Match report

Match report

Saturday saw Woodside Warriors play host to Stirling United in their second home game of the season. The history between the two clubs is long and, at least in terms of results, highly in favour of the away team, Stirling United. Stirling have traditionally dominated Woodside on the pitch. That doesn’t mean the two don’t have a great bond of course. Coach Damien Sheridan has played many seasons with Woodside’s Senior team who has been at a loss without him. Damien is also the AHJFA U16 Rep Coach and has been a solid and ongoing influence with numerous Woodside players involved in the Rep system. Even though Stirling have walked away with three points for almost all games since U12 they always turned up with respect and appreciation for Woodside.

But change has been lingering in the air at Woodside Recreation Ground. Stirling United could smell it from a mile away. Four from four wins in the season thus far smells like a problem. Throw in the issue of a couple of key players being unavailable, KYE MCDONALD and KY HENRY, and with no substitutions available it was going to be a tough match.

Prior to the game the U17s were honoured to have Woodside’s U10 team lead them in warming up together. It was a great sight for the family friendly club.

The game kicked off at 9am under the watchful eye of Referee Sam Gray and Assistant Referee Joshua House, both of whom have refereed many times for both teams.

A slow start for Woodside saw an even share of the ball between the two teams. As has been the case for the last couple of games all of Woodside’s goals were scored in the first 15 minutes. This time around no goals were scored lifting concerns for the home team and hopes for the away team. Stirling United stood firm with the capable hands of LACHLAN STEIN in goals.

However LACHLAN MOWBRAY broke the silence with a precision cross from JETT TONKIN. Another 15 minutes of play saw ANGUS WILKINS receive a cross from Tonkin, this time bouncing off a couple of players from both teams before landing at the feet of the Captain. Naturally he netted it. This was shortly followed by another two goals from Mowbray before half time.

The home team entered the break 4-0 in their favour.

The second half saw TOBY VINCENT join the scorers list, followed by Tonkin, scoring one on his left and one on his right all within a couple of minutes of play.

Despite entering the second half firmly behind, Stirling United didn’t lighten their efforts. A solid defensive line-up in JOSH VASSOS, ASHER HAMMAT, IZEYAH RAYMOND and CASEY GODFREY kept all attacks at distance, leaving Woodside keeper SAMUEL HERMAN with little to do.

The final 15 minutes of the game saw a repetition of the start, being an equal share of possession between the two teams, one of whom was depleted of energy, both mentally and physically. A tackle between EMILY BOUCHEREAU and danger-man Tonkin in the final minutes put a dampener on the game. Bouchereau didn’t shy away from the encounter and at least prevented a potential 8th goal for Woodside.

The game ended 6-0 in favour of Woodside and a round of Chupa-Chups for everyone involved.

“It was great to host Stirling United and show them how far we’ve come”, said Coach Bruce Tonkin after the game. “Nothing changes though. Respect for Stirling United remains. It’s just a pity we couldn’t have done it with McDonald and Henry in their line-up.”

Best and fairest went to Mowbray, Tonkin and Wilkins.

Woodside will next meet Hahndorf at home in the first game of the second leg of the season, whilst Stirling United will go back to Ashton Oval for a rematch with Rangers.