Match Report: Port Malmö-Farum (DAFL Round 7)

Port Malmö 10.14 (74) def. Farum Cats 5.9 (39)

After another comprehensive victory, Port Malmö sit happily at the top of the DAFL ladder, the 100% record still firmly intact. On a scorching Saturday when Ross Levesque played his 100th game and Ricky Nolan kicked his 100th goal* a defeat could have really spoilt the Port Malmö party. However, an excellent team performance from the men in black and blue meant that Farum returned to Denmark soundly beaten.

Having won the toss, Port elected to go with the wind (which in all fairness was blowing more across the field for the fist two quarters). In the past, Port have been slow out of the blocks but the 2009 troop seem to have eradicated that flaw having won every first quarter this season, kicking an impressive 14 goals to 4 in the opening terms of the first four games. After getting the first goal through Matt McMahan, Port Malmö found themselves  behind after two quickfire Cats maximums from Norlander and Rose, the latter one of Farums’ best throughout the game. The Maulers regrouped and two excellent goals from Aaran Higgins, one off either boot, saw them re-take the lead. Another from a captain Ward set-shot after some intelligent play from Ricky Nolan, who showed calm and poise to deliver back to centre half-forward from the forward pocket when under pressure from two Cats. The big man goaled himself before quarter time to consolidate the lead. 

The second quarter, despite the wind slightly in Farums favour, was controlled by the most part by the home team. Farum struggled to get their normal game going in the blustery conditions and the outstanding Maulers back-line kept the dangerous Cats to two shots at goal for the quarter, both long-range goals, on the break. However, a combination of the tough kicking conditions and a lack of composure from the Swedish outfit meant Farum still edged the quarter 2.0(12) to 1.4(10).  

At half-time the wind changed direction and started to blow hard towards the beach end, if still slightly across the field. Farum, three goals back at the big break, needed a strong defensive quarter to keep Port from getting out of sight before the final quarter. Their defence held firm holding the hosts to 3.3 in the strong breeze but superb defence at the other end, from Tony McLoughlin  in particular, meant despite a few forays into Malmö territory, Farum ended the quarter scoreless. Indeed, some Farum players, disregarding the advice of the coaches, seemed determined to prove a point against Ports’ reigning B+F by repeatedly trying to run around him. It proved a fruitless endeavour and the Irishman thwarted numerous attacks and won countless free-kicks along the half-back line. Port Malmö’s goals came from Page-Brown and two more for Nolan which meant he passed the 100 mark.

Farum found themselves 40 points back, a considerable mountain to climb considering they had manged just 6 shots at goal in 3 quarters of football. However, with the wind at the backs the Cats where still in with a shout. A 40+ point final term remained a distinct possibility as Helsingborg would later discover against Jutland when they shipped 44 points to go down after leading by 6 goals going in to the fourth. However, despite more joy in the attacking 50, Farum were inaccurate with their attempts at goal early in the quarter and three fantastic blocks on the goal-line (Two from Paul Persson and a great diving effort from younger brother, Tony) made sure that no comeback would materialise. A shocking miss from Nolan half-way through the quarter meant the result remained somewhat in doubt longer than necessary from a Malmö point of view but he goaled again on the final siren to give him four for the afternoon.

Port now face the long trip to northern Denmark in a fortnight where a buoyant Jutland await after their monumental 4th quarter comeback whereas Farum will be looking to get back on track against the struggling Crocs. Do not be surprised if both games are very close!

Port Malmö best: Higgins, Ward, McLoughlin, Hancock, Blondeau

Full match info available here

*Both SAFL/DAFL combinations