Abel ends season on a high
Having picked up a stress fracture in his foot during training after round 6, the dominant defender?s long road to recovery saw him miss three months of first-team football before his long-awaited return off the bench in round 18 against Manly United.
Abel was notably happy to return to the starting line-up in the next round, since which Wolves have won two from three matches, conceding a single goal in their narrow loss to Rockdale City Suns before amassing an impressive nine goals without reply in their last two home matches to push the South Coast club clear of relegation.
?It?s good to be back on the park with all the boys,? said Abel.
?I think morale is really good at the moment and we?re stringing a few wins together which is awesome.?
?Compared to last year the standard of play has been so much better so we?re very happy overall,? Abel added.
As the most experienced member of the Wolves? youthful backline, Abel?s extended absence was of great concern to coach Trevor Morgan and his squad; however the likes of Alex Mansueto, Tynan Diaz, Nick McInerney, and Nick Littler lifted their game against experienced opposition to cover the injured defender.
?They stepped up really well,? said Abel.
?They?re a very young squad, and with the opposition they?re playing, for their age they played very well.?
Despite having avoided the bottom of the table and with a finals berth well out of reach, the Wolves will still be looking to end their season in style by upsetting A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers (4th), who are one point off second on the NSW Premier League ladder.
?I think we?ve got up over them in a few trial games and I think we can turn them over again,? said Abel.
?Our style of play doesn?t suit their style of play so I?m definitely confident we can get a good result.?
After a drastically improved campaign which saw Wolves more than quadruple their 2009 points tally, Abel declared that he is happy with the progress his club has made and would be happy to be a part of their 2011 squad.
?Yes, I would definitely stay for next season,? said Abel.
?We all look for bigger and better things of course, but the Wolves is a good club.?
?They?ve looked after me so I?ll definitely look after them,? Abel concluded.
Dave Abel and the South Coast Wolves will be in action against A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers at Leichhardt Oval at 3.00pm on Sunday, August 1st.
-By Michael Shoolman
