Match report

Match report

Mount Barker United U9 Gold vs Woodside Warriors Soccer Club U9 Blue

Our hopes of signing Messi in a late season transfer coup were dealt a double blow this week with PSG’s middle-eastern backers firstly managing to best our hopeful offer of a sausage in bread from the canteen each Wednesday, and our disappointment was compounded by the AHJFA pointing out that he was unlikely to meet the age requirements for the league anyway. So, our brave Warriors had to line up without any new signings on a bright but somewhat fresh morning at The Summit to play Mount Barker Gold.

The first half started briskly, and Woodside looked to have the measure of United by creating a couple of chances and restricting them to long shots. The Warriors again showed good passing movement and developing skills, with Captain Theo Nicholson showing his confidence on the ball by tricking his opposite number with a cheeky backheel. It wasn’t long before Woodside had the ball in the net through a solid move built on passing out of defence before Sam Balacco latched onto a midfield through ball, ran past the defence and beat the keeper to open the scoring. Unfortunately, this seemed to rouse Mt Barker from their slumber and in reply they had a trio of goals to their name before the half time whistle.

Woodside had to go into the second half with lots of energy to get back into the game. Forward Lucas March-Feltham dropped into the trequartista role that his initials suggest he is made for, winning posession in midfield and trying to link up with the strikers. Noah Paech and Leo Tucker both worked tirelessly and should be commended on their desire to win the ball and their increasing awareness when making forward passes. Keeper Lachlan Mitchell grew in confidence and pulled off some fine diving saves to keep Woodside in the game and defender Charlotte Cosgriff showed she can impose herself on the opposition’s front line by making some strong blocks and clearances to smother Mt Barker Utd attacks. These efforts (and a bit of luck) meant that United could only add a single goal in the second half, but their defence thwarted every attempt Woodside made to get back into the game.

The outcome at the final whistle didn’t really do justice to the effort that Woodside put into the game or the chances they created, but there is also some work to be done before the end of the season on positioning and making sure we don’t allow opposition forwards to approach the goal area unmarked. Maybe a great tactical defender like Chiellini would have been more tempted by a sausage in bread?