AHJSA Match Reports

The Warriors came firing out of the blocks early in the game and peppered the Bridgewater defence throughout the first half. Play was distributed fairly evenly with attacking runs from Archer, Billy, Mitchell, Adam with strong support from Eddie, Leon, Ethan and Morgan. Odin was frequently the fulcrum of the Warriors play with an early one-touch interception in defence and a catalysing assist just before the half time whistle. Meanwhile Freddie was patient and attentive with the gloves on. Things were more even in the second half with Bridgewater mounting some dangerous advances on goal but the Warriors defended well. Fred, Ethan and Morgan anticipated the direction of the ball and apprehended the Bridgie attack. Eddie wore the gloves in the second stretch but was well  defended by his team. Warriors’ passing was a feature, an encouraging thing to see this early in the season. Well done Warriors and coach Troy.

It was a another great morning for our second game of soccer and Woodside Gold were playing Rangers at home. Woodside were a little slow to wake up from their early morning start as two goals were quickly scored by Rangers. However as the half went on Woodside were starting to look alive and looked like they were going to score their first goal for the season but with great defending from Rangers they were unsuccessful in doing so.
The second half was great both defensively and in attack with players putting into practice what we have been learning in training. The ball was going back and forth relentlessly but Rangers eventually found the net a couple of more times. Woodside played incredibly well and were really unfortunate to not score anything. I was really impressed with how our players were moving the ball forward and working together and supporting each other. 
Well done to Rangers on their win and a huge well done to Woodside Gold on all the improvements you are making 

It was a crisp, but sunny morning for the Woodside U8 Blues to play off against the Woodside U8 Whites. 

There was a lot of fun, laughter and happy faces as friends played each other; both determined to score goals and walk home as victors.

Woodside was the winner at the end of the day!

Woodside u9 vs Mount barker Gold
Round 2:- Home Pitch 7/5/2022

It was a sleep in for the team this morning with an 11:00 am start, 100% attendance again, it is looking like we have a very committed bunch of kids which is fantastic

Warm up had begun and then a pregame brief, I warned the kids who was off first and they were obliging, but disappointed of course, then out of the blue mount barker gold gave a shinning light and allowed all on the pitch at once. It was like a beacon of excitement just jumped out of team Woodside, let’s hope they take this positivity onto the pitch. 

The game began 9 vs 9 and about 100 on the bench for Mount Barker, it looked like we were in for trouble with so many fresh legs on Mount Barkers bench and trouble is what Mount barker brought. 

We were only minutes in and the opposition managed to get an impossible save past our keeper. Look out we were under fire. Then 2 super saves from our keeper keeping us in contention. This then woke up our defence and they were now here to play and took that pressure away from our keeper. 

Woodside started to change their tactics and pushed out wide down the pitch instead of down the middle and from know where our right wing finds himself in space a pass and bang scores are level. 

Adrenalin has hit our right wing and a new determination not yet seen and bang scores again, we are one up. 

Half time. 

Some changes are made and to give everyone a fair go and a new attacking line up is formed hoping that we can open up a gap and push ourselves further in front, but same as first quarter Mount Barker came out firing and we were one behind again. 

This did not stop Woodside, we were only one behind and we had spirit and drive to finish this game off. 

A save from our goalie pushed out wide, some contest and our throw in its still in our favour, MASSIVE THROW by our right back, over everyone and our centre mid runs onto it faster than the opposition he gets some space and a hard kick straight into the goalies’ hands, but wait the goalie couldn’t hold it the ball has continued to trickle past and GOAL !!! scores are level.

Only minutes left in the game and our defence is finding it hard to not want to get into some scoring action and from the back of everyone a massive kick soaring over the heads of all the players from both teams and just a fingertip by the goalie, but they were not tall enough . another goal and finally the siren. It’s our first win for the season. Great job Woodside.

It was a brisk morning at Bradbury park for the second game of the season. Stirling Districts opened the game strongly with an attempt at goal which was successfully defended by Hahndorf goal keeper, Pearl Beesley.

Hahndorf soon answered with an attempt at goal from Ashon Broadbent-Shaw. Alice Cannavo, Mason Sickerdick and Oliver Ramsey were keep busy throughout the first half in defence with some strong play from the Stirling districts attack. Cohen Whinfield took control of the ball with some great passing in the midfield.

The second half continued with both teams well matched, creating several opportunities for attempted goals on both sides with Stirling Districts succeeding in reaching the nets. There was plenty of action in the midfield with Lachlan Gardner executing some great passes. Oliver Ramsey defended the goals valiantly against a strong Stirling Districts offence. Hugo Curtis and Rowan Gilroy covered a lot of ground and were well supported by team mates Jack Gaskin and Eli Parkyn.

Hahndorf wishes to thank Stirling Districts United for a great match, played in the spirit of the game.

round 2 

Second game of the season ,    kick off we were On ,  Great ball skills  , kick on goal and so much pressure !

From our  parents the great cheer squad !!

Thomas  great  pressure on player trying for goals , Jackson Tried for goal - long cross from left 

Tye with great ball and saves on goal ,Dean great hustle.

Willam  good goals saves - kick on goal ,Ashton lots of energy , never gives up lots of twisting , turning ,

played the full game at 100% 

 

team woodside is growing with excitement 

bring on Round 3 

 

The weather gods were seemingly pleased with the behavior of Hills Junior Soccer players and patrons on Saturday morning as they held the faucets closed for the duration of proceedings. OK, it was freezing, but clear sunny skies made for an enjoyable morning of fast, open football. And for the mid-morning match it was Woodside Warriors U13 Red hosting Murray Bridge Blue.

From the outset, the more experienced Warriors side looked to have the edge, and where they had struggled to transition the ball up the ground in Round 1, their midfield now structured up and worked harder as a unit, resulting in clean and ample ball for their forwards to get to business. Playing more as an attacking midfielder, their center forward got busy over his cauldron, conjuring opportunities for his left and right wings who were hunting the ball with the desperation of a terrier seeking its tail. It was Woodside’s right wing keeping the scorer busy, goaling thrice in the first half. Not only did he finish well, but his sustained and consistent effort on and off the ball kept Woodside on the attack and Bridge at bay. In fact, all of Woodsides chances came through the contributions of many. They played as a team, structuring with nauseating fastidiousness, hunting the ball with precise belligerence and never giving up the chase.

But there was a lot to like from Bridge too. And if they thought a three goal deficit was beyond them, they didn’t show it. In fact, they launched themselves into the second half with renewed vigor as they strived, if not for victory, then to at least show those present what they were made of. This brought about a stalemate as both sides fought for the ball, and although Woodside squandered a few opportunities, Bridge never gave up the chase and exerted sufficient pressure to prevent the easy shot. And soon Bridge were on the attack themselves, creating not one, but three ripping chances in a thirty second flurry of fury. Unfortunately for them each was saved spectacularly by a right wing wearing a pair of goalie gloves. Woodside hit the scoreboard a few more times in the second half to run the game out as deserving winners, but the young Bridge side is improving by the minute and if they stick with the Beautiful Game and enjoy the contest, a bright future awaits!

Hahndorf Unified U15 Team Historic Win

 

In a truly memorable game, on Saturday 7th May, the first-ever Hahndorf Magpies Unified U15 team took on Stirling Districts White U15 at the Hahndorf pitch. There were some pre-game nerves as the Hahndorf team included two players with Down Syndrome, Jensen Norris and Hakim Herriman, both of whom were playing for the first time in the AHJFA U15 competition. Magpies Coach, Shafiq Herriman (aged 15), noted that, "Despite extensive research, we have found no record of any club - in Australia or overseas - that has included Down Syndrome players as part of a regular eleven-player team in a competition against teams with no special needs players." However, any concerns were quickly calmed as Hahndorf took decisive control of a sizzling game.

 

After an exciting and evenly matched first quarter, Hahndorf's left wing forward, Mitchell Stribley, broke the ice at the 24th minute with a tidy finish in the six-metre box that gave Hahndorf the lead. Stirling Districts attacked strongly but could not penetrate the Hahndorf defence spearheaded by well-practised and determined centre-backs Rhys Davies and Zara Tinsley-Smith. Keeper Tom Boekel saved a penalty to maintain Hahndorf's lead.

 

A position switch called by Hahndorf's young coach Shafiq Herriman established a partnership between Cameron Norris as centre-attacking midfield and Lance Pope as striker that quickly dominated the scoring. Among many firsts for this game, Lance scored a total of eight goals. Stirling struck back with a second-half goal.

 

With Hahndorf centre defensive midfielder, Liam Sickerdick, loudly coordinating and encouraging his team, both 'all abilities' players, Jensen and Hakim, played with enthusiasm, determination and much pleasure. Nevertheless, despite such an impressive list of first-time achievements, the most heart-warming and wonderful moment of the game came in the second half. The Stirling District's centre-back saw that Jensen Norris was unsure of what to do with the ball at his feet. Instead of closing in quickly to tackle and clear the ball, the Stirling Districts player displayed the highest level of good sports play, stood back patiently, and waited for Jensen to take a short kick. The ball was then rapidly cleared safely down the field.

 

Hahndorf U15 won the game, but the players of both teams won the hearts of the crowd at a game nobody will forget.

Woodside took on an undermanned Strathalbyn team this week and after offering to help out with running the line, we were all surprised to have appointed an extra official. 

Following our usual roster for keeping duties, last week's top goal scorer for the team took up the gloves for the first half. This offered opportunities for the Woodside's forwards but Strathalbyn were determined to make Woodside earn every pass towards our opponent's goal. Like in 2021, Woodside were slow to start and tried to get their first goal by playing through a compacted midfield. When Woodside started to find feet, crisp passing opportunities started to occur but the Strath defenders and keeper kept a determined Woodside out. Then half way through the first half, Woodside found an opportunity and slid the first goal home with a well finished goal by its striker. The rest of the half was again a struggle but despite having no reserves to call upon, Strath defended well and as the half time whistle sounded there was only a goal in it. Woodside 1 Strathalbyn 0. 

Both teams made some changes including keepers, but the first five minutes continued to see Woodside and Strath defend well. Finally Woodside broke through and scored its second goal with a well placed shot. Woodside were now creating opportunities but the Strath keeper was keeping his team in the game. Intensity was also occurring in the midfield as each player fought to give their team an advantage on moving forward. When a burst of sped had the Woodside right midfielder sprint past Strath’s left back, he fired the ball across the goal where it was met by Woodside’s striker who slotted it home. It was a great example of team work and positioning. Woodside continued to create opportunities with the striker scoring his second and third from throw-in’s that cleared the defensive players and left him one on one with the keeper where he kept his head and slotted them home. With 5 minutes left the striker slotted his fourth home. Strath continued to battle to the end but today Woodside were too strong. With a full team this could have been a different result for Strath so we look forward to the contest next time. Final score Woodside 6 Strathalbyn 0.

After a positive display in the previous round, Woodside U17G travelled to Strathalbyn to take on the team from Stirling with an early 12noon start. Hopes were high for another close and entertaining fixture against an opponent that are always tough to play and well prepared.

It was a brisk and overcast afternoon and Woodside were lucky enough to be kicking with the assistance of a useful breeze for the first half. The game started positively and Woodside made a number of forays forward but soon after Stirling broke through the defensive line and opened the scoring. In the midfield, Lou and Leila pushed the ball beyond Stirling's defensive line on a number of occasions and Grace and Star continued to press forward in search of an elusive goal with some positive moves. A free kick on the edge of the box gave some hope but a superb attempt from Sarah was thwarted by the alert Stirling goalkeeper. Unfortunately, Woodside was constantly under pressure forcing Alice, Rosie, Sarah and Sophie to work hard in defence. Stirling was able to push through the defensive line to find themselves with only the keeper to beat. Despite Karina's best endeavours, Stirling were clinical with their finishing and continued to find the back of the net, making the most of their chances and headed into half time with a solid advantage that would be difficult to peg back.

After half time, the midfield was bolstered to try and stop Stirling's run and to provide more forward impetus into the breeze. Woodside seemed to tire quickly and a lack of bench rotation saw many players running on empty but they continued to soldier on.  Woodside still pushed forward at times but were mostly pinned back in their defensive half. Alexandra and Tilly joined the defence and toiled hard to provide much needed pressure on the Stirling players. Nonetheless, Stirling again made the most of their chances and continued to score regularly. Woodside showed great spirit to fight the game out until the end. Woodside was comprehensively beaten on the day by a better opponent, giving team management food for thought leading into next week's round.

All players tried hard despite tired legs. Honourable mentions must go to Alice, Grace, Lou, Rosie, and Sarah who played in the earlier game and who fought on gamely.

No doubt players will be keen to get their first win for the season with a strong performance next week.