Leichhardt Saints SFC

Issue 005

gabe — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:28:06 +0000

Warm Up

A tough trip awaited the Saints as they headed out to face Golden Stars and that was mainly due to the horrendous Parramatta Road traffic. Once in Fairfield though the Africans weren’t as formidable on the pitch as they had been in previous years with the Saints picking up on relatively simple victory and throwing away another.

Parramatta Road on Saturday

First Grade: Saints 4 Golden Stars 1

The Saints started brightly and should have been one up early on after Master Chef Daniele missed a one-on-one when put clean through by Matty. Fortunately the Golden Stars ‘keeper gave away a stupid penalty by barging into Gabs after claiming a cross. A truly stupid thing to do and the striker got up off the floor and dispatched the spot kick. Minutes later a free kick to the back post was expertly cut bcd across the face of goal by Brian for Gabs to nod into the relatively unguarded net. 2-0 and the Saints were coasting with Derry and Ange untroubled at the back and fullbacks Brian and Dave M seeing a lot of the ball. Out wide Stef was menacing his opposite number while Chippo just failed to get on the end of a nice cross after more good interplay. If only he was taller!

Should Chippo have taken a leaf from Maradona?

In the second half the Saints were again on top until John P kept pace with his man all the way from half way only for the opposition player to lose his feet once inside the box. Dave Young went the right way but the sandy goalmouth slowed his dive and it was 2-1 all of a sudden. The Saints pushed on and were rewarded when Brian picked up a loose bouncing ball 35 yards (in his own half for those in Ireland) and lashed an unstoppable volley right into the top corner. Goal of the season so far. Stuart came off the bench for his A Grade debut and got on the end of a perfect cross from Daniele with an emphatic side footed volley after a great team move that started from the goalkeeper.

4-1 to the Saints and a well deserved three points to take back home.

First Grade: Saints 2 Golden Stars 2

Up against a team usually so tough in B Grade the Saints came out firing and looking to take the game right to Golden Stars and were reward for an excellent first half display with a 2-0 lead with two right footed (!!!) strikes Andy Baudille. Each goal was nearly identical with great teamwork opening up space for Andy to move on to the ball from his new position in right midfield and finish with power and precision on the angle. Jimmy was a tower of strength in the middle of the park while the ultra experienced back four of Ferg, Ken, Mick Ryan and Albert repelled all that came their way. Stuart stood up strong on the left and Mick Roucek anchored well until injury forced his departure. Up front Puds and Damo were making the Golden Stars defence think.

Unfortunately a third goal didn’t come early in the second half despite some great chances and the Saints were made to pay with a defensive mix up allowing the opposition through on goal with the shot straight at stand in ‘keeper Gabs, the rebound on the other hand was cooly slotted in the corner through a sea of Saints defenders.

From there the game opened up as Golden Stars pushed hard for an equaliser and it came after a howler from Gabs after he slid over the ball as he came to collect at the feet of an onrushing striker, heartbreakingly for the Saints an expert finish from a tight angle followed and it was all square.

Howler

Neither side could find a winner and it finished an entertaining draw although the Saints would be disappointed to have literally let three points slip through their fingers.

All Talk Exclusive Wedding Coverage

All Talk has been able to obtain exclusive shots and footage from the wedding of our very own Barcelona tragic, President Tez. Congratulations from all at the club!

The big moment

Custom plates

The lucky bride was thrilled with how the cake turned out

His

Hers

Soon

Exclusive footage

Daniele’s Dinners

Naples native and all round hospitality superstar Daniele claims to be the finest chef rattling the pans in the world. All Talk asked the Neapolitan to provide us with a signature dish for after a big game so we could all the be the judge…

Gnocchi with Gorgonzola (you will need for two people or three)
1 onions/shallots
2 big spoon of extra virgin olive oil
2 big spoon of vegetable stock (liquid)
100 gr of Gorgonzola cheese
6-8 leaf of Sage
Nutmeg (optional)
Little bit of milk to create the sauce creamy as desired
500gr of Gnocchi…

The final result

Buon Appetito
Daniele Lombardi
Master Chef
Well Done Guys

Warm Down

Is Andy Baudille actually right footed?

Round Five 2012

gabe — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:34:16 +0000

A comfortable win an an unlucky draw in the first game.

First Grade: Saints 4 Golden Stars 1
Reserve Grade: Saints 2 Golden Stars 2

Latest tables

Round Four 2012

gabe — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:56:06 +0000

Two big wins put the Saints back on track.

First Grade: Saints 7 Gunners 1
Reserve Grade: Saints 3 Gunners 0

Latest tables

Issue 004

gabe — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:45:09 +0000

Warm Up

Back at home for the visit of the Gunners and the sun was shining and so were all the Saints pre-game in their new tracksuits thanks to Plumbing Guru and Paramount Lawyers. Fortunately the football was just as aesthetically pleasing as the Saints scored ten goals on the day to record two big wins.

Guru ‘models’ the new tracksuit top.

First Grade: Saints 7 Gunners 1

Strangely the Gunners managed to sneak an early goal to go one up but in the end it was all to much for them. Gabs took advantage of sloppy defending from a flick on to round the ‘keeper and open the scoring before he again snuck one inside the post to put the Saints in front. Johnny P tested the goalkeeper a few times and Gual tested the referees patience with his physical approach. At the back Ange, Jimmy, Mick Ryan and Dave Marocchi were never tested and at the break it was all Leichhardt.

After the break a top drawer assist from Matty allowed Gabs in for his hat-trick while Stef and then Gual wreaked havoc down the left to set up goals four and five before Matty poked him number six. A terrific cross from Gual was ripped into the top of the net on the half-volley by Dean as he followed in at the back post for the final goal.

Coleman showed great vision to play in Gabs

Gabs returned the favour to set up Coleman

Scorers: Gabriel Knowles 5, Matthew Coleman, Dean Cochrane

Reserve Grade: Saints 3 Gunners 0

Late arrivals handed Daniele a start up front and pushed Damien wide right in an attacking set up that was justified as the wide man whipped a long distance shot over the hapless ‘keeper with the outside of his right foot. A truly great goal that would not be repeated despite Damo attempting it again on 40 more occasions during the the match.

Moments later Brian tried to throw down a challenge for goal of the day as he belted a shot into the top corner from 30 yards (45 yards for relatives reading back in Ireland). The high point of a stellar match for the Irishman that confirmed how advantageous turning up on time and sober can be for your form. A lesson for us all.

Captain Chippo was having a storming match in the centre of the park and went close after half time when through one-on-one but a weak shot was saved much the pleasure of old mate/lover Guru. Andy Baudille stepped off the bench to slot home a bouncing ball with his laces and from then on the game was as good as done as a contest with the Saints spurring numerous chances to run up a bigger score.

Big performances from all concerned got the deserved three points but with sterner tests ahead a ruthless streak could come in handy.

Scorers: Damien Jusic, Brian Foley, Andy Baudille

Saints In The Media

Matthew Coleman: The new face of CityRail

Warm Down

Rumours of Guru’s involvement in Calciopoli are spreading rapidly.

“There’s no way I can get the cash to you by Tuesday.”

Which Saint secured a lucrative underwear modelling contract with Clavin Klein during the week?

“If you lived half the life I live, you’d be dead.”

Are the new Saints tracksuits so hot on the streets that rival players are scrambling to be seen in them?

Jason from Abbotsford sets the transfer rumour mill into overdrive by slipping on the Saints new tracksuit. Saints issue formal press release denying interest in signing any more over the hill players.

Issue 003

gabe — Wed, 02 May 2012 00:54:43 +0000

Warm Up

The Saints headed out to Bark Huts for the third week of the season for only the one game. For some reason Dobroyd Lions have been allowed to field only one side this year, meaning only half our squad was able to get a run. Fortunately, with training having fallen on Anzac Day, only half our squad had trained anyway.

First Grade: Saints 0 Lions 1

New signing Marc led the line on his debut after an injury interrupted pre-season and had a few half chances early on as the Saints made their passing stick. Unfortunately the goal didn’t come and a loss of possession was punished with a breakaway goal. A common way to concede it appears.

The Saints again started brightly in the second half but were unable to make the pressure pay off. Dean came on for an off-colour Stef on the right and made an impact through his creative play and went close with a spectacular volley.

Stef was off his game

Unfortunately Andrew went in slightly (and high?) on the Lions striker and saw red. With only ten men it was an uphill battle that wasn’t able to be overcome.

Andrew mistimes his tackle slightly

Midfield enforcer Adam Baudille was missed (as was ready made replacement Mick Ryan) as Matty and JP assumed more defensive duties for the day. Daniele forced a good save late on and Gual tried hard to find an equaliser to no avail. At the back Ange put in another consistently good performance.

Mick Ryan busy at work on game day

All Talk Travel

Chippo poses with Portugal’s finest sledger

One fine day in 2006 a young(ger) Chippo thought he was seeing double. The Saints mainstay recounts the day just for All Talk:

Firstly, what a great photo.

It’s July 1st 2006, Me and the Guru are in Spain, having just seen the cheating Italians beat the Socceroos in Kaiserslautern.

World Cup Quarter Finals, and we’re thinking, “where are we gonna watch England play Portugal?”

The obvious answer was to hire a car and drive over the border into Portugal.

It was a little fishing village called Faro. Guru demolished 14kg of squid and 72 Sagres’, and then we settled in the town square and watched the game on a massive screen.

And Carmen was there!

The guy was the village stud. He wore a Portuguese flag that his mum turned into a suit.

Rooney gets a red card for being a dick. 0-0 and then penalties. Lampard, Gerrard and Carragher miss peno’s. The place erupts.

Carmen is our new best friend.

The real Carmen circa 2006

Warm Down

Will B Grade bounce back after a week off?

Can A Grade get a much needed three points this weekend?