The conditions were tough with the wind blowing strongly and the far flank of the pitch very wet underfoot from the recent downpour of rain.

With Gary Leigh, our usual coach taking a break, prior to kickoff the Margaret River brains trust got together to pick a first team side from a squad decimated by injuries.

By shuffling players into positions they didn’t normally play in and with the addition of several young players who had just played in the Reserve Grade, stand-in coach Andy Longmore was confident that we could give Australind a run for their money.

Australind won the toss and kicked with the win and both teams fought hard to gain control of the ball.

Australind tried to use the wind to place balls over the top of the defence for Fontaine and Savic to run onto but after a shaky start, due to the swirling wind defenders Ned, Ted and Mr Reliable (Shaun Carmody) repelled their attacks confidently.

Australind’s Fontaine was unlucky not to score when a shot swirled in the wind and glanced off the top edge of the crossbar.

At the other end Stewie Mckay, who since the start of the season has played in nearly every position on the field, and stand-in striker Andy Lehane were causing havoc for the Australind defence.

Lehane nearly scored with a free kick which curled round the wall but just too late to go inside the post.

Midfielders Redar and Shogo were battling hard, especially Redar who was winning balls in the air and on the ground.

In goals Mike Hibberd kept a clean sheet by pulling off a couple a great saves from close range.

Margaret River battled hard until the halftime whistle blew and the felt confident they could snatch the game from Australind, with the advantage of the wind in the second half.

From the kickoff River looked a different side and struggled to adapt to the change in ends.

The midfielders began to lose their intensity and soon Australind began to take the upper hand with weight of numbers through the centre and left hand sides of the ground.