AHJSA Match Reports

Lots of defensive work this week against a very Strong Mt Barker Red . 
A real battle between some very skilled players in both sides .

Goals - Quinn Klein (1) 

 

The sun was shining bright for the u8s Round 10 clash between Hahndorf and Woodside Blue.

Hahndorf started the game with Carter Hartley as Goalkeeper for the first half. Hahndorf were out of the blocks quickly with Soren Mickan and Oliver Knight putting the pressure on Woodside defence. Levi Neumann used his speed to get some good runs with the ball pushing deep into attack, resulting in Hahndorf's first goal. The Woodside defence was kept busy, with Hahndorf pushing forward again resulting in Indie Dunning scoring her first for the season. 

In the second half Ali Semple pulled on the Goal Keeper's guernsey. Joshua Blain was strong in defence, along with Violet Mitchell and Rosie Semple. Owen Hoyle showed some great foot skills up forward, keeping the Woodside defence busy.

The weather was the star of the day, providing perfect conditions for a great soccer battle. Well done to both teams!
 

In a stark contrast to last weeks game, round 10 kicked off for the Hahndorf under 9 White team with sunshine and blue skies as far as the eye could see.  With a few out on sick leave, Hahndorf were down to six players to make the trek out to Murray Bridge.  The Murray Bridge under 9's were very welcoming and shared two of their 10 players with Hahndorf to even up the sides.

After quick introductions all around, the Hahndorf boys started strongly, moving the ball quickly into their offensive end.  Murray Bridge were solid on the defense, playing a strong line of tall defenders right in front of the goal square to block any shots Hahndorf made at goal.  Tyson Bancroft made a shot pass across the goal front to Thomas Gould who kicked with his usual accuracy, but was quickly blocked by the wall of MB defenders.  Hahndorf recovered the ball again moving forward into offensive for another shot of goal, Gould this time to Cohen Whinfield who booted a blistering kick at goal, only again to be thwarted by the wall of defence.  This was to be a theme of the game, with the Hahndorf boys peppering the MB goal with goal after goal only to be deflected by the MB defence or saved by the goalie. 

Hahndorf never gave up though, working some great passing passages when finally Gould to Josh Petitt resulted in Hahndorfs first goal.  This was quickly followed by Gould again moving into scoring position and putting one through after a pass from Petitt.  After that the goals started flowing with Petitt bringing the score up to four nil at half time.

The second half started with another rocket kick at goals from Whinfield in the first minute to score Hahndorfs fifth goal. Speedy running in our defensive half from Jamie Timmins and Tyson Bancroft kept the ball from our Gould in goalie til late in the second half. Benjamin Kowald getting into the mix of things to tie up the MB offensive.  Another great passage of play saw Petitt get past the wall of defenders and secure another goal for Hahndorf.  MB were working the ball back into their offensive end and Gould had to kick into action with a huge save from a powerful kick from MB.  Halfway through the last half we swapped Petitt into goal and MB made him work for his position, saving a number of goals and clearing out with long kicks down the ground.  Bancroft, Timmins and Gould were there to scoops them up and make a run on goal for Hahndorf but were ultimately unable to convert.

A much more enjoyable morning for the parents and supporters watching the black and whites bringing home for the win.  A big thanks to the Murray Bridge players who filled in with great enthusiasm.

A very welcome sunny day for the game today. Stirling Districts started strong and we had to work hard to get the ball. They scored an early goal which made us work harder for the rest of the first half. We were strong in our defense and kept trying to push the ball down to our goal but no one was able to score.

The second half was really tough. We had a few great passes down the field but Stirling were simply the better team today. Sebastian had a great second half in goals and stop several attempts by Stirling. Well done to both teams on a great game.

For the game between the Hahndorf Magpies (Black) and Stirling United Blue there was no need to kick the dew off the Aldgate Oval as the morning sun was a welcome site for players and spectators alike.

The game started with a fast pace, both teams were playing for keeps. Stirling controlled the play predominantly for the first five minutes in their attacking half but thanks to defensive pressure from Hahndorf they were unable to score. With persistence and a clearing kick from Conor Castle, Hahndorf managed to push forward into attack. At the 8 minute mark, deep in attack for Hahndorf, a clean cross was centered to Caleb Earley. With eyes wide open Earley found the back of the net and Hahndorf hit the lead. Approximately 10 minutes into the half Stirling managed to free some space for one of their players. An impressive strike from about 10 metres out resulted in a Stirling goal. Scores were level. 

With scores tied, the intensity lifted. With eyes only for the ball Hugo Curtis had a bad head clash with a Stirling opponent. Both boys were ok and Curtis, with courage, could thankfully continue with his impressive start to the game. Credit were credit is due, I heard one of the Stirling players ask Curtis if he was ok. Great sportsmanship, excellent to hear.

Hahndorf continued to keep attacking with great midfield pressure from Castle, Zack Perkins, Lachlan Gardiner and Jhett Frost. With 5 minutes to half time Lucca Falvo Lopez had an unsuccessful shot on goal followed a minute later with a wild shot from Frost. With 3 minutes left Rowan Gilroy and Jackson Bidgood showed great determination and speed to chase down a Stirling opponent and apply enough pressure to stop a possible Stirling goal. Falvo Lopez was troubling the Stirling defense with two more shots on goal in the final 2 minutes of the first half but was unfortunately unable to convert.

Half time. Must needed rest. Hydration restored. Glucose consumed in the form of flavored, soft dinosaurs.

Within the first minute of the second half Curtis had a shot on goal and a minute later Perkind had one also. Hahndorf were pushing hard for a second goal. Gardiner had three consecutive shots on goal but they just were not quite coming off the boot how he would have liked. Stirling’s defense was on notice. All Hahndorf players were putting in big efforts across the pitch and at times it appeared there were two number 8. Gilroy leading by example. 7 minutes into the second half Hahndorf’s hard work paid off as they managed to pass to Falvo Lopez with space. Looking like he had all the time in the world, Falvo Lopez skillfully put it past the Stirling keeper and Hahndorf had their second. 

Without delay Stirling again managed to level the score. Two minutes later Stirling had another shot on goal but this time without success due to a great save from Frost. Perkins, Earley and Castle were a part of the link that had Gardiner and Bidgood clear from defense to give Falvo Lopez another chance to score but this one did not trouble the scorers.

In the last 5 minutes Stirling were applying a lot of pressure to Hahndorf but Caleb and Bidgood were reliable in defense. Frost saved another Stirling attempt. 3 minutes to play Gardiner had another shot on goal and Bidgood had a corner ever so close to crossing the line. Efforts from Castle, Perkins and Earley saw Falvo Lopez have the final attempt to score of the game.

Full time saw a 2 all draw. Another fantastic effort by all Hahndorf players. Coach Eddie should be proud of the team he is guiding. That elusive win over Stirling persists. Stirling, Hahndorf has you in their sights.

It was perfect sunny playing conditions when Hahndorf Under 10 White met Stirling Districts at Aldgate Primary School oval.

Hahndorf started the game with Lawson Shotton, Will Tully and Billy Cook in the forward half.  While Stirling’s defence was strong, some excellent passing and play by Tully and Cook provided the perfect setup for Shotton, who was able to convert several attempts at goal. 

In the backline, Hahndorf’s Jensen Ingram dominated against the formidable Stirling forwards, with some excellent throw ins and fancy footwork to push the ball back into Hahndorf’s forward.  Part-way through the first half, Thomas Stapleton was subbed on.  Stapleton instantly made an impact, contributing with some strong defensive skills and was quick to chase down balls in the backline.

In the second half, Eddie Bjordal was able to steal the ball on several occasions and kept the ball in Hahndorf’s forward.  Harry Wood also moved into the forward line, and was able to break through the strong Stirling defence to score a goal.  He was ably joined by Joel Bateman, who used his skills to manoeuvre around the defence to also convert several goals.  In the end, the Hahndorf defence held strong under pressure, thanks to strong defensive play by Daniel Peters.

It was a tightly contested match and the Hahndorf team played well against the skill level of the Stirling team.  Well done to coach Stephen Shotton and the under 10’s team for an entertaining match played in good spirits.

The sun was shining and the early birds were eating worms as the Woodside faithful proceeded to Strathalbyn to watch their chargers take on Strath Strikers U12 in the early game.

This was truly a game of two halves. And in the first it was Woodside who dominated. For the duration of the first half Woodside looked in control, setting up numerous chances and capitalizing on 2 to look in a commanding position. But the desperate Strath defense was not in the mood for surrender as they repelled raid after raid to keep themselves well and truly in the race. And then, just before half-time, Strath pinned one back to close the gap and keep themselves well and truly in the hunt. If it was a 30 minute game, Woodside would have gone home full of smiles and thinking themselves deserving winners. 

But U12 football is played for 60 minutes. And if Woodside was the better team for the first 30, Strath were clearly dominant in the second. A key positional change brought a young star of the future from back right to right wing and it wasn’t long before her goal saving performance in the first half was morphed into goal-scoring masterclass in the second. She streaked up the right and delivered a bomb into the top corner, not once but thrice! to carry her team into an unassailable position. And with only one on the bench, Woodside just couldn’t find the energy required to claw their way back. After a great first half it was tough result for the young Warriors. But the positive banter and congratulations after the game from 12 great mates on a game well-played was enough to warm the hardest of hearts as our youth once again showed us what junior sport is all about.

A perfect day for the game this week with bright sun and no wind!
This a photo addition to the game report which can be read here - https://www.ahjsa.asn.au/report/1VTc.html

 

Woodside Warriors Red travelled to Bradbury for their clash against a strong Stirling Districts side. The Warriors started the game positively and weren’t initially intimidated by the veteran Stirling side.

Although Josh Constable had plenty of drive out of our midfield, the Stirling defenders were too organised against any attacks straight through the middle and easily forced any attempted shots wide of their goals.

Finn Cradock and Nate Dealtry were teamed together to strengthen the Warrior’s defense and had plenty of work to do for much of the first half. Despite Elliot Klein’s, Rojo Nambia’s and Jordan Vigara’s efforts, the Warrior’s found most of the play in our defensive half and eventually a brilliant through ball from Stirling cut through the Warrior’s defense and allowed them to pick up two very quick back to back goals. Despite the set backs Elliot and Rojo started to work the ball up the right wings which started to create a few goal scoring opportunities and it was very unlucky that they didn’t quite punch through to the back of the net. Josh Constable’s acceleration started to cause major concerns for Stirling defenders and after beating all defenders he was very unlucky with a shot that cruelly sailed just over the cross bar. Going in at half time the Warriors deserved at least a handful of goals however went into the break 2 goals down.

Stirling had dominated the first half and some outstanding play from Nate and the Warrior’s midfielders played a significant role in stemming the Stirling flow of goals. The Warrior’s coach was extremely impressed with the team’s defensive effort as it was under siege since the first whistle.

 

The second half was sadly a different tale for the Warriors, with Stirling’s relentless pressure alowing them to take complete control of the game and put another 6 goals passed Axel Vassos who had saved many more attempts but couldn’t save them all. Jamie Spooner and Gracie Llyod assisted with many midflield interceptions however, the class of Stirling was evident and the Warrior’s will take a lot away from the game despite the final score of 7-0.

A glorious almost-Spring morning Hahndorf Soccer Club Under 12 White captained by Harry Mumford took the field against Mount Barker United Soccer Club Under 12 Blue. With the sun in their eyes, Hahndorf clearly dominated the first half. Striker Hayden Lien made his first attempt on goal within the first minute supported by strikers Levi Beesley and Emlyn Gilroy. As Mount Barker tried to take back control defender Patrick Hinze made a brilliant pass back to a team mate in the attacking half. A second goal attempt was made just two minutes later with a corner awarded a further two minutes later still. Harrison Gould’s goal attempt frustratingly bounced off the cross bar and back in to play. As Mount Barker United Blues pushed back a free kick was awarded and taken by Gould in Hahndorf White’s defence. Play was returned to Hahndorf’s attacking half and another attempt on goal before a corner was awarded. As the game moved along the left wing, Zoe York took a throw in. Mount Barker United Blues worked hard to take control with Hahndorf Whites hot on their heels chasing down to goal, catching defenders Mumford, Hinze, Dante Man and Oliver Aylen off guard. Keeper Ryder Hill came out, grabbed the ball and threw it far. Play moved quickly with Hahndorf Whites being awarded another corner in attack before the ball was back down in Hahndorf Whites’ defence and another goal attempt was saved by Hill. Moving down the middle of the pitch Gould communicated well and made a solid pass to York, music to the coaches’ ears. Substitutions saw a rest for York and a badly hayfever effected Mumford while Jacob Gardner and Reilly Bowden took to the pitch. In a somewhat nerve-wracking move Aylen switched play from left to right across goals passing to Bowden. Gardner and Gilroy worked well together and ran hard. Moving at speed down the pitch Lien scored the first goal of the match! Beesley made a goal attempt, as did Gilroy whose attempt went just past the post and off the goalie's hands. Enjoying the opportunity to utilise his skills beyond goalkeeping, Bowden stopped Mount Barker United Blues attempt to get back into Hahndorf Whites’ defence and helped push the ball back through to the midfielders and strikers for another attempt on goals saved by the keeper. Midfielder Oliver Dahmke worked hard and kept play in Hahndorf Whites’ attack. However, in the last few minutes of the half a goal was conceded despite some great work by Hill. At half time, goals were tied one all.

Coming back for the second half with the sun at their backs, Hahndorf Whites were mistaken if they thought this half was going to be a walk in the park. Mount Barker United Blues came in strong and there was another great save by Hill. Game gave way to a series of rapid transitions from one end of the pitch to the other. Aylen again switched play across field before a fumble by an unnamed player resulted in a penalty kick being awarded to Mount Barker United Blues. A series of good teachable moments for all players. As this was the first penalty Hahndorf Whites have seen this season so tensions were high both on and off the pitch. Appearing cool as a cucumber, Hill saved it! Good tackling by York and another good goal attempt by Lien. Mount Barker United Blues pushed again on Hahndorf’s goal and when awarded a goalie kick Hill decisively took it before players had turned to face it. Unfortunately another goal was later conceded. Good pressure by York on the opposition’s keeper, blocking their view of play while team mates controlled the ball. A little later Beesley made a strong attempt on goal. When play was back in Hahndorf Whites’ defence Gould was injured, dropping to the ground for several moments but adamant to stay on when the head coach and team manager invaded the pitch to offer assistance. Hahndorf Whites came back strong and were awarded another corner in attack. Lien worked hard and scored another goal. There was a very quick throw in by Gould, reassuring to see how all players are seeing the advantage of taking frees quickly to hopefully catch the opposition off guard and further use it to their advantage. Another convincing save by Hill and some solid defence by Man and Dahmke rounded out the match.

At the final whistle, the scores were an equal Mount Barker United 2 to Hahndorf 2. Hahndorf Under 12 White wish to thank Mount Barker United Under 12 Blue for the game played Saturday 29 August 2020.

The match between Hahndorf Under 12 Black and Murray Bridge United U12’s Gold got off to a cracking start in beautiful conditions for play at Pine Avenue. Early on the first goal for Hahndorf was scored by Henri Bjordal. Following play saw Cooper Liddle strong in attack and excellent defence from Joash Ng. A second goal soon followed for Bjordal. Murray Bridge got the ball down to their end however strong defence by Angus Mifsud and some good saves by goalie Liam Sickerdick helped to regain control for Hahndorf. Jacob Neumann, Liddle and Bjordal worked in great harmony up in attack, with Toby Perkins passing to set up a goal for Zack Schwarz. Sickerdick continued with his strong work in goals, preventing Murray Bridge from a number of close scores. J. Neumann scored his first goal of the match, followed by Ng, Perkins, Pepe Zahra and Jet Zahra all working the ball away from the Murray Bridge team and back to the Hahndorf end, where Ryley Neumann scored. J. Neumann was excellent in keeping up the pressure and strong team work from Hahndorf saw the next goal achieved by P. Zahra. Shortly thereafter Bjordal got a third score. Murray Bridge got the ball back to their gaol, but great defence from Mifsud combined with strong kicking soon saw the ball back in Hahndorf’s goals. J. Neumann converted a free into a score and Cooper Liddle got in some great plays, which saw him bag the next goal. Liddle followed this up with a big kick and a second goal. The opposition goalie did a valiant job, making numerous excellent saves  before letting one through from J. Zahra.

The second half began with more good saves from the opposition goalie, followed up by a first goal for Mifsud. Hahndorf’s goalie Blane Balcom defended the goal and a big kick down the field saw Hahndorf back in control. R. Neumann handled the ball well down the field, and some excellent passing to P. Zahra resulted in the next score, shortly followed by a goal for Ng. R. Neumann played well in defence and Perkins, P. Zahra and Mifsud were key in keeping the ball in the control of Hahndorf. J. Neumann was displaying some fancy footwork to almost dance with the ball as he set up a pass to Ng for a goal.  Hahndorf continued to be strong with their passing game and the good teamwork between J. Zahra and Sickerdick gave Luca Cannavo an opportunity at goal, which was well saved by the opposition keeper. Schwarz and Bjordal were good in their defensive roles, and a pass by Schwarz to J. Neumann was converted to a score. R. Neumann got in and took control of the ball from the Murray Bridge team, returning it to Hahndorf with some fast moves. A further score for Hahndorf was achieved by Ng, who played an excellent game. J. Neumann continued his fine match,  showing good control of the ball, his skills allowed the final goal of the match to be Hahndorf’s. We would like to thank the Murray Bridge team for the game and hope everyone enjoyed the time in the sun!

A warm and sunny spring morning greeted both teams at Nairne Primary School oval for the U/12's clash between Mount Barker Red and Nairne. Mt Barker had fresh legs as their previous game was cancelled whilst Nairne had suffered a loss the previous week against Hahndorf Black. Prior to this game both teams were sitting mid-ladder in the competition but were keen to improve their position.  A crowd of around 50 supporters were present to cheer on their team.

The game started with Nairne kicking off, but Mt Barker quickly secured possession. They controlled the ball well and maintained possession. They quickly worked the ball deep into Nairne's defensive area. Nairne scrambled their defence as they tried to clear the ball out of the 18 yard area but the ball always landed at the feet of a Mt Barker player. As the ball bounced pin-ball style between players, Mt Barkers Jonty Burzacott shot on target only for the Nairne keeper to parry it away. Jonty followed the shot and calmly shot a second time with success to open the scoring at the 2 min mark

From the kick-off, Nairne composed themselves and began to work their way into the attacking zone. Nairne played the long ball well but were consistently thwarted by Mount Barkers keeper, Billie Goedecke who judged his runs to perfection. Mount Barker were holding their structure and began to string together successive passes. They worked the ball deep into Nairne’s defensive zone and on the stroke of 7 mins Archer Hawkins shot true to move the score to 2 - 0. 

This goal lifted Mt Barkers confidence and they continued to maintain possession and ascendency. Mt Barkers centre mid-fielder Rumarni Puiatti appeared to be everywhere as he calmly controlled this vital zone. A good cross from the right-hand side into the Nairne penalty area saw an unfortunate hand ball and the referee awarded the penalty. Jonty Burzacott confidently stepped up to the spot and slotted the ball fast, low and left, giving the Nairne keeper little chance for the save. At the 10 min mark Mt Barker 3-0 to the good and Jonty was on the prowl for a hat-trick! 

Nairne kicked off and worked the ball into Mt Barkers defensive zone. They continually played the ball long looking for their speedy strikers to make the break away. Mt Barkers defensive line, led by the every reliable Jamison Henke, held firm and continually repelled the Nairne attack. Nairne persisted and had some good shots on target but Mt Barkers keeper, Billie Goedecke was having a blinder and executed his saves well. As the game progressed Mt Barker began to push the ball wide via mid-fielders, Sophia Canova and Jonty Burzacott. They both made valuable ground. Their pressure was rewarded when on the 15min mark Sophia Canova shot true to move the score to 4 - 0. For Sophia this was her first goal of the season and her team-mates rallied around her. Her parents were also a little chuffed! 

Mt Barker were riding high, but Nairne gallantly persisted. The game swung end to end and some players began to tire in the heat. Mt Barker defensive players Colin Patterson and Jack Pallant were pushing forward to give their team the numbers up front. At the 21min mark Remarni Puiatti shot from a very acute angle and squeezed the ball between keeper and post for a very memorable goal. This took the score to 5 -0 and to the half time break. 

Sometimes in soccer, the half time break is the worst thing for a team, and this rang true for Mt Barker. Nairne began the second half with resolve, and it appeared to be a different team that ran onto the pitch. They consistently threatened to score and made numerous shots on target. As it sometimes happens when you push forward, you leave your back-line exposed. A fast break up the middle by Remarni Puiatti who delivered a penetrating pass to the fast running Rupert Curran who calmly shot past the Nairne keeper. An unexpected goal for Mt Barker against the run of play. 6 - 0 . 

This goal stung Nairne into action and they resumed as they did early in the second half. Nairne pressed hard and persisted with great resolve for the next 10mins. Mt Barker were beginning to tire and succumbed to the pressure when Nairne #14 blasted his shot into the back of the net to open their account.  6 - 1

The Mt Barker coaching staff made some substitutions, moving Kael Sander off the bench, into the strikers position. With almost immediate effect, Kael pounced on a loose ball and hustled it into the net for his first goal of the season. 7-1. This goal lifted Mt Barker with several players now queuing up to get their name on the score sheet. They wrestled control the game back from Nairne and continued to press forward. A great through ball from Archer Hawkins unleashed a determined Kael Sander who confidently bagged his second goal of the game with a blasting shot past the keeper. 

The score remained unchanged and Mt Barker took the points at full time 8-1. 

As the players bumped elbows, both coaches agreed it was a very entertaining game to watch with both teams competing in good spirit. 

The next game for Mt Barker Red will be a catchup game against their sister team Mt Barker Blue at Anembo Park. For Nairne they will face off in their Rd11 clash against Strathalbyn

Woodside Warriors had another game on home grounds this week playing against Stirling Districts U12 Blue. With a later start this week with kick off at 11am the kids tried to prepare to play in the heat after last weeks very wet match. Warriors were down a few players this week so to make a team of 11 to take the pitch they recruited the help of Sam Colla and Lewis Moylan. At the first whistle Warriors got control of the ball fast and had a few high and wide shots at goal. Warriors settled in a bit and when Sidney Cotton sunk one in the back of the net Warriors celebrated their first goal only 6 minutes into the game. Warriors continued to keep control of the ball and when Domenico took a penalty shot 2 minutes after the first goal Warriors scored there second for the game. Stirling came to life after that and applied more pressure to Warriors players. Ollie Boerth, Morgan Burroughes and James Lunnon were quick on their feet and continually chased the ball refusing to let it get too close to the oppositions goal and Barney Bevan was there to snatch up any that got through refusing to let Stirling score. Stirling went down to only 10 players so Warriors took a player off to even it out. Sam Colla was a key player for Warriors in the middle seeming to be everywhere all at once and snuck through Stirling defense to score Warriors third goal not long before the half time whistle. Red faced from the heat players were ready for a drink and their individually bagged oranges to rejuvenate for the second half. Warriors again gained control fast with Poppy Thomas a pillar of strength in defense and Max Davis with quick feet constantly pushing the ball forward but Stirling were quick to retaliate applying a wall of defense in front of goal managing to get a touch to the ball on its way through resulting in an own goal to start second half. Stirling refused to give up and continually pushed to get the ball through Warriors defense and it eventually paid off with them scoring their first goal for the game. That was then followed up with two goals from Silvestri. Both teams put their eleventh player back on the pitch and with fresh legs Lewis Moylan made his presence known and zipped through the midfield stealing the ball and sending it down toward his brother Eddie Moylan who then ran with it and scored Warriors seventh goal for the game. Warriors defense continued to push up the pitch and when Lunnon stole the ball he saw a chance to run with it and run he did. As he got close to goal, he put boot to ball and as spectators held their breath the ball skimmed the face of goal just to the right spot for Silvestri to put it through for the last goal of the game.

Best players SDFC: J Szentirmay, T Byrne, T Dunn

Great weather welcomed us at Murray Bridge.

This week Woodside started off focussed and ready to play and spent most of the first half camped in their opponent's half. Murray Bridge's defence and keeper worked hard during the first 20 minutes turning back Woodside’s attack. Woodside’s first opportunity came through a penalty, but the keeper easily saved this attempt. After this Woodside stood up and, after a magnificent run by Woodside’s midfielder weaving through the opposition, Woodside were on the board. The Warriors now attacked with effort and teamwork and scored their second. Their third goal was questionable whether the keeper had possession of the ball but the referees decision was final and the goal counted. Murray Bridge worked hard but were unable to get an opportunity at the Woodside goal as the Warriors defensive unit closed them down, tackled hard, were first to the ball and calmly worked together to transition the ball back into the midfield. The attacking nature of the Woodside game ensured they continued to make opportunities and find the net. As the half time whistled sounded the score was Woodside 4 Murray Bridge 0.

Woodside started the second half as they finished the first, in full control of the game. Through individual effort and fantastic teamwork, Woodside continued to pressure the Bridge's goal, scoring another 4 goals in the next 15 minutes. Murray Bridge stood tall and placed more pressure on their opponents when they had the ball, but the Warriors team kept upping the stakes and gave as much as they got. Woodside gave their opponents the opportunity to play out from the back, but the Woodside speed and reading of the play still made it difficult for Murray Bridge to get the ball into their opponent's half. In a show of teamsmanship the warriors gave their defenders a rare run upfront and while every attempt was made to give this play an opportunity it just didn’t fall the players way. If you are determined and work hard you can be rewarded for your efforts and Murray Bridge caught a napping defence off guard and managed to grab a goal in the final minutes. Woodside through had already sealed their ninth win for the season.
 

Great weather welcomed us at Murray Bridge.

This week Woodside started off focussed and ready to play and spent most of the first half camped in their opponent's half. Murray Bridge's defence and keeper worked hard during the first 20 minutes turning back Woodside’s attack. Woodside’s first opportunity came through a penalty, but the keeper easily saved this attempt. After this Woodside stood up and, after a magnificent run by Woodside’s midfielder weaving through the opposition, Woodside were on the board. The Warriors now attacked with effort and teamwork and scored their second. Their third goal was questionable whether the keeper had possession of the ball but the referees decision was final and the goal counted. Murray Bridge worked hard but were unable to get an opportunity at the Woodside goal as the Warriors defensive unit closed them down, tackled hard, were first to the ball and calmly worked together to transition the ball back into the midfield. The attacking nature of the Woodside game ensured they continued to make opportunities and find the net. As the half time whistled sounded the score was Woodside 4 Murray Bridge 0.

Woodside started the second half as they finished the first, in full control of the game. Through individual effort and fantastic teamwork, Woodside continued to pressure the Bridge's goal, scoring another 4 goals in the next 15 minutes. Murray Bridge stood tall and placed more pressure on their opponents when they had the ball, but the Warriors team kept upping the stakes and gave as much as they got. Woodside gave their opponents the opportunity to play out from the back, but the Woodside speed and reading of the play still made it difficult for Murray Bridge to get the ball into their opponent's half. In a show of teamsmanship the warriors gave their defenders a rare run upfront and while every attempt was made to give this play an opportunity it just didn’t fall the players way. If you are determined and work hard you can be rewarded for your efforts and Murray Bridge caught a napping defence off guard and managed to grab a goal in the final minutes. Woodside through had already sealed their ninth win for the season.
 

​Hahndorf SC vs. Torrens Valley SC

Hahndorf SC travelled to Birdwood to play Torrens Valley SC on a fine sunny winters day. Hahndorf surprised Torrens Valley by coming out strong and dominating the play. Midfielders James Austin, Gabe Aylen, Julian Hack, Orland Rettig and Hamish Robinson kept the ball moving forward. Attackers Harry Williams and Stefan Panich had several shots at goal. Then in the 12th minute Hack scored the first goal of the match. Torrens Valley fought back and applied a lot of pressure to the Hahndorf defence of Elwin Aylen, Damon Martin and Will Whiting. Hahndorf goalkeeper Tom Boekel made some spectacular saves to deny Torrens Valley any goals. Hahndorf brought on fresh legs with Matthew Knight and Angus McCrone who strengthened the midfield. The Hahndorf defence held strong until the 20th minute when Torrens Valley broke through the defence and scored their first goal. Play continued with both teams fighting strong and fair for the ball. Torrens valley scored twice more before half time to take the lead. 
After the break Torrens Valley scored a quick goal. Then Hahndorf dug deep and kept the opposition at bay for the next 10 minutes. Hahndorf boys were covering a lot of ground to keep up with the fast Torrens Valley midfielders and attackers and by the 50th minute they were running out of legs.. The hot weather and the hard running left Hahndorf too exhausted to keep up the fight and Torrens Valley scored several more goals to win the game.

Well done to the Woodside U14 Reds that played a cracker of a match, and yet again lady luck didn’t sit on our side. This being said, everyone put in 110% and it showed on the pitch with us controlling the majority of the game. It is great to see a settled defensive line, and Ruby, Banjo, Cooper and Flynn finally had a game where there were periods that they just watched the game. When it did reach the back line, they remained well spaced and covered the centre, clearing the ball decisively on many occasions. Their strongest forward had no room to play, meaning we did not have to commit a player to marking him out. It was great to see Flynn and Sam both moving creatively throughout the field, both being in the right places at the right times.

 

The real strength in this match came from the midfielders that committed to getting the ball and feeding it forward. Stirling had next to no time to line up passes or shots, which really made their lives difficult. All midfields need to be commended, with Cohenn, Riley V, George, Lysiane, Bob and Sam all getting turns at pressuring the ball. Player of the match went to Riley V who suddenly found some fire and not only just took the ball off Stirling but even put in a spectacular flying karate kick! By being so strong in the midfield Stirling were lost a lot of the time.

 

Riley T graciously volunteered to keep the whole game and had many strong saves, and whenever he kicked it out it moved the ball forward to our attackers. Well done! Finally Manny and Ryan kept the pressure on it attack, with Manny always moving and thinking creatively with beautiful ball placement skills, and Ryan’s speed and turns with the ball up front being unstoppable by any of their defenders. His dribbling through 3 defenders all bunched around him showed his strength and determination.

 

We’ll do more work on passing and kicking accuracy, along with better spacing as at times we were bunching up – but not very often! We are looking stronger each week and will surprise a few teams over the next weeks.

Mistakes are part of life and, as a result, part of the world game. Players make them. Coaches make them. Referees make them. Accepting your own mistakes is equally as difficult as accepting other people's mistakes.

This played out in Saturday's game between Murray Bridge United and Woodside Warriors.

Their previous encounter saw Woodside go home with nothing to show for their efforts against a top quality side. They had struggled with substitutes and injuries, with the last 20 minutes of play down to 10 (young) men. At that point it was 0-0. Murray Bridge seized the opportunity, sending Woodside home three goals down.

This time around Murray Bridge travelled to Woodside to face a team that has shown a strong amount of progress since their last encounter. Both teams were unsure about what the game will bring.

Was Murray Bridge concerned? Maybe. Were they confident? Also maybe.

Was Woodside confident they could do better than last time? That's always the aim in the second leg, particularly after losing the first game. Were they also concerned? Definitely.

The game kicked off at 9am on a sparkling day on the main pitch at the Woodside Recreation Grounds. The pitch itself suffered a battering in the previous round after a week of rain, rivalling the Woodside Pool for the amount of water on it. A dry week (with some light efforts to restore it) brought it back from the brink of unplayable.

From kick off players, coaches and spectators knew that whatever results came from this it would be the direct result of a battle. The first blow saw Woodside's EDDIE HERMAN score on the 5th minute sending the home team into an early lead. For the next 25 minutes it was very much and up and back style of game. Whatever run one team got, the other would shut it down, attempting the reverse before being shut down themselves.

The cycle continued, until a Murray Bridge striker was seemingly pushed in the back by a Woodside defender. This lead to Woodside keeper, SAMUEL HERMAN, having to front a penalty taken by Murray Bridge's JOSH FLOOD. As expected the ball saw the back of the net.

By half time the scores were one goal a piece, very much reflective of the game and the efforts by both teams.

Early in the second half NED KING managed to score for Murray Bridge, giving the away team some early confidence. From there the play continued very similarly to the first half – up and back, up and back. However Woodside Captain, ASHER HAMMAT, with seven minutes of play to go, managed to equalise.

By full time the scores were level at 2-2.

“With some unfortunate mistakes by almost the entirety of Woodside's suite of strikers as well as an offside call made from a throw-in (a mistake outside of their control), Woodside was unlucky not to end the game in their favour”, stated Woodside Coach BRUCE TONKIN. “We’ve got to be happy with the result though. An epic battle against a quality opposition.”

Woodside’s efforts were strong across the board, however JAMES RENSHAW picked up best and fairest, whilst BENJAMIN BAILES and MASON DUNOW followed closely behind.

Murray Bridge will see Rangers in the next round, whilst Woodside will take on ladder leaders, Hahndorf.

After a dry week, the sun was out in full force at Ashton Oval, with the warmest predicted temperature in 4-5 months bringing extra heat to the contest between Stirling United and Rangers. Rangers have consistently troubled Stirling in recent encounters, including delivering their only defeat last season in U14 at the end of year carnival. Definitely not an encounter to be taken lightly!

From the start, it was clear Rangers had come to play. Stirling were second to the ball on the majority of occasions, and of the limited chances in the first half, most of these favoured Rangers, however they were unable to capitalise. A late run from Matthew Silcock for Stirling saw them almost take a surprising lead right on half time, but the shot just drifted wide of the upright.

Coach Damien Sheridan urged the Stirling team to lift their intensity in the second half, and this had immediate effect with virtually the first foray forward finding Araby Phelan who calmly slotted a goal to give Stirling the lead. Rangers immediately responded with a goal of their own to level things up and it was game on!

A long ball through saw Phelan get a toe on the ball to lift it over the keeper and restore Stirling’s advantage. Stirling continued to press, and Rangers stubborn resistance was broken with a further two goals for Phelan in a 3 minute period effectively sealing the game. A fifth for Phelan close to the end left him with a handful in a spectacular return to form after an injury interrupted season.

As usual, the reliable back line of Ky Henry, Emily Bouchereau, Kye McDonald and Toby Leigh repelled many Rangers attacks, with Lachlan Stein, after a clean sheet in goal in the first half, ably stepping in after Bouchereau was forced from the field with a minor ankle injury.

The Stirling team, coach and fans walked away relieved to have taken the 3 points after a tough encounter with Rangers and head south to Strathalbyn for another tricky match next week.

What a glorious day for a win by the Hahndorf U13 girls!

The first half of an evenly matched game, saw the Barker girls putting pressure in the forward half, with two attempts on goal. Gracie Curtis kicked Hahndorf’s first goal in spectacular fashion with a fantastic shot from a tough angle. Trying to keep the momentum going, Morenike Kelly, Eloise Cutting, and Gracie all attempted goals, however Barker slipped one through after reentry from a strong defence by Bella Czukli, Grace Haynes, Ruby Tully and Charlotte Fairley only to be called offside. Gracie finished the first half with a skillful goal with the help of Eloise. 

The second half saw the Barker girls fight back, scoring the first goal. After a stoush that saw one of the Hahndorf players on the ground, Gracie took a clean penalty shot, taking the score to 3-2. After some fancy footwork in the midfield by Gracie, Eloise scored Hahndorf’s final goal. 

Not to be silenced, the Barker girls fought hard, with the Hahndorf defence working to keep the ball out of the box. After several attempts at goal, Barker were finally able to score, taking the final total to 4-2. Hahndorf with the win!

It was Strathalbyn’s chance for redemption on Saturday. The Strikers were facing off against Torrens Valley, the only team they had lost against so far. The stakes were high, but so were their spirits. It was a slow start to the game, with the ball being chased up and down the pitch. Bonnie Clothier and Brooklyn Rigney came close to scoring a few times, but they had no luck. It seemed like Torrens Valley would have the early advantage again, with #12 scoring six minutes into the game. The Strikers were determined, however, and pushed even harder. Hannah and the rest of the girls in defence did a fantastic job in keeping the ball from passing them, and with their help Bonnie broke past and took a shot at goals. It was blocked by the goalkeeper, so the cat and mouse game continued.

Throw-ins were a common sight, but nothing was achieved by them. Caitlyn Clothier, Layla Frahn and new recruit Savannah Denison worked together to try for a goal up the left wing, but missed. Torrens Valley gave another hard push of attacking, but Matilda Mundy, the Strikers’ goalkeeper, blocked their shot. When she kicked it out, there was a contest for the ball in front of the goals, with Torrens Valley almost scoring again. There was no time for celebration, as Torrens Valley proved themselves to be fierce competition. They scored once again, prompting Strathalbyn to switch some of their players, bringing new energy onto the pitch. It was a successful strategy, with a kick from Layla and a fumble from the goalie earning them their first goal. Strath’s spirits soared, but even with fresh determination, the game was impossibly even. Brooklyn helped turn the tables in Strath’s favour, thundering up and down the pitch with fire in her belly. She make a skilful cross to Bonnie, who kicked it high over the crossbar. Soon after she has another opportunity but it is saved by the keeper. The Strikers’ sturdy defence was hard to crack, with Katie, Hannah, Brooklyn and Gemma Hansen working well as a team. The half time whistle gave all the girls a brief respite and time to regroup ready for the second half.

Layla Frahn scored the first goal of the second half, which led to several shots at goal from the Strath Strikers. The game was hardly one sided with Matilda Mundy under pressure from Torrens valley. The back and forth continued as the teams seemed very evenly matched. Hannah once again shone in defence, stopping the opposition at every opportunity. Brooklyn was also playing incredibly well, which was evident when she stole a stray ball in the midfield and kicked it straight into the goals. The senior Strathalbyn team was constantly cheering and spurring the girls on. The Strikers were now a point ahead of their rivals. Torrens Valley attempted to catch back up but their shot for goal was blocked. Newcomer Savannah from Strath White showed some impressive speed. She sprinted up the pitch and took a shot at goal, only to have it saved by the Torrens Valley goalie. It was a very impressive play. Brooklyn maintained the pressure on the opposition, but the play levelled out again. Evie Brook stepped up in defence, keeping them at bay.

The final few minutes of the game were torturous for Strath White, as the play was directly in front of their goal. With only one point separating the teams, it was vital they kept the ball out of the danger zone. When the final whistle blew, Strath celebrated with relief. They had beaten their toughest team yet, and notably it was the first time the Strikers had ever accomplished this feat.

 

 

The sun was shining, the spectators smiling and the teams ready to face off again for what was going to be an amazing match.

Stirling District started off strong and ready for a win. Hannah Noonan took the opportunity the second minute into the match to secure a point on the score board and direct the team towards scoring goals and taking the lead.

Many chances at goals were taken by both teams -  Charlotte and Emma proving their place in the goals blocked many shots against the Stirling team, ensuring that no goals were to be scored for Strathalbyn Red.

In the second half of the match Charlotte took the chance to score her goals and secured two more for the Stirling side, showing that not only can she defend but has strength and ability in attacking positions.

An amazing game from both teams!

Well the spring has sprung and the teams were eager to play.

The ground had dried out from the downpour last week.  It was a race out of the blocks for both teams and Torrens Valley had the upper hand however Murray Bridge continued where they left off last week and challenged at every opportunity with Murray Bridge scoring the first goal.  For the rest of this half the ball was going back and forth with lots of passing but no goals being scored due to several going over the top and others the goalies saved.   So at the end of the first half it was Murray Bridge 1 - 0

 

With the sun beaming down the second half commenced with Murray Bridge defending their goals and Torrens Valley players trying to penetrate.  It took a while but the goals came and unfortunately Murray Bridge players were unable to stop the attack and Torrens Valley came back and won by 7 - 1.  Although once again the score line doesn't show it the skills of Murray Bridge are continuing and challenge Torrens Valley on several fronts.  It was great sportsmanship all round from both teams.

Last game of Winter and the weather God’s were on our side, sun was shinning and the pitch in pristine condition. Stirling’s kick-off saw Stirling using the advantage by keeping play in their half of the pitch. Woodside defence were on guard and made sure Stirling aware that they were ready, catching Stirling offside within the first few minutes of the game and again soon after that. Woodside turned things around and ensured game proceeded in their half taking on the keeping and in the end being awarded the first corner of the game. MJ Strauss showing Stirling how a good corner is implemented, though Stirling’s defence were at the ready and ensured the ball was well and truly cleared out. Both teams continued to fight for the ball displaying good partnership on the pitch, with pressure applied as too were the steaks of the game. Stirling fought hard to break through Woodside’s defence and were soon awarded the first goal of the game in the 17th minute. But it didn’t take long for Woodside to catch Stirling off-guard and conceded their first goal of the game only a minute later, after MJ set up a perfect ball through from a corner kick into the box where Lauren Jackman was ready to follow it in with a finish in the 21st minute. Moments later Stirling upped their game and turned things around, scoring their second goal from the top corner of the box in the 23rd minute. The game continued with both teams fighting for possession in the centre of the pitch, creeping over each other’s half from time to time. After a quick substitution at the point of a corner kick, seems a risking time to switch for some, but not for Woodside. Where after being on the pitch for no longer than 30 seconds Abigale Murphy scored the second goal for Woodside in the 37th minute after yet another brilliant corner kick from MJ.

Half Time saw both teams rearing to go, at two all. The game was close, though the heat of the game on and off the pitch was proving to be a bit of a task for the girls as the pace of the game started to slow and the fatigue started to set in. it wasn’t until 14minutes into the second half where Stirling broke through Woodside’s defence and scored their next few goals of the game. Though Woodside’s newest goal-keeper Karina Van Pelt proved to Stirling that she wasn’t going to make it easy for them and was able to not only apply the pressure but also made a cracker of saves throughout the game.

Superb work to all girls today, it wasn’t easy in the heat of the Winter sun. Huge thank you to the referee, linemen and all the supporters who came out to support our girls from the sidelines.