Match report

Match report

Woodside U12 hosted Murray Bridge Blue for the early game on the main pitch at The Warrior’s Fortress under heavily laden skies. But the rain held off from adding to the heavy conditions underfoot to make for tolerable, if arctic-cold, conditions that lasted the duration of the match.

Woodside kicked off and were immediately on the attack as they passed the ball around beautifully and looked to penetrate the Bridge line with shallow, angled passes in behind the defenders. This created multiple scoring opportunities early as four 1 V 1s against the Bridge gloveman were manufactured in the first five minutes. Each ball was struck with intent and timed impeccably, and each crashed with a drum-like thud… directly into the keepers chest. Although he didn’t have to move considerably for any of these saves, full credit should be awarded for his courage and poise under fire! He stood his ground, faced down his opponent and gloved the ball as clean as a brand new whistle. After weathering this storm, the youngsters from Bridge decided they’d had enough of defending and thought to show what they could do at the other end of the pitch – creating a number of dangerous raids that threatened to break the deadlock. After sustained efforts, Bridge did hit the scoreboard first – goaling after 11 minutes through sustained pressure and repeated attempts from inside the box. This goal, largely against the run of play, sent a ripple of excitement and anticipation through the ground. Bridge players and fans sniffed potential victory after weathering the barrage, Red and Blue fans had flashbacks of their defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory nightmare against Stirling. But the young Warriors on the pitch were undaunted, finding another level to hit back within minutes and ultimately wresting control of the game to score a flurry of goals and take a commanding lead into the break. With Woodside in control of the game, a number of the home players were given an opportunity to play in less-than-familiar roles throughout the course of the match. This saw full-time strikers finding impeccable structure and control in the back-line and perennially reliable backs creating and finishing up front. Woodside again demonstrated their enormous development over the last several years, showing not only that they are willing to work to improve their skills, but that an understanding of the game can be garnered to set the foundations of a lifetime of loving The Game. And when combined with humility and respect we can rest with hope for the future of amateur sport.