Match report

Match report

After a June that dumped more than twice as much rain as normal, and a wet start to July, ladder leaders Stirling Districts Blue hosted Woodside Warriors U15 on the synthetic surface of the Summit for the first reverse fixture of the season.

Stirling Blue are undefeated this season and have averaged well over the six goals per game listed by the AHJFA. They’re a big, strong side and Woodside knew that they would have their work cut out for them. But they turned up ready to show their mettle and demonstrate what being a Warrior means. From the outset Stirling looked strong. They move the ball well, control possession and build pressure. To combat this, Woodside knew that they must play smart defensive football – Press they must, but diving-in was a cardinal sin in this contest, and the penance would be the ball in the back of their net. For the first ten minutes of play, Woodside achieved their primary goal for the day of keeping the enemy out. Although supremely talented, Stirling could not penetrate the box and were forced to shoot under pressure, from well outside. This gave the Warriors’ gloveman time to make a couple of comfortable saves in the opening quarrels. However, as tension mounted, Stirling found their first goal from a momentary lapse in pressure.  This gave the talented Stirling striker time on the ball around 35 yards from goal. He unloaded, curling the ball neatly into the net with the kind of strike that is seldom seen in Hills Junior Football. Although disappointing for the Warriors, their ability to keep Stirling outside impressed all in attendance. Soon after, Woodside got tangled up trying to play out from the back and conceded again. On the back of this goal, Woodside rallied, lifting themselves to the contest – fighting and scrapping for the ball, clearing to safety and going again. But despite their best efforts, Stirling scored another two goals in the first half. One, a long shot when the keeper was unsighted, and the other a second long-bomb, that belied the normal level seen in under fifteen football. A high boot from Stirling also punctuated the first half, resulting in a red card (although there was clearly no malice in the action) and a severe swollen and bloody nose for the Woodside striker, who was unable to take any further part in the match.

The second half saw a redoubling of effort from the young Warriors. Stirling again dominated possession and territory, but in the second term Woodside were able to break out on a few occasions, only to be run down by an organised Stirling defense. The efforts of Woodside resulted in a halving of the number of shots on their goal in the second half, although two long shots slipped through to extend the Stirling lead. One of these was a long, low shot that skidded off the wet synthetic surface to meg the well-positioned keeper. But again, Woodside stood proud of their defensive formation, with Stirling unable to create any goals from inside the area. Both Woodside glovemen, also had spectacular days, including the use of the nose to save a certain goal. Unfortunately, this led to another blood-stained guernsey and another player forced from the contest through facial injury.

The game was also played in fine spirit, with the young Warriors gracious in defeat and the Stirling unit demonstrating humility in victory.