Yes, the Tuggeranong Old Boys are officially League Champions.
http://football2.resultsvault.com/menu.aspx?entityid=31055&width=800&showname=1%22%3E
This morning a 0-0 draw against second placed Brindabella Blues B, was enough for the Old Boys to finish top of the table in the home and away series. Now I am well aware that finishing top of the table in Australia counts for very little, but where I come from finishing top means your team are the champions, so tonight we are claiming that honour and bugger off to anyone who disagrees, cos I don’t care. We deserve to proclaim ourselves ‘Champions”, we scored more goals than any one else, and Colin Tulley was the leagues top goal scorer with 25 from 21 games. Hands off Celtic!!!!
For the benefit of my UK friends, all the football codes here in Australia, consider finishing first, as a minor honour, hence the title of ‘minor premiers’ That is because despite proving yourselves to be the best over the season, it ain’t over until the top four or five play-off in a confusing series of semi-finals and finals before two teams are left to contest the grand final.
In our case, we now play the team that have finished fourth, while the team we beat into second place, play off against the third placed side. So our reward for being the best is that we could get knocked out by a team who finished with significantly less points.
I’m not complaining, we all know the rules before we start, and over the years some of my teams have benefited from these bizarre rules. I’m just expressing my views on the difference between the European system and the Australian system.
Anyway, about the game this morning. Well for a start I wasn’t playing again as injury has taken it’s toll and I won’t be there for the semi or the final if we get there. The guys put in a calm and composed performance throughout and hardly allowed Brindabella a chance on goal throughout, apart from a penalty conceded 20 minutes from the end. With the chance to overtake the Old Boys and claim the title, the Blues striker’s nerves got the better of him and he pushed his shot wide of Herdy’s right hand post. What a bloody shame!!!!!!!
Other than that, they had nothing, and although we were happy to let them have plenty of possession our midfield and defence didn’t let them do anything with it. On the other hand, the Old Boys have had trouble creating chances lately, and are without a goal for the last three games. It was counter attack stuff this morning and apart from Kenny hitting the post in the second half, there were just one or two half chances that we couldn’t quite take.
That’s ok, we’ve had our run of patchy form, and today’s improved effort should be enough to boost our confidence going into next week’s crucial game.
Special thanks to Colin & Michelle Tulley who laid on a fantastic end-of -season BBQ for the players after the game. A great way to celebrate with a few beers, and it gave the lads the chance to give me a bit of stick over West Ham’s shocking start to the season.
Thanks Old Boys for another fantastic season, and good luck against Canberra FC at University of Canberra, we deserve to do the double
