Bar FC grinds out gutsy win

10/05/2016

Under cloudless azure skies, NSW Bar FC this afternoon accounted for the young, pacy and skilful newcomers QBE, with two goals to Vahan Bedrossian capping off an excellent team fight back to win 2-1.

The first half was dominated by the lightning quick youngsters of QBE who gave the experienced Bar defence (de Meyrick, Griscti, Covell and Philips) a torrid time. But for some brilliant keeping by player of the match Matt Vickers in the Bar goal, and some astute adjudication by the assistant referees (both of whom bore more than a passing resemblance to two Association members), Bar FC would have been a lot more than 1-0 down at half time. The Bar's usually dominant central midfield pairing of Hartford-Davis and d'Arville were finding it very tough to get into the game and the ball rarely left the Bar's half of the pitch, starving strikers Maghami and Bedrossian of any possession or chances.

However, a half time rev up and some clever tactical changes from stand in gaffer Anthony Lo Surdo SC and the support of the team's judicial patron on the sidelines worked wonders, and it was a different story in the second half, with Bar FC making good use of a strengthening breeze at their backs to be much more competitive. Debutant Megan Batchelor (from the NSWBA) was outstanding, and it was her fine through ball that Bedrossian latched on to and skilfully dinked past the QBE keeper to put Bar on level terms.

Gyles SC, playing out wide on the left, then (correctly) ignored the defence's advice to "park the bus", and laid on a beautifully weighted free kick which evaded the QBE keeper and enabled Bedrossian to slide a second goal in at the back post to go 2-1 up with about 5 minutes to go. Some resolute defending by the whole team including newcomer Glenn Fredericks and a couple of missed chances by QBE saw Bar FC prevail 2-1 and record an outstanding, come from behind victory.