It had been a good week for the STRIKERS here in Brisbane, so far from the waves caused by Harry and Ronaldo in the deep southlands. We had been given a little bit of the Wail every day, an ABC radio presenter was giving away 100 match tickets and threatening to out sing any other supporter group, there had been ads for the Carlton game and news snippets on TV and, driving in, there was an ABC radio interview with Paul Foster about the season so far. "Paul, why do you think the STRIKERS are scoring so well, when last year you couldn't buy a goal?" "Dunno, I wasn't there" "Why are they so successful to date". "This is the most harmonious side I've played in. No prima donnas, everyone happy and comfortable, including Kossie who is always positive".
So we arrived at the Rainbow to a chant of "You're late and you know you are" and I introduced Cav to the footpath dilettanti and ordered a Kilkenny and spag bol (there's your multiculturism, then :-) ). Service was so slow due to the crowd that I didn't finish eating until 5 to kick off which meant our party was fragmented in the ground unfortunately. There now seem to be two groups developing at the Rainbow, the abovementioned boulevardeurs and a smaller group in "the back". A pity, because the singing was a little inhibited, but we ended up more or less together at the ground and it is so good to have the chance for some football chat with the like minded pre-game.
There was quite a queue for we season ticket holders to jump right on 7 o'clock, which was an encouraging sign and, I was only able to find a single seat with the Banana Army in time to see lots of little girls being cheer leaders and the tail end of some bleeding fireworks. The crowd looked to be in the order of 6000 plus. The scoreboard is knackered, I think, so we don't have the figures posted this season and the PA is so poor that, unless the crowd is absolutely silent (which it less so this season), it is difficult to hear.
The STRIKERS started of absolutely dominantly and I honestly don't think Carlton got in our half for the first 20 minutes, so it seemed routine for goal-a-game Paul Foster to give us the lead mid half. It may have been tactical, but Carlton seemed not to worry about contesting the midfield which made the STRIKERS look invincible (not the Marconi one). Markovski must expect abuse up here whichever club he turns up for, and won't have left disappointed - the usual "pies" stuff, the best being when he was injured "Bring out the emergency pie!", but I liked best the truck backing "Beep, beep beep.." whenever he got the ball. I was pleased to hear Andy Packer given a warm "There's only one..." and McPherson "Hun, Hun, Hun", but my favourite was to Archie Thompson "Are you Knipey in disguise?" During the half time beer, it was generally felt that the game was as good as won.
Football is a funny old game(to coin a phrase). The "secon'alf" bore no resemblance to the first. I don't know if we lost it or they grabbed it - the effect is the same. This time we made very few chances, although late on a cross from the Mad Bull should/could have been headed in with the merest deflection. Carlton's goal was a strange one. Somehow a ball became loose in the box and Bolton was half in and half out. It was looped very high over him and bounced in. It seemed very strange and soft, and supported Crofty's belief that Clint is still "chippable". That aside, he was my man of the match, making 4 or 5 absolutely world class saves in the second half, ultimately saving us a point, and, more importantly, depriving them of 2 and preventing them going top of the table.
This slackening off in the second half - it happened with Power and the Spirit too - needs attention from Kossie. I don't know if it is mental or physical, but Kossie must sort it soon. In the end, we played the other undefeated team, scored only the third goal against them and toughed it out to hold on to the undefeated record and top place which can't be all bad. Next home game is against the Oceania Club Champions - I'm looking forward to that.