Margaret River 3 d Capel 0

MARGARET River soccer headed north to Capel to try and put the disappointment of last week’s loss to Collie behind them.

With Clive Slater on a well earned Bintang break, Johnnie the Butcher took up the reins as coach and did a fine job.

Short of players, Johnny tried out the new combos of Justin Davies and Gavin Armena up front and the Irish connection of Coogan and McLoughlin in centre midfield.

Just as the game kicked off, the heavens opened and it poured down like only the South West can.

Margs opened well, as is their habit of late, creating chances and looking dangerous. McLoughlin was denied a goal when his shot was clearly handled on the line, with the ref refusing to give handball and a penalty.

Jay Allington went close on a couple of occasions, and both Coogan and Cockburn should have done better with headers from corners.

With 10 minutes left in the first half, Coogan took possession in midfield, advanced and turned on to his right and hit a well directed but hopeful shot from 30 yards.

The keeper had plenty of time to see it, but diving to his right he misjudged the ball and it ended up in the bottom corner, 1-0 to Margs.

The sun came out for the second half, and Margs remained in control.

Gavinho Armena, the 17-year-old first season gun of a soccer player, had his moment in the sun after 20 minutes.

Put through on goal by the number 10, Gav got to the ball and shot, the ball rebounded off the keeper and Gavinho slotted home his first ever soccer goal.

“Eh, I don’t really know what happened, Justin’s been in my ear all day, and my head is spinning“ was his post match quote.

The game trundled on and with 10 minutes to go, Coogan was hacked in the box by a kung fu expert, and Lee Cockburn came storming up demanding to take the kick.

Lee stroked the ball to the left and the keeper managed to get a touch but couldn’t keep it out, 3-0 to Margs.

McLoughlin was given man of the match for non-stop running all day–we wonder where the Power Ranger gets his energy.

The back four were other notable performers with Frostie and Andy Longmore having particularly good games.

Next week a challenge game against the South West U-16s.