By
Andrew Stackpool
The
ADF soccer team scored a stunning 3-1 victory over the visiting
British Royal Engineers at Victoria Barracks, Sydney on November
7 as an addendum to the ADF Interservice Nationals.
The match was held on a carpet-like pitch and proved a fitting
climax to a busy week, which saw Army walk away as the interservice
champion for 2003.
Third on their home ladder, the REs had also defeated a NSW Police
team 2-0 and an ADF team in Queensland 9-0.
The first half seemed initially to be going the sappers’
way, while the ADF team, which came together the day before following
five hard days of soccer, was still putting together a few combinations.
The UK team took full advantage of the Aussie’s dilemma and
quickly put the first goal on the board.
“Our strength was in our backs,” said president of the
Australian Combined Services Soccer Association CAPT Tony Bell
(9RQR).
“It was pretty hard on them, but they held the Brits until
we got the game plan together.”
Despite their fatigue the ADF side’s determination paid off.
ADF started to dominate the midfield and just before half-time,
striker Paul Fleming was fouled in the box. LAC Gillard stepped
up and booted the equaliser.
The second half saw a revitalised ADF, which dominated play and
kept the ball in the opposition half for most of the time. The
visitors fought hard but a couple of good set plays gave ADF the
goals.
The first came after an hour mark when Paul Fleming got the ball
after a long throw-in. Controlling it on his chest he volleyed
past the keeper.
Then at the 80-minute mark, Fleming dashed passed his marker,
squared the ball to the far post where LAC Gillard tapped it in.
