A last-minute Joey screamer earned Mascot a well-deserved 1-1 Maroubra draw at muddy L’Estrange Park on Wednesday night, the result eclipsing last season’s nine-point haul and keeping the Kings’ finals hopes alive with nine games remaining.
It was Mascot’s biggest turnout of the year as a staggering 14 blue & white jerseys fronted up for the grudge match, forcing El Presidente to share the chairs to accommodate the excess player numbers.
Despite the increased fervour it was all Maroubra to start the match, the green & golds finding space on the flanks and stifling any Mascot attempts to get out of their own half.
But they found the Kings in a steely mood as the home side repelled Maroubra’s attacks as fast as they came, Mattbeard the Pirate particularly impressive as he constantly cleaned up along the backline while a vocal Butch marshalled the troops like a boss.
Mascot’s chances were few between at the other end and Maroubra’s pressure finally prevailed when an innocuous strike from the top of the box skewed off Butch’s belly and slid past a wrong-footed De Nardi to push the visitors in front moments before halftime.
A quick sideline reassessment from Mav and Matt putting his candy in everyone’s mouth seemed to have the desired effect as the Kings once again mounted their now-routine second-half comeback.
Mascot created a swathe of chances without success as Kosta, Steve, Rodders and Andrea combined well with Julius, John, Dean and Quirky to produce some scintillating football, Maroubra reduced to the counter-attack and easily stifled by Rick, Mark, Kerry and Butch.
Just when it looked like Mascot’s enterprising play would go unrewarded, the Kings conjured up arguably their best ever team-goal – Julius dealing with Maroubra’s man-mountain inside the goalmouth and several touches upfield a neat Kosta pass freed up Joey ‘Jack’ Son for a top-shelf strike that whistled into the onion bag for a belated equaliser.
It was another galvanising effort from the Kings, who are getting a penchant for their rowdy second-half trumpets – seven of Mascot’s nine goals have come in the second stanza this season (throw in last winter’s final three runs and it’s 10 of 13).
It’s not the only fascinating statistic. Remove this year’s blowouts (1-10 & 1-5 to Coogee, 0-5 Queens Park), and in the other nine matches (including last year’s final three), the Kings have won five (includes a forfeit), drawn one, lost three, scored 15 goals and conceded nine.
Also, over two years, Mascot’s only lost one of the four games Joey’s scored in – last winter’s gut-wrenching 4-5 loss to Easts. So, when the Joe-ker strikes, the Kings get likes.
And while the Blue & Whites have their work cut out for them to make this year’s post-season dance (five of their remaining nine matches are against top-three opposition), they will be buoyed by the fact seven games are scheduled at hallowed L’Estrange Park.
The last four runs on Mascot’s sacred turf have been outstanding. Last year’s gutsy 0-1 defeat to comp leaders Coogee followed by a 2-0 shutout of Redfern the following week (before Covid surged). And recently, Randwick spared in a forfeit and the 1-1 Maroubra tie.
What is a little controversial however (over to you, Mav) is the 2022 season draw. Eight teams, 18 rounds means clubs play each other twice, and four clubs thrice. Interesting that last season’s bottom three sides were scheduled to only play each other twice this year?
Regardless, Mascot’s finals opportunity exists, and it’s staring straight at us – let’s go, lads!!
Football Reports 