Match report

Season Date Round Venue
2020 U16 29th August 9:00am League Round 10 WWSC Main Pitch 1
Goals
E. Herman (5'), A. Hammat (73')

Best
J. Renshaw (1st), B. Bailes (2nd), M. Dunow (3rd)
Goals
J. Flood (33'), N. King (42')

Best
N/A
Match report

Mistakes are part of life and, as a result, part of the world game. Players make them. Coaches make them. Referees make them. Accepting your own mistakes is equally as difficult as accepting other people's mistakes.

This played out in Saturday's game between Murray Bridge United and Woodside Warriors.

Their previous encounter saw Woodside go home with nothing to show for their efforts against a top quality side. They had struggled with substitutes and injuries, with the last 20 minutes of play down to 10 (young) men. At that point it was 0-0. Murray Bridge seized the opportunity, sending Woodside home three goals down.

This time around Murray Bridge travelled to Woodside to face a team that has shown a strong amount of progress since their last encounter. Both teams were unsure about what the game will bring.

Was Murray Bridge concerned? Maybe. Were they confident? Also maybe.

Was Woodside confident they could do better than last time? That's always the aim in the second leg, particularly after losing the first game. Were they also concerned? Definitely.

The game kicked off at 9am on a sparkling day on the main pitch at the Woodside Recreation Grounds. The pitch itself suffered a battering in the previous round after a week of rain, rivalling the Woodside Pool for the amount of water on it. A dry week (with some light efforts to restore it) brought it back from the brink of unplayable.

From kick off players, coaches and spectators knew that whatever results came from this it would be the direct result of a battle. The first blow saw Woodside's EDDIE HERMAN score on the 5th minute sending the home team into an early lead. For the next 25 minutes it was very much and up and back style of game. Whatever run one team got, the other would shut it down, attempting the reverse before being shut down themselves.

The cycle continued, until a Murray Bridge striker was seemingly pushed in the back by a Woodside defender. This lead to Woodside keeper, SAMUEL HERMAN, having to front a penalty taken by Murray Bridge's JOSH FLOOD. As expected the ball saw the back of the net.

By half time the scores were one goal a piece, very much reflective of the game and the efforts by both teams.

Early in the second half NED KING managed to score for Murray Bridge, giving the away team some early confidence. From there the play continued very similarly to the first half – up and back, up and back. However Woodside Captain, ASHER HAMMAT, with seven minutes of play to go, managed to equalise.

By full time the scores were level at 2-2.

“With some unfortunate mistakes by almost the entirety of Woodside's suite of strikers as well as an offside call made from a throw-in (a mistake outside of their control), Woodside was unlucky not to end the game in their favour”, stated Woodside Coach BRUCE TONKIN. “We’ve got to be happy with the result though. An epic battle against a quality opposition.”

Woodside’s efforts were strong across the board, however JAMES RENSHAW picked up best and fairest, whilst BENJAMIN BAILES and MASON DUNOW followed closely behind.

Murray Bridge will see Rangers in the next round, whilst Woodside will take on ladder leaders, Hahndorf.

Woodside's Benjamin Bailes
Photographer: Amy Cotton

Woodside's James Renshaw and Chris Collins
Photographer: Amy Cotton

Woodside's Full-Time debrief
Photographer: Amy Cotton

Woodside's Asher Hammat
Photographer: Amy Cotton

Woodside's Jett Tonkin
Photographer: Amy Cotton

Woodside's Izeyah Raymond
Photographer: Amy Cotton