Scotch College

Fairytale continues for soccer club

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM WARD

After just two seasons back in the Provisional League, the Old Scotch Soccer Club has elevated itself to the second division. This follows narrowly missing out on promotion to the first division in 2006 by a matter of goals.

When a number of key players departed in the off season, OSSC knew a title challenge in season 2007 would be a massive task. But it was a task it was willing to take on, knowing it had a solid nucleus for success in the players it had retained.

Despite the ongoing drought, the club managed a solid pre-season, playing many of its fixtures at its spiritual home of H A Smith Reserve, opposite Scotch. In the pre-season the senior squad was undefeated against some quality opposition, although the reserves didn’t collect a single win.

After a delayed start, the season kick-off occurred in mid-April. The seniors raced to the top of the table however, in the next four rounds they seemed to lose their way, picking up only four points and dropping to third, but the reserves’ juggernaut rolled on. The seniors had to bounce back, and in impressive fashion they did against Old Trinity with a 4-0 thumping on their home turf. At the halfway point the seniors were second and the reserves were still undefeated and flying high in top spot.

On 7 July OSSC staged their round 13 fixture against Beaumaris on the Scotch Soccer Oval in bucketing rain – more than we had seen in years. Still, the seniors walked away with maximum points after a tough 1-0 win, although the reserves could only manage a draw.

OSSC knew it was all in their hands with six rounds left. The squad had a tough away trip to Mitcham, and this was to be the end of the impressive undefeated run for the reserves, going down 1-0 in a sad day for the spirited side. But the seniors recorded a comfortable 3-0 win, to set up a top-of-the-table clash against Ashburton again, this time on OSSC turf. On a memorable day, Scotch recorded a fabulous 1-0 win over a very cocky Ashburton outfit. The reserves achieved the same result, to make it a truly special day for the cardinal, gold and blue.

With an unassailable gap for the remaining four games for both the seniors and reserves, the Reds only had to continue to perform and enjoy their football, knowing they had the quality to bring home both titles.

The seniors secured promotion and the reserves sealed the championship with two rounds remaining. All that was left was for the seniors to gain the point it needed against Old Trinity in round 21 to secure the senior championship, which it duly did. The reserves conceded only six goals all season, with the most impressive defence in the entire Football Federation Victoria state and provisional league competition, and the seniors only conceded 11.

Between them, the teams amassed 31 clean sheets, in what will go a long way to securing their status in season 2008 in Provisional League Division 1. Next season will represent the highest level the club has competed in since 1996, a season that ended with the merger between Old Scotch and Waverley City to form the Old Scotch Waverley Soccer Club.

Since the club’s rebirth in 2005, it has been promoted twice in three seasons, and has two championship medals and one runners-up medal to its name. The fairytale continues. GS