Russell Vale 0 Coastal Hogs 1: UPDATE

Peter Heathcote's defiance, Mark Smith's genius and a huge dose of good fortune allowed the Coastal Hogs to continue their unbeaten start to the season Saturday. Hector was immense in goal, especially in the second half as Russell Vale threatened with a series of free kicks around the edge of the box. At least two might have been penalties and one certainly was, without being given. Graeme Phillipson was called for a handball which he says happened deep inside our penalty area. Thankfully, the referee called the infringement outside the area, one of many awful decisions in a thoroughly disgraceful display of the black arts.
This game was tougher than some of us expected it to be and the opening half an hour, in blazing sunshine, was a midfield dogfight.
Neither team really looked like breaking through until Mark's presence of mind sparked the opener. Coming into the box on the right he rolled an inch perfect ball behind the Russell Vale defence. TH10 made the run towards the near post and clipped the ball past the RV keeper for the only goal.
Mark departed at half time, leaving us with three subs but the loss wasn't immediately obvious as we completely dominated the opening quarter hour of the second period.
Ant chested down a through ball from Sean into TH10s path but the shot curled away from the far post.
There were other chances too. TH10 put a left foot drive over and Graeme Duncan had two players in support after another surge down the right but could only find a defender's toe.
As time wore on, anxiousness crept into the Hogs' game and it was mostly thanks to Pete and Dave Downing's booming clearances that we stayed firm at the back. Pete made a double save from one freekick and climbed high to save another.
Hard tackles were flying in from both sides - TH10 was lucky to avoid a caution for one late hack - while Gary H and Graeme P were cleaned up without winning freekicks.
With time running out, Ant might have sealed the game, running onto a long through ball but becoming the victim of a wicked bobble just as he was pulling the trigger.
The game ended with TH10's accidental boot in the RV keeper's nose, the referee calling time on a real struggle where three points were perhaps not completely deserved but certainly welcome.