Match report

Match report

Woodside Warriors U12 hosted undefeated ladder leaders Bridgewater White in Round 8 of the 2025 AHJFA League. Coming into the game, Bridgewater had not only won all of their previous encounters, but had amassed of goal difference of +24, while Woodside’s win – loss ratio was 4 and 3, having lost a few nail-biters in which they had dominated play but squandered their chances in front of net. 

As the local faithful filed into the ground on a clear, crisp Saturday morning, there was an air of something different in the wind. The silliness in the Woodside camp began to subdue earlier than usual, and a steely focus was seen on more than one Warrior’s face in the lead-up to kick-off. To match this Bridgewater side would require the best that Woodside could muster and that meant starting well – with intensity, focus and precision. And that’s exactly what they delivered. Depending on your natural bias, the early stages could either be seen as an extremely even contest, or as Woodside dominance. Sure, Bridgewater were defending extremely well, but it was Woodside who were dominating territory and possession. Their midfield was working! After a few weeks of wasting possession via poor passing, this week, they were cherishing the ball. When they took control of it, they were looking up to find a team mate in a better position – anyone – it didn’t matter who they saw, if they were wearing red and blue and they were in a good spot, the pass was played. And that’s how you play the beautiful game – share the ball, stretch the opposition, create space, share again, move to space, receive the ball, find a team-mate, run, support, fight, scrap, distribute… repeat until the net is stretched, and then do it again. The Warriors were on fire. The visitors were shellshocked. And on the 11 minute mark, Woodside’s wonderful ways paid dividends, with a beautiful build up and a brilliant strike from 19 yards out. It was just reward for the work Woodside had done, but a bitter pill for the visitors, who were also fighting like Spartans to keep the enemy at bay. And the visitors deserve a mention here. They responded to the goal with aplomb. This group know what they can do, and they set about doing it. But against the back three of Woodside, scoring was proving to be rather difficult. In fact, through the entire first half, Woodside’s keeper was only called to attention twice. That’s right, the home-side backs (aided and abetted by a scrambling and desperate midfield) allowed only two shots through thirty minutes of football against one of the strongest attacking units in the league – It was strong! But, with 24 minutes played, Bridgewater did what Bridgewater does. They squeezed a ball in behind Woodside’s line and surged on toward the net. The Warriors back three turned in pursuit, all three pincering in on the striker to try to interfere with his shot. But shoot he did, and well. It beat the keeper, stretched the net and brought the card level. One – One. Game on!

The question in the second half was whether Woodside could continue to play the passing game that they had executed so well in the first half, or if Bridgewater would find their mojo and get on top. For the first five minutes the latter looked more likely. Woodside’s structure went to custard – balls were being hacked forward in the hope that someone would find it, they were trying to play through traffic instead of using the open spaces, and it started to look like under 12 football instead of poetry on a pitch. But just as the home coach’s scalp began to become visible as he tore his hair out, they found their groove again. And that’s all it took. A few nice passes to space (instead of into traffic), some considered movement (instead of panicked running) and the gaps opened up. All it took now, was for someone to finish the job. And, this time it came from the right mid who found himself within range and banged it on target! Woodside were again in the lead. But could they hold on… It sure as sugar wouldn’t be easy. The second half had come with a resurgent Bridgewater – they looked every bit the top-of-the-table side that they are. And this led to a flurry of chances throughout the second half. It was genuinely distressing for the Woodside fans in attendance as every five minute stanza brought another chance for the visitors. But it also brought relentless woodside defense and some outstanding goalkeeping from a diminutive-in-stature but dripping with enthusiasm Woodside gloveman. He was everywhere – punching and slapping at the ball as it promised to sail into the corners of the net. At one stage five or more shots came within the blink of an eye as Bridgewater hacked the ball into the box and fired off shots quicker than the pistons of a V8 supercar at full noise. But still Woodside hung on, a testament to their all-for-one mentality and desperation to work for one another. And the confidence of seeing some of the smallest team-mates perform some of the biggest deeds gave the Warriors, not only hope, but belief! Genuine belief that if they played their way, everything would work out. This belief – in themselves and in every teammate – enabled them to create goals on the 49- and 56-minute marks. And, although Bridgewater scored with three minutes left to play, and actually looked likely to salvage a draw, Woodside ultimately took the choccies with a 4 – 2 win. 

Well done to both teams on a thrilling match, played hard, but in the spirit of the game.