Whites robbed

James Willoughby

A seriously undermanned and benchless Leeds United Victoria pushed table-toppers Cosas Rosas all the way in what onlookers described as the match of the season, with the Reds holding out 5-3 in front of a large crowd at the Box Hill Indoor Sports Centre.

As LUV peered over to their opposition, an observer currently pointed out that their opposition was the same team as Johnno’s Mum – who punished LUV with a 16-4 win over the Whites in round two.

The Whites were thrown into disarray on the morning of the match as star player Liam Carolan pulled out due to personal reasons. Chris Kenner was called up as a late replacement but the Whites found themselves two men short when kick-off was called.

Dave McCabe was on his way whilst Peter ‘Gaffer’ Cass was nowhere to be seen. In the end, skipper James Willoughby lured a long-haired talent called ‘Ceasar’ to fill in for the early stages.

The Whites, missing vice-captain Carolan needed leadership and Willoughby imposed himself on the game with a brilliant hip and shoulder – legally, as he was going for the ball. LUV made the perfect start with Ceasar burying a free-kick and Ben McKinnon in goals making good saves.

McCabe rocked up eight minutes into the first half, and was handed the gloves immediately when Cosas made it 1-1.

The defensive combination of Kenner and Willoughby were very solid, whilst Joey O’Connell was the star again up front. After recovering from a friendly the day before and a hangover, O’Connell ran till the cows came home and helped himself to two clever first-half goals.

He also was the victim of many sensational saves from the Cosas keeper and O’Connell could be very pleased with his efforts.

A late goal from Cosas made it 3-2 at the break. Tensions rose in the first half with Willoughby and Kenner clashing with the aptly named ‘Gerrard’ and as the whistle blow a verbal stoush between Gerrard and Willoughby broke out.

Also during the half-time break, LUV were punished a goal for having a player wearing the wrong coloured shirt as Gerrard had another whinge to the referee. When hearing of this, Willoughby erupted as before the game he asked if a couple of players could wear yellow, and the ref said their was no problems with that. Words were said and LUV’s skipper was threatened with a card for abusive language.

So now it was 3-3 at half-time. A crunching challenge from Willoughby saw him earn a yellow card early whilst Cosas attacked hard. LUV, without a sub, were tiring and began to be run over the top of. However, they continued to work hard in their best performance all season.

Cosas scored a cracker to make it 4-3, before LUV were denied what seemed to be an equalizing goal. O’Connell struck a freekick which the keeper could only parry, and McKinnon was left with what seemed to be an easy tap-in.

However, the keeper saved it only to lose grip of the ball and see it bounce in the vicinity of the goalline. Onlookers said it had crossed the line, but the referee – who after a first-half chat with Gerrard became a tad biased – said no goal.

A free-kick from Cosas made it 5-3 and O’Connell and Kenner were denied by great saves. McKinnon was performing sensationally in the heart of defence alongside Willoughby with McKinnon’s strong tackling a highlight.

McKinnon was then shoved into the net by his head by Gerrard and an immediate heated push and shove began. Willoughby charged in to his team’s defence and unbelievably Gerrard was only given a yellow – as was McKinnon.

With a minute to go, Willoughby was sent off for a tackle on Gerrard which saw the small midfielder hit the deck hard. However, with the game gone, it was just revenge for many of Gerrard’s snipes throughout the game.

Despite his charges going down, Willoughby praised his players immensely.

“That was by far the best performance of the season for us. Against the top side, who beat us 16-4 last time, we managed to only lose 5-3, with no subs and no Carolan. We should have been given a goal with the scores at 4-3, but I can’t applaud the players anymore” he said.

“If we play like that, consistently, we can finish top of the league. It might sound stupid with us only having one win, but they were the top team and we were immense tonight – with a sub we probably would have won”.

“Everyone was out on the feet today, especially after yesterday’s friendly, but everyone ran their socks off. Everyone was brilliant tonight but I have to reserve special praise for the little fella Joey. He was stuffed before the game after a big night and the game yesterday, but he just kept on pushing himself. Every time we went forward he would be sprinting around like a little cheetah. I can see him being a very good player at a much higher level if he wanted too”.

When asked about the referee, Willoughby wasn’t too complimentary.

“The goal for the wrong shirt was ridiculous and I made it clear to the ref what I thought of him after that. It was fine before the match, but once Gerrard had a whinge it was a penalty”.

“Some of our players especially McKinnon and O’Connell were scragged at all game and nothing from him. To then card McKinnon for shoving somebody back whose just pushed him into the net is a joke”.

“He was already wearing glasses, but I suppose four eyes weren’t enough. Maybe he needed six” he said.

LUV next week front up against the Toobie Eagles with the kick-off time still unconfirmed, and the strong possibility of another friendly on Saturday.

good stuff willoughby! took me a while to get through it but i did! and i just wann say i wont be walking for a few days, i think my legs died!

Credit to all that played, well done lads. After we all had big nights and a kick around on saturday it was a top showing with no subs and the help of an extra. What happen at half time was a joke..... to do what the did was not sportsmanship at all. They had played a half with Ben in yellow... the ref and the other team had no problems with it for 20 odd mins but down 3-2 and there was a problem...JOKE. Dont get me started on that ref.... for 6 odd weeks he NEVER gave advantage but tonight for them it was given, this guy has alot to explain, to give ben a yellow card was not just at all and as for that gerrard fella, how many times did he have to get away with things before being pulled up, if he wasnt best mates with the ref he had to be paying him. For $15 we deserve better then that, the game does.

..rant over...

A few things

Seems the spirit of leeds United and that "Fupp em all" attitude is alive and well in LUV - reet proud of you all

Must send a heartfelt apology to all of you for my no-show - Bizarrely i got bitten by a spider on my face a few days ago (during Easter!!!) and I know have my left side o my face is numb, and not working properly (do nt worry I may be old, but Im not a drooling fool (yet)). Also my eye is permanently watering as a side effect

So I got these drugs and they just send you to sleep as I get over this -

Currently my face is now o nly a 1/4 numb, and the eye is still so-so, but they say another 3-5 days and i "should" be alright

Anyway thats my apology

James - If we are getting stiffed by theis guy and it seems we are, then draft up a letter of complaint, and Ill review it for you
Be very specific and objective - no subjective arguements OK
We are the customers here - We PAY for this fun and to see it constantly undermined by petty fools is a disgrace
At the end of all real football games, the captains are supposed to write a report on the ref/ump - Why should Indoor by any different????

Sounds nasty Gaff. Hope you get better ASAP.

I actually left 5 minutes later than I usually do and I think I got stopped at every set of lights possible on the way so apologies for being late guys.

What happened at half time truly was a dogs act. As Kenner said, to do what the did was not sportsmanship at all. If that's the way they want to win and that's what helps them sleep at night then that's fine, but I would never and know none of you guys would ever lower yourselves to that level. Scum they are.

As for the game, Joey, Kenner, Ben and James. Fantastic effort by you lot considering you played an hour non-stop the day before. Excellent effort.

If that's the top team then we are on track. If we had a full strength team with subs, may as well have marked that down as a win.

Their keeper made some good saves as James mentioned which I think kept them in the game.

I must admit I was a little disappointed to let that last goal in when they had a open free kick. Those ones should be gimmies.

Anyway, well done again guys. I think its safe to say we should be at least in the top 2 of this division. We just need to get some points on the board.

Hey lads,

Sorry I wasnt able to make it, I said before we started playing indoor that sundays would be hard for me, and unfortunately yesterday work consumed me, and will next week.

On the yellow shirt thing, yes its unfair, but I think for our benefit all players should be wearing white - if not a white leeds top then a white singlet or what ever - it just confuses things, creates needless problems. Our team is white so theres no point in having an outlier colour.

Sorry again lads, sounds as if you worked your fuckin asses off, we'll get them next time and nab them to promotion.

Also James, love your '6 eyes' quote. Pure class.

Been reflecting on the first couple of lines of that post Gaff - you are so correct it isn't funny. No-one is afraid to shirk the issue in our team, whereas other teams consistently have a couple of players who are.

I loved the fact that Joe, Kenner, Ben and myself all attempted to crunch Gerrard in the second half despite being legal - it's called teammates sticking up for each other. Everytime their was a bit of push and shove, one of our teammates would run into help the other out - thats teamwork and I fucking love it. Well done lads.

Now onto other issues, Gaffer - all the best for a speedy recovery mate. Horrible sort of thing to happen. However, if this happened over Easter there's no way I shouldn't have been made aware of this. You've got my phone number, email address or this to contact me on - it really cost us on Sunday. Next time please let me know as soon as possible.

In regards to the letter mate, I won't bother with that - we are playing for fun at the moment. It's a good idea and you have some valid points, but I don't feel a letter is necessary. In instances like that, a couple of senior players - Dave, Kenner - should be going up to the front desk and having a fair dinkum whinge. Sometimes I feel they don't take me seriously a - because i'm so young and b - because i go in hard and find myself in trouble on occasions.

We are paying for the fun and everyone is still having fun, however things overstepped the line on Sunday. If it happens again, I wanna see you all at the front desk throwing haymakers.

Maybe if somebody who played on Sunday, can give the Sports Centre a ring and ask for 'Paul' and speak to them about the disgraceful treatment we recieved - this is a good idea. Maybe we can avoid that ref in future.

Leeds United Victoria - everyone hates us, good old 'Dirty Leeds'. And I love it.

sensational attitude lads fupp em all

WE ARE LEEDS

Holidays - and I'm bored - trawling through this made me smile

And didn't that ref consistently fuck over all season..even in the grand final! As Liam can attest to.

Most hated ref in Victoria - Indoor/Out