Match report

Match report

This young group of warriors playing only their second game in the U14 competition were drawn against a much more experienced and physical team who will no doubt be the top contenders for the Division 1 title this season. Over the week the team had talked about their opposition and set themselves small achievable goals to try and ensure that they played the style of football we are looking for in 2019 and finished the game in a positive way.

The game started well for these young warriors matching it with their opposition by tackling hard and moving the ball in some good passages of play. Our opposition started putting good combination passes together and got behind our defensive line to put pressure on our keeper. After the keeper repelled a number of attacks, by leaving his line and clearing the ball, Stirling finally found the back of the net for the first time. This did not stop the work ethic of our warriors who continued to work hard down the wings and put pressure on their back four. However, in quick succession Stirling were awarded two kicks from the penalty spot and they looked like they would kick on with a rain of goals. The warriors were not going to let this happen and through a blistering attack down the right hand side the warriors were getting shots on goal, some just missing and one hitting the crossbar. At half time we had achieved one of our key goals of keeping our opposition to under 10 goals.

In the second half the warriors could have said the game was over but once the whistle was blown they came out fighting, closing players down and making Stirling work to move the ball forward. Our defensive midfield stood strong with second efforts, while our forwards chased down balls putting pressure again on the Stirling defence. Once again our keeper was put under pressure but we continued to defend well not conceding their next goal 'til nearly half way through the second half. The boys worked hard supporting each other and trying to keep possession by passing to teammates feet and moving the ball forward, but as this warriors team has shown over many seasons its strength is in an organised and tight defensive structure that fights for every ball. This spirit ensured we finished the second half keeping our opposition to under 14 goals. 

The match was well played by all warrior players who continued to play the brand of soccer that their coaches, managers and parents are proud to see. While our opposition was well drilled, I could not have been prouder of the way this warrior team played our game, passed and supported each other up and down the field, and were positive towards each other by always encouraging.  Their opposition played a more physical game and unfortunately our young warriors are today carrying knocks and bruises that they are not accustomed to receiving in a junior soccer match. However, that being said our boys can take a lot out of the game. They kept to the style of soccer we are developing at Woodside, they supported their friends and stayed positive all game. They played for each other, with at times great passages of play to move the ball forward and put pressure on their opposition. They ran, tackled and best of all never gave up. Go Warriors.