Match report

Match report

In near-perfect conditions for a game of soccer, the Mt Barker and Woodside U12 teams arrived at the Summit Sport & Recreation Park to see the end of another U12s game - in which Murray Bridge Gold emerged victorious against SDFC White.
This result raised the stakes of the upcoming Crusaders vs Warriors match: the winning side would secure 2nd, and sniff an opportunity to snatch top spot on the ladder in the next few weeks. Any other result would see the team sitting on a very respectable 3rd place, with Bridge Gold knocking on the door of the podium.

Mt Barker knew they were in for a tough one, and opted to put regular strikers Arlo Turner and Beau Curran at the back, supported by defensive stalwarts Felix Koral and Harrison Burt. "Mr parkrun" Rory Martin took up a CDM role, the hosts anticipating a well-drilled warriors raiding party from the start.
Expectations are one thing, but reality is another. The young Crusaders were perhaps taken by surprise at the Warriors' incredible discipline and unrelenting pressure from the very opening whistle. Despite defending with intent and grit, it was only a matter of time before Woodside would score. Their superstar #13 received the ball in a dangerous position, weaved through the Barker defence, and slotted it past Goalie Tyler Raven in the 5th minute. The Warriors continued to pile on the pressure, finding the back of the net twice more by half-time (one of these courtesy of an own-goal by a Barker defender... oops!)
Credit must go to the Woodside defence in this half, who acted like a wall to halt the skill and speed of Barker strikers Lincoln Denley and Taya Kumnick
Despite the 0-3 scoreline, there was a positive vibe going round the Barker group. The coach focussed on the positives from the first half, and the team discussed how they could improve over the next 30 minutes.
From the beginning of the  second term, Barker was bursting with energy. Bringing Turner and Curran from defence to attack proved to be instrumental - finding gaps in the previously impenetrable defence, and giving the warriors keeper something to think about. Meanwhile, Kumnick went into right-back, where she and Martin played incredibly to halt the influence of Woodside's dangerous #32 and #12.
Crusaders captain Chloe Engley led from the front in the midfield, with Eric Liemareff, Alec Belsey, Thomas Honner and Danny Paterson winning the ball and sending it forward to the dangerous front line.
Despite the great start from Mt Barker, it was the #13 Warrior who struck in the 15th minute of the half, a rip-snorter of a shot from outside the box rounding out his hattrick.
Now Mt Barker had had enough. Tired of conceding, the Crusaders found another gear. A clearance from Max Barrljung Hummel in defence ended up at the feet of Curran, who was unlucky not to receive a penalty after going down in the box. Turner finally opened the Barker account in the 51st minute, a delicious free kick deflecting off the Keepers outstretched glove and finding the back of the net. It took only 5 more minutes to find a second goal, with Mt Barker executing a lethal through ball to the advantage of Curran, who tore away from the defence and beat the keeper - his 8th goal in 3 games!
The final 5 minutes saw the Crusaders play their best football of the season so far; locking the ball in the attacking half, and threatening to score again, but it was too little too late as the ref blew her whistle to end the game 4-2 in favour of the Warriors.
This result sees Woodside leapfrog Barker on the ladder to take 2nd spot, in what is turning out to be a very tight tussle amongst the top 4 teams.
Next week, Woodside face a Murray Bridge Blue side who have had a tough season but are on the up; whilst Barker  run the gauntlet in the last 3 rounds, first hosting Bridge Gold in a huge 3rd vs 4th clash, and later facing Ladder leaders Stirling twice in a row.
Well done to everyone who took part, both on the pitch and on the sidelines, for a fascinating and hard-fought match between 2 very exciting young teams.