Match report

Season Date Round Venue
2021 U17 28th August 12:00pm League Round 15 WWSC Main Pitch 2
Goals
L. Mowbray (53'), J. Tonkin (67'), L. Mowbray (70')

Best
J. Renshaw (1st), S. Herman (2nd), A. Hammat (3rd)
Goals
A. Phelan (37' Penalty), A. Phelan (79')

Best
C. Miller (1st), L. Stein (2nd), A. Phelan (3rd)
Match report

The Woodside Warriors and Stirling United have had a great relationship over the years. It helps that Stirling United’s coach only recently finished up playing in the Woodside Warriors seniors team. Whilst the relationship has traditionally been strong it’s generally one-way when it comes to game results with Stirling United dominating the Warriors ever since that ill-fated season when Woodside topped the minor premiership, but struggled to overcome Stirling United in a final held at Adelaide Hills Hawks. That was a lifetime ago and a great example why finals in football of this code has no place.

Cut to this season, five years later, and the two roles have very much reversed. Woodside Warriors have dominated with a single loss to their name, whilst Stirling United need a point to get off the bottom of the ladder. Admittedly Stirling United began this season down a number of players and for the first half of the season they scrambled for players often having too few to be a threat. By half way into the season they were at tipping point and needed a few players to rescue them from an early exit. The call-out delivered and they regained both numbers and upped their threat-level.

Second to a numbers problem Stirling United also has a venue problem. Heathfield High School suffers the same issue as nearby Bradbury, boggy at best. With no place to call home this has had a minor impact on team moral. They’re now accustomed to playing away, and it came as no great surprise that they couldn’t host their game against Woodside. It was sorted a few weeks in advance that Woodside would host.

On Saturday 28th of August at 12pm Woodside Warriors took to the pitch for their final game against Stirling United. Quality referee Anasta Savva’s whistle sounded. To the two team’s luxury they had two assistant referees assigned, being Lucy McAvaney and Barnaby Bevan. The blustery conditions would be a challenge for all involved, including the parents and officials.

Woodside dominated play from kick-off. It would be worthless if they couldn’t convert that to a goal and they struggled to do so. Woodside’s keeper SAMUEL HERMAN is rarely challenged so he weirdly gets excited when the ball is near him. Unfortunately a penalty was given to Stirling United and as a result Sam was served the ultimate challenge for a keeper. Stirling United sent Henry Monaghan to the line and was unable to open up the scoreline for his team. A beautiful save by Sam made sure of that.

Woodside was unlucky for BENJAMIN BAILES unable to finally score a header with two consecutive chances.

Minutes later Stirling United was given a second chance with the second of two penalties. Araby Phelan made sure of it this time and opened up the scoreline with 3 minutes of first-half play remaining.

By half time the scores were 0-1 in Stirling’s favour.

Being a goal down has little impact to Woodside’s quality and they took to the pitch determined to complete the game with three points in their favour. Thirteen minutes into the second half Woodside Striker LACHLAN MOWBRAY managed to equalise the scoreline. Not long after winger JETT TONKIN received a carefully placed corner from CASEY GODFREY and was able to help Woodside take the lead.

Moments later Stirling United had a defensive lapse of judgement to which Mowbray added a second goal to his name, the third for his team. The final minute saw Stirling United’s Araby Phelan add his second goal to the scoreline, a neat chip over Woodside’s keeper who had little chance to stop it from going in.

The score ended 3-2 in favour of Woodside.

“Kudos to our defensive line”, said Coach BRUCE TONKIN. “Aside from the couple of penalties they did well to prevent them from scoring more. We’re very lucky to have quality players mastering their positions on the pitch”.

JAMES RENSHAW was deserving of Best & Fairest. His energy and determination has no boundaries and we’re very lucky to have him on board. SAMUEL HERMAN and ASHER HAMMAT performances were both worthy of mention.

Stirling United will now travel to Strathalbyn for a 10am kick-off on the 4th of September, whilst Woodside will host Murray Bridge at 9am. This will be the last of the rounds with additional catch-up games on the menu.