Yarraville Glory Old Boys 7 - 4 Yarraville Social Soccer Club

That Yarraville Glory Old Boys arrived at Angliss Reserve with a squad bigger than Chelsea’s, or that Yarraville Socials had more injuries than Spurs can’t excuse the visitors poor first half performance in this local, friendly derby, that is becoming an annual event on the western edges of Melbourne.

The teams looked relatively well balanced in the opening quarter of an hour, though most of the play took place in the Social half. As Glory rang their first set of changes the fresh legs lifted them into another gear, whereas any defensive shape the guests had evaporated in the evening sun.

Midway through the half, Old Boys were cruising. Though looking around the pitch, you could see the ‘old’ had been dropped from their outfit such was the average age of the team, looking much younger than last year’s side who were held to a 2-2. Dads have brought their lads, and the lads aren’t bad.

The youthful outfit cruised to a 2-0 lead, and as tired legs emerged in the Social midfield, caught between dropping deep to support the defence then having a marathon to run to support attack, rests were needed.

Founder and captain Daniel Ryan moved in to midfield and whilst there was space to combine with Tim Oates and Iain Alvarez, the visitors couldn’t penetrate. Jesse Panzarino and Lee Graham were afforded more space on the left than their right sided counterparts; Chris Baker and Kon Georgiadis, playing his first ever XI a-side game after roughly half a century of trips around the sun.

Glory had to rotate to keep legs warm; making more substitutes than Sven Goran Eriksson would during an England friendly. From there, cracks emerged but Social couldn’t capitalise, Oates going the closest when arriving at the edge of the box only to open the face of his boot too much.

At the (much needed) break the contest was over, with Glory leading 4-0.

Luke Van Ryn, who grew in to his goalkeeper role in the first half, swapped with Ben Oost, adding some freshness to the back line.

The rest, and a couple of bags of Snakes, helped, and the second period was a much more even contest, and one the visitors could take positives from, especially as it emerged Glory may have accidentally played the half with twelve.

Nicola Sesto first pulled one back, using his strength in a set piece to hold off a couple of defenders to pivot and tuck away.

Whether it’s the school yard, training, or the meeting of two social groups; last goal wins, and whilst Glory added three to their first half plunder, it was Social with arguably the goal of the game to close proceedings out.

A speculative switch was knocked diagonal where Ryan arrived first in the right back area, Cruyff turning his opponent. Looking up, he spotted Graham, his former Elton FC team mate from back in England, with chalk on his boots down the line. A lofted pass put the Glory left back in no-man’s land and a decent first touch from Graham had the whole defence on the turn.

The pass rolled toward the penalty spot for the arriving Baker was screaming to be put through the netting, but the winger opted for placement to ensure Socials finished the game on a positive.