Tempers reached boiling point last Tuesday night as Oakleigh Havoc grabbed its first win of the season against JRG. The Men's Second team performed well against tough opposition, coming back in the second half from a goal down to secure three points. The talking point from the match, however, came from its fiery conclusion in which shirts were torn and red cards were given to both sides.
JRG and Oakleigh Havoc's Week 7 match could be described as an entertaining and physical encounter. With three points on the line, both sides were desperate to advance their position on the league table. Oakleigh's opponents had started the season well in second place with two wins from two games while Havoc had remained sixth with no wins from the opening fortnight of the season.
JRG gained the upper hand early with two goals against the run of play before Havoc responded with goals of their own (one each for Jake Winn and Jonah Caruana) to equalize the score. Match intensity heightened in the following minutes as both teams added a third goal to their respective tallies.
Attacking pressure continued to build for each side with every passing minute and defensive errors becoming a common outcome for both JRG and Oakleigh. With only a two minutes of the half remaining, a failed clearance allowed Oakleigh's opponents to score and take a slim, one-goal advantage into the second period of the game.
The second half, though, was a complete turnaround from the first. Oakleigh Havoc dominated the remaining 18 minutes of the match while their opponents struggled to muster any real scoring chances. JRG grew in frustration as Havoc doubled their tally from the first half with goals from Schmidt, Winn and Caruana.
With the match seemingly over, tempers and frustration in the JRG side boiled over. A unneccessary, dodgy slide tackle on behalf of a JRG defender prompted an angered reaction from Havoc's J. Caruana. Grabbing and tearing of shirts ensued between the two players before both were broken up by their teams and given red cards for violent conduct.
The win sees Oakleigh Havoc move up to 5th on the league table. Next week, the side takes on Team X at 8:20pm where a win could elevate them into a top three position.
(After receiving a red card last Tuesday night, Jonah Caruana must serve a 1 week suspension and will therefore be unavailable for selection in next Tuesday's game.)