Match report

Match report

In one of the only Under 12's games that got the green light this week, Mount Barker hosted Murray Bridge Blue at a very wet and windy Summit Sport & Recreation Park. It is a winter sport after all, right..?

Right from the opening whistle, Barker looked to gain the ascendency,  maintaining possession and applying pressure to the Bridge back line. It wasn't long until Beau Curran opened the scorecard, bursting through the defence and slotting it calmly past the keeper. Some fantastic midfield teamwork by Arlo Turner, Danny Paterson, Chloe Engley and Joseph Main led to another chance for Curran, which he once again buried in the back of the net. 2 minutes later, Curran sent a superb cross in to fellow striker  Taya Kumnick, who seized the opportunity and scored her first career goal. This brought the home crowd to their feet, and the whole team was pumped! Kumnick followed this up with some super runs down the left wing and towards the goals - she was unlucky not to score again.
Murray Bridge upped their game after this, making some promising attacking plays, but were continuously halted by the back four of Thomas Honner, Felix Koral, Harry Burt and Max Barrljung-Hummel.
3-0 at the break, and Mt Barker was determined to keep up the intensity (and stay warm... it was seriously cold out there.)
Murray Bridge started the second half strongly, testing the Barker defence and keeping goalie Tyler Raven on his toes. Raven, and the Mt Barker back line, showed amazing coordination to keep a clean sheet against a very determined opposition, with the speedy inclusion of Rory Martin shutting down any attacks from the wing. it was the home teams leading goal scorer A. Turner who kicked the first of the second half, followed by winger Lincoln Denley.
Mt Barker laid seige to the opposition's defence in the last 10 minutes, as Danny Paterson got his first goal of the season, much to the delight of the Mt Barker team and supporters. He wasn't finished there though, kicking another one just 7 minutes later! Denley kicked his second for the game, and Curran deservedly rounded out his hat-trick.
The Murray Bridge goalie was spectacular throughout the match though, making some fantastic saves and denying the home team of countless goals.
The Mt Barker coach reckons that the home team put up their best team performance of the season, and came out of this contest with a deserving win, however Murray Bridge must be commended for never giving in, no matter the score line. Both teams fought to the final whistle, regardless of the wind and rain.
Did we mention that it was raining..?