Match report

Match report

It was a wonderful sunny day but with the usual windy conditions that met Woodside at the Strathalbyn Polo Grounds this week.

Woodside were prepared for a challenge as the association's leading goal scorer was one of their opponents for todays clash and Woodside knew they had to be on their game. In a sign of Respect both teams mingled and chatted before the game before finishing their warmups and prepared to do battle. As the whistle sounded to start the game, Woodside began with possession and were pressed hard by their opponents, pushing the ball all the way back to Woodside’s 18 yard box. Here, Woodside's central defender found himself with time on the ball and space in front of him and he decided to take a run. Waltzing through the opposition, he soon found himself nearing his opponent's own 18 yard box with defenders closing, with a well executed wall pass with his teams attacking midfield he was again in space and taking his time slotted the ball home after just 2 minutes of play. Strathalbyn knew that Woodside were here to play and that if they gave their opponents time and space, it would be a hard game. Woodside’s defence remained strong as Strathalbyn tried to find a chance to open their own account but as always Woodside closed down their opponent's chances and transferred play to their midfield who again managed to get behind their opponents and get the ball into the box for the waiting Warrior attackers. Strathalbyn however defended well and closed down and cleared any Warrior chances of scoring their second. Woodside were the dominant team and found their second when a ball was not fully cleared by their opponents and this was placed into the back of the net by Woodside’s little part time striker. The Strathalbyn coach managed to get his young chargers playing a similar brand of football as the Warriors and they at times managed to find feet and space to try and attack Woodside’s goal. Again, Woodside’s defensive structure remained strong and nullified their opponents attacks, through good defence and simply bigger body size. Even through movement of his attacking line the Strathalbyn coach tried to find that opportunity, but Woodside's coach made the necessary minor changes to his structure to ensure no sniff of scoring a goal by their opponents could occur. When the half time whistle sounded Woodside was in the lead 2 goals to nil, but for the latter half of the first half, Strathalbyn had defended and kept well and ensured the second half would be a competition.

The second half saw Woodside make some changes with its leading goal score slotting back into the strikers position and its defensive playmaker taking his turn in goals. Too eager to make a presence, the Woodside striker tried too hard to gain the ball and a clash of legs saw his opponent receive a free kick and sore foot for a few minutes. The tough young defender shook away his coach's request for a substitution and remained determined that he would see the game out. Woodside again scored an early goal in the half, but the Strathalbyn team remained positive and tightened up its team work and defence for the next 15 minutes making it difficult for the Warriors to score. When Strathalbyn did get into their attacking third they were met by Woodside’s strong defensive unit that gained possession and smartly moved the ball back into the midfield. As the half way mark of the second half approached, Woodside again found space in the goal area and put another goal away. For the next 15 minutes Woodside continued to pressure the goals but Strathalbyn’s keeper managed to get hand on ball and deny their opponents another goal. With 20 minutes left on the clock and continued pressure Woodside’s leading striker scored his first for the day. With still time on the clock, Strathalbyn lifted a gear in an attempt to puncture the Woodside defence and get a goal of their own. Strathalbyn started to find a little more space and started to make Woodside work and chase, a style of soccer that has obviously gotten this young team to get into position for their killer striker to slot goals home. Today was not their day and when Woodside's right midfielder was given space to run and cross down the right hand side, his mistimed cross found the back of the net with a little wind assistance. When the final whistle sounded Woodside walked away with the three points, but at times Strathalbyn’s young side made them work for possession, though their own good passing.