be jam packed! The Garlic Sauce could of been knocked up a notch or two, but I am a man who loves his garlic, so it might of been perfect for others who don't like reeking of the stuff.
Still it was delicious, it was a pity the match wasn't up to the same standard, but let's face it, this time I wasn't attracted by the football so it was still a win.
I made it my mission on Saturday to find a club who could do a good Souvlaki, I was tossing up between a few games to travel to although there was no real stand out for the smaller round of catchup games.
Moreland City's encounter against Sydenham Park was on my shortlist so I started searching around for another fixture nearby. Low and behold Darebin United were at home to Northern Falcons just a kilometre away. Their logo (which features the Greek God Apollo) had Souvlaki written all over it so I was sold.
As the grounds were so close together, I decided to park at Moreland and walk to Darebin. After my quick stroll across the Merri Creek Valley separating the grounds I arrived at the far side of Mayer Park nose high in the air hoping for a whiff of the familiar odour of meat and garlic. Nothing straight away and with little action at the club house on the far side I was a little concerned.
I kept on moving towards to pavilion, still getting nothing on the radar. I had a look at the locals, there were a few supporters from both sides and nobody was eating so I started to formulate a Plan B in my head, until like a shining beacon I saw it, a few of the old boys tucked away in the corner were shielding it from the wind, but I know a spit when I see it.
Excited I went straight to the window and ordered one of their finest, found a quiet unoccupied bench behind the goal and went to work on it. It looked fantastic, a proper souv in a wrap, not a roll, it was a little light on the filling considering it was $8 on the price list, for that price I want it to be jam packed! The Garlic Sauce could of been knocked up a notch or two, but I am a man who loves his garlic, so it might of been perfect for others who don't like reeking of the stuff.
Still it was delicious, it was a pity the match wasn't up to the same standard, but let's face it, this time I wasn't attracted by the football so it was still a win.
Tuesday 3 September 2013
Two Days, Two Championships (Part 2)
On Sunday I followed one Championship win with another. Bayswater Strikers won their 6th Bayside FA Championship in 7 years when they hosted third placed Langwarrin at Guy Turner Reserve in a catchup match.
Bayswater had a difficult run home having to play the only two teams that could catch them, Langwarrin again the following week at Langwarrin and then having to travel away on the last day of the season to second placed Endeavour Strikers, it was fair to say Bayswater were pretty focused on getting the three points required and not leaving the door open for either team to have a crack in the final weeks.
Like the match the previous day, the game was a bit of an anti-climax, but this time for a different reason. What must of been an understrength Langwarrin were dismantled by Bayswater. 4-0 up at Half Time and 7-0 up before Bayswater took their foot off the pedal and Langwarrin snuck 2 goals in, before an 8th for Bayswater capped things off.
At the other end of the table, things are not so done and dusted. Although Chelsea are relegated, Mt Lilydale currently occupying the second relegation spot on the ladder (due to a 6 point deduction for playing an unregistered player) will be travelling to Croydon Rangers on the last day of the season in what could be a winner takes all matchup.
Bayswater had a difficult run home having to play the only two teams that could catch them, Langwarrin again the following week at Langwarrin and then having to travel away on the last day of the season to second placed Endeavour Strikers, it was fair to say Bayswater were pretty focused on getting the three points required and not leaving the door open for either team to have a crack in the final weeks.
Like the match the previous day, the game was a bit of an anti-climax, but this time for a different reason. What must of been an understrength Langwarrin were dismantled by Bayswater. 4-0 up at Half Time and 7-0 up before Bayswater took their foot off the pedal and Langwarrin snuck 2 goals in, before an 8th for Bayswater capped things off.
At the other end of the table, things are not so done and dusted. Although Chelsea are relegated, Mt Lilydale currently occupying the second relegation spot on the ladder (due to a 6 point deduction for playing an unregistered player) will be travelling to Croydon Rangers on the last day of the season in what could be a winner takes all matchup.
Monday 2 September 2013
Two Days, Two Championships (Part 1)
What a great weekend for football! It was the first weekend of Spring and I was lucky enough to witness one Championship being won and participate in another.
On Saturday I travelled back to Esther Park to (hopefully) witness Mooroolbark get the three points required for them to break their 24 year drought without a title. From the start you could tell that both the team and crowd were a bit nervous, the usually boisterous barkers supporters were quiet on the sidelines aware that they were playing a team seen as a bit of a bogey side and they were not going to take anything for granted until everything was done and dusted.
The quiet atmosphere seemed to affect the players as well, with no clear cut chances being created by Mooroolbark, you always had the feeling Old Melbournians were likely to snatch a goal whenever they went forward. They did have the best chance of the half, but the Mooroolbark keeper was able to react quickly thrusting a big palm in the way of an almost a point blank shot and forcing it over the crossbar.
45 Minutes down and with the score at 0-0 I was expecting the Barkers to come out fired up and looking to get an early goal to settle everyone down. Still it didn't come, Mooroolbark were getting forward but were struggling to find that creative edge in the final third, meanwhile the quiet crowd were still on edge every time Old Melbs went forward.
Now this part was told to me by a person from Mooroolbark after the match, so if my account has inaccuracies, please don't lynch me for it, and anyway, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
It was told to me that around the 85th minute mark of the match, the Barker WAGS each decided to go one at a time into the ladies room in a vein attempt to invoke Murphys Law.
In theory it was a good plan, I am sure everyone of my four confirmed readers can testify to having missed a goal, a red card or some piece of vital action when answering the call of nature.
With the 94th minute ticking over and all the WAGS having had a turn, Stuart Milne stepped up to the plate. Ever the optimist, he gave a short but inspired speech and declared that he WOULD be the the one to miss history being made as he strutted off into the clubrooms. As they say, the rest is history.
Well done Mooroolbark on securing the Championship and Good Luck in whichever league the FFV places you in next year.
On Saturday I travelled back to Esther Park to (hopefully) witness Mooroolbark get the three points required for them to break their 24 year drought without a title. From the start you could tell that both the team and crowd were a bit nervous, the usually boisterous barkers supporters were quiet on the sidelines aware that they were playing a team seen as a bit of a bogey side and they were not going to take anything for granted until everything was done and dusted.
The quiet atmosphere seemed to affect the players as well, with no clear cut chances being created by Mooroolbark, you always had the feeling Old Melbournians were likely to snatch a goal whenever they went forward. They did have the best chance of the half, but the Mooroolbark keeper was able to react quickly thrusting a big palm in the way of an almost a point blank shot and forcing it over the crossbar.
45 Minutes down and with the score at 0-0 I was expecting the Barkers to come out fired up and looking to get an early goal to settle everyone down. Still it didn't come, Mooroolbark were getting forward but were struggling to find that creative edge in the final third, meanwhile the quiet crowd were still on edge every time Old Melbs went forward.
Now this part was told to me by a person from Mooroolbark after the match, so if my account has inaccuracies, please don't lynch me for it, and anyway, never let the truth get in the way of a good story.
It was told to me that around the 85th minute mark of the match, the Barker WAGS each decided to go one at a time into the ladies room in a vein attempt to invoke Murphys Law.
In theory it was a good plan, I am sure everyone of my four confirmed readers can testify to having missed a goal, a red card or some piece of vital action when answering the call of nature.
With the 94th minute ticking over and all the WAGS having had a turn, Stuart Milne stepped up to the plate. Ever the optimist, he gave a short but inspired speech and declared that he WOULD be the the one to miss history being made as he strutted off into the clubrooms. As they say, the rest is history.
Well done Mooroolbark on securing the Championship and Good Luck in whichever league the FFV places you in next year.
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