Sunday, 15 March 2009 17:19
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There is plenty of promise for the Dunsborough Towners in the forthcoming South West Association football season following their strong showing in the annual Margaret River Carnival over the weekend.
In the five games they contested the Towners dominated their opponents with visiting Kwinana United the only side to offer serious resistance.
As the tournament progressed Dunsborough, fielding a number of new faces in their line-up, improved their team work to present a potent force.
The omens look good for the club’s 2009 Premier League hopes in a season that starts in the first week of April so long as they can keep the current players together for a whole campaign.
Visa requirements for overseas visitors, job opportunities elsewhere and winter holiday commitments have robbed the Towners of valuable players and points on the league ladder in the past.
The carnival suffered a setback before the first kick when Margaret River cricket demanded their rightful place on the designated ground for the semi-final of the competition forcing the carnival to move to the football ground next door.
The ground was in perfect condition but the restriction of space meant that there were only three pitches available instead of the normal five to cater for 22 teams from as far away as Albany and Perth.
Subsequently the matches were reduced in time to 15 minutes in each half instead of the normal 25 minutes.
In such a scenario the games developed into frenetic affairs with all sides seeking a quick first goal.
In this Dunsborough unveiled new striker Chris Tew who scored three quality goals for the Towners in their five encounters.
He was the first Towner on the scoreboard in the 2-1 defeat of Margaret River’s first team with Stuart Gidley scoring in the last second of the game giving the referee only time to whistle for the restart before he immediately signalled the end of the game.
Then a blistering Neil Muckles left foot drive and a neat header from the ever reliable Richard Olsen sunk Margies Boys in the second match before a no-holds-barred encounter against Kwinana ended with an own goal; providing Dunsborough with a 1-0 victory.
Unfortunately, midfield striker Graeme Copeman, the South West Association’s 2008 Premier League “Player of the Year” last year, suffered a crippling ankle injury in the closing minutes that will leave him on the sidelines for the start of the season.
In the fourth preliminary round match the Towners enjoyed the bulk of the initiative against Fremantle Croatia but poor finishing forced them to settle for a 0-0 draw leaving them in third place on the overall ladder after the preliminary rounds.
This pitted them against Croatia once again but this time without captain Cid Richards, newcomer Adam and the injured Copeman.
It was a quarter final that had everything that a football match could desire – attack at every opportunity, gilt edged chances going begging, and first class defending..
The latter saw an outstanding display from the Croatia goalkeeper, the one factor that prevented and runaway victory to the Towners.
It was Tew who demonstrated an instinct for goalscoring with two superb goals though he should have buried at least another three chances.
His two goals one in each half from sublime moments of teamwork should have been enough to propel Dunsborough into the semi-finals.
But a Croatia goal against the run of play, and in a rare moment of outright panic in the Towners’ defence, allowed their opponents to snatch a 3-2 victory with only 45 seconds of play remaining.
The irony is that Kwinana qualified for the final only to be beaten by the visiting Curtin University.
But there was much for The Dunsborough Towners to be confident about
They have new faces that have quality etched on them, a number of promising young players, some still to have a run, and a group of local talents that will benefit from an extra year of experience.
In addition there is the erection of a new club house close to the field of battle that will provide a sense of belonging to all associated with the Towners.
