B Team
On a day when a strong wind was blowing across the ground made it difficult for our players to adjust. Sturt Marion made some good early plays in the Cove half with some attempts going close, but most shots taken were to far out to trouble the Cove keeper.
A different team setup saw Sturt push the ball around well using the midfield to keep the Cove in their half a number of times before themselves coming forward through their left side midfielder who ran at our defence with a bit to much freedom. It was through one of these runs that created the first goal for Cove as the ball was played through the midfield and slid past the central defenders with the assistance of the wind and fell at the feet of the onrushing Cove forward who drew our keeper of his line before slotting the ball past him into the net.
The second goal was almost identical as the Sturt defence stood off Cove's midfield and allowed him to put their forward through who rounded our keeper and put the ball into an empty net.
There were good passages of play but the killer instinct was not there in front of goal for us.
Half time The Cove 2 - 0 Sturt Marion.
The second half started much the same as the first with both sides trying to make inroads, but it was the Cove's knowledge of their ground conditions that proved to be Sturt's undoing as Cove attacked with more purpose and directness. The Cove soon extended their lead to 3 and the game looked over after a rash challenge in the box gave them a penalty, but Sturt still pushed forward at every opportunity and came close when a darting run up the right was stopped on the last line of defence for Cove.
Sturt's midfield were beginning to tire after running up the hill game and another piece of loose defending allowed Cove's substitute to fire across the box only to see it deflected into the goal of the knee of a Sturt defender to make it 4 - 0.
The whole team put in an effort that went un rewarded again this week, but sooner or later the luck has to change.
Keep it up guys it will come.
Top games from: Tim Clarke, Grant Calladine, Tom Beatty, Steve Grafton.
Final Score: The Cove 4 - 0 Sturt Marion.
Team. Tom Beatty, Adam Gray, Grant Calladine, Ron Parry, Steve Grafton, Mark Zanella, Jeremy Limbert,Tim Clarke,Robin Goldfinch, Brenton Thomasson, Hayden Cawley
Subs: John Santos, Elliott Brown, Richard Styles, Simon Patritti