Match report

Match report

The White and Blue of Stirling Districts hosted Woodside Warriors U12 at a cold and boggy Bradwood Park for the top of the table clash in Round 9. With Hahndorf U12s leaving the division to juggle their numbers across the club, Districts effectively becomes unbeaten in U12, while Woodside’s only loss has come at the hands of the White and Blue.

Today the Warriors were out to settle the ledger. And if you had walked away after 25 minutes you would have had the game signed sealed and delivered in their favor. The early stages of this encounter were all Woodside. Time and again they won the ball, transitioned it forward, penetrated the line and looked set to score. But somehow they kept missing. Three certain goals were squandered in the first fifteen minutes as the forwards blinked at the crucial moment. But to the immense credit of the Districts backmen, the momentary hesitation of the Warriors strikers was all they needed to flood back and deny the easy shot. Woodside did hit the scoreboard after fourteen minutes through a desperately unlucky Districts own-goal. Rewards for effort perhaps for Woodside, and after such a frustrating start, they were happy to take it. To the credit of the boys and girls in Red and Blue they accepted the goal with humility, perhaps able to empathise with the pain of kicking one for the enemy. On the twenty minute mark they extended their lead through another beautiful phase of lead-up play and, finally, a cracking and accurate finish. At this point they looked in control and cruising. Districts however, are unbeaten for a reason and soon they showed why. A long hacked ball out of defense skidded off the wet pitch to slip through the Warriors defensive line. While Woodside had undoubtedly created more without finishing the job, Stirling only needed one bite at the cherry – a single scoring chance and they were back within a kick. A minute before half-time Districts scored against the run of play again to somehow find themselves even at the break.

The second half was as even as the number two. Districts scored first, when again the ball skidded behind Woodside’s defense to create a 1 v 1 with the keeper that was finished with an air of intent and confidence. Two minutes later Woodside replied to balance it up again. Then it was Districts goaling to sneak back in front. Although Districts hadn’t created too much in the first, in the second they were able to create periods of sustained pressure, forcing the ball into the box repeatedly and shaping to score on a number of occasions. But Woodside were up to the challenge and desperately fought to protect their nest. Eventually the ref found some leg contact a little after the ball had gone and sent Districts to the spot. This was dispatched with a lovely, controlled shot low to the left, and Districts were up by two with six minutes to go. For the next sixty seconds Woodside looked visibly deflated, having played so well, only to be behind on the scorecard. But it was only for sixty seconds! “OK”, they seemed to be saying to themselves “we spilt the milk. Now let’s clean it up!” And that’s the sign of a champion team – how they react to adversity. Woodside threw every scrap of energy they had into the dying stages of the match. With the clock racing down they forced the ball forward and goaled to give themselves a chance of a draw. They reset, they went again, they fought and they scrapped… But in the end they were beaten by the clock. This was another great spectacle of U12 football and all-comers were highly impressed with the ability and effort of all on the pitch.