Match report

Match report

Games towards the end of the season can be interesting. With a couple of games remaining ladder rankings are generally established so there is an expectation of how most games will play out. Every now and then there might be an upset, but for the most part players, coaches and supporters expect a particular result.

Saturday 21st of August saw AHJFA Round 18 play out across the Adelaide Hills. This is officially the last round of the season, however the two COVID rounds are being tacked onto the end of the season. This is to the excitement of the players and bemusement of the parents, who were expecting the association to write-off those rounds like every other sporting league.

Woodside U17 played host to fourth-placed Strathalbyn at Woodside Recreation Ground. This will be the third of four encounters with Woodside expecting to host again after Round 13 was postponed due to wet weather. This is likely to be a Friday night game at Summit Sports & Recreation Park in a few weeks.

Woodside’s team has already secured the season. This can be either good or bad for the predominantly older team. They go into games a little more relaxed and play better. Or they go into it too relaxed and get surprised. A single loss earlier on in the season is the only blemish to their name, although a 2-1 win over fifth-placed Rangers was a concern.

Meanwhile Strathalbyn lead the bottom half of the ladder. For a younger team this isn’t as bad as it sounds. Most of the team qualify to represent their club in the U17 2022 season and will no doubt be one of the favourites to win. In regards to this particular encounter with Woodside they were bound to struggle through no fault of their own. A game against Hahndorf the night before brought out some weary legs.

The eighty minute game kicked off at 9am with three officials, an occasional luxury of the higher age group. The pitch itself was looking dry but tired. The forecast was wet and thankfully it was everything but.

Eight goals later it was clear that a stronger, older, fresher team can beat a younger, tired team. Go figure. Interestingly Woodside’s haul didn’t see any one player kick more than one goal.

Stand out goals saw IZEYAH RAYMOND score a header, the first goal for the game. Not long after ISAIAH HAMMAT scored the goal of his junior career, a boot off his left which was too strong for the keeper. In-house keeper SAMUEL HERMAN was encouraged to hand his gloves to someone else for the second half. Within a minute of being out on the pitch he scored.

Strathalbyn were unlucky not to score in the end. Woodside’s defensive line is a key strong point for them; menacing for any team looking to score.

The game ended 6-0 in favour of home team, Woodside.

“Strathalbyn will be a threat next season”, said Coach BRUCE TONKIN. “Hopefully they can hold onto that energy through the off-season and into the next. Another year on their age will make the world of difference too.”

ISAIAH HAMMAT had a particularly strong performance and deserving of Best & Fairest, whilst IZEYAH RAYMOND and JAMES RENSHAW also delivered solid games.

Woodside will host Stirling United in the next round whilst Strathalbyn will host Rangers.