DRAGONS ON FIRE: Hamish White of the U15 Dragons locks legs with a Busselton opponent. Picture: Amanda Doig.
FAST EFFORT: Tarn Staveley makes a save. Picture: Amanda Doig.
15U: FMR Dragons 0 v Busselton Redbacks 6
A FANTASTIC day for football greeted all at the Western Oval on the weekend and it was a confident Dragons team that assembled early to take on the might of the Busselton Redbacks. A fresh squad after the mid-season break, confident after a terrific week on the training paddock and a fine dry day.
The Dragons started well, manufacturing a few chances through Ryner Koster’s run out wide. Busselton took advantage of an out- of-position defensive line to post the first goal and doubled their score soon after, capitalising on another defensive error.
Tarn Staveley was having a great game in goals and was called on several more times before the break and kept the scoreline at a reachable 2-0.
Under no illusion of the task ahead, the Dragons started the second half with a will, but the visitors soon showed why they top the table without conceding a single goal, I believe. The Redbacks cranked up their game and put on a clinic of controlled football with heaps of run, accurate passing and quality finishing.
As the game continued Redbacks had everything bounce their way and the younger, smaller Dragons could merely try their hardest, which they did until the final whistle.
The 6-0 scoreline was a bitter pill for the Dragons as they really have put together some great football this year, but this time their best efforts went unrewarded. I am sure they will rise to every challenge of Premier League for the next six weeks.
–Neil Mattinson
13U: St Joseph’s Stingers 5 v MR Waves 0
Naturaliste league winners St Joe’s Stingers and Leeuwin league winners, the Waves, met for the first time this season in Premier league and with both teams unbeaten something had to give.
The Waves took the game to St Joe’s first and went close through Luke Harney and then Hudson Moore in the first five minutes. The first attack on the Waves’ goal was successful and this set the pattern. The Waves were five down in the first 25 minutes due to immaculate finishing by St Joe’s forwards.
With heads down at the break this could have blown out to a double-digit defeat, I told the team that we are better than this and to stop diving in and stand up in the tackle.
St Joe’s took the game again to the Waves’ defence and Ethan Hamilton was beaten by another great shot and with a St Joe’s forward bearing down on the loose ball Sam Leigh came to rescue and made an amazing tackle and clearance.
This was shortly followed by another brilliant goal line clearance, with Jasper Harvey hooking the ball away to goalkeeper Ethan. This seemed to lift the whole Waves team, Alister White and Jaz Kupfer-Hollis were getting on top of their opponents with Winjana Knapp and Aria Beddow coming into the game.
The Waves were finishing the stronger team, with Jasper Seisun going close to scoring twice and Luke also having a good shot saved. On another day we may have finished with a more respectable result but, maybe because of our first half performance, this was a fair result. We kept St Joe’s scoreless for the second period and most probably their first scoreless half this season.
Janaya Beddow took out the Eagle Boys player of the match for another wonderful game in defence and Sam won the Yallingup Maze award.
The Waves also had a mid-week catch up fixture last week, beating local rivals the Glory six goals to nil, Jye Halsall winning the Eagle Boys award and Tanah Howden-Woodland taking out the Maze award.
This defeat gives us something to aim for in the future.
–Gary Leigh, coach
13U: MR Glory 0 v Cornerstone Titans 9
It was a sunny day for a clash between Margaret River Glory and Cornerstone Titans. Glory were missing a few of their players but still turned out an almost full side with Jykia River from the Margaret River Raiders stepping up to help out in goals.
Glory got off to a good start and demonstrated some solid control and accurate passing, but Titans were quick to respond and pushed hard into Glory’s half. Jykia was on form and kept the ball out of the net.
Glory retaliated and pressure from Taylor Kevill and India Stanley saw the ball heading in the right direction, but Titans shut down Glory’s attack and pushed them back then capitalised on the ground they made by putting one in the back of the net.
Despite Glory’s attempts, the attack continued and it was difficult for Glory to make any ground. At half time, the Titans were three goals up and Glory looked worried. In the second half Glory lifted and had some moments of brilliant passing and ball control.
Michael Gaman was tenacious in marking his player and cleared the ball for Brenton Tebbutt who presented an opportunity for India Stanley to take a shot, but the Titans’ goalie was onto it.
The relentless Titans then opened the floodgates and skilful crosses saw their score escalate. A spectacular header from the Titans into the net was called offside and the final whistle blew. From Page 22
The Titans played a scorcher of a game and Glory, despite their loss, took away a valuable learning experience. Well done to everyone on the team. –Rona Mirtle
13U: SJSC Breeze 5 v MR Raiders 9
With holidays over Raiders looked like they would get a full team together to take on the St Joe’s Breeze in Busselton.
Raiders began well and were unlucky not to go ahead in the first minute with good pressure on the back line by Claudia Jakovich and a Breeze fingertip save. But the Raiders didn’t have to wait long, with Donnie Longmore striking sweetly for the first, followed by Finlay Brooke drilling home.
Finlay completed his hat trick in the first half with the third being the pick of the bunch after Abby Slater controlled the ball well at right half and sent a beautiful through ball to the feet of Finlay who finished well.
Then complacency got the Raiders, allowing Breeze to score two quick goals before the break.
Second half saw captain for the day Xavier Nikulinsky take up the goalkeeper’s position for the first time this season. The Breeze began the stronger and keener, adding two more quick goals. This spurred the Raiders into action. Donnie scored a further three goals and Finlay added his fifth to seal the game.
There were some great performances all over the park, and also simple errors to learn from which cost the Raiders a couple of goals.
But the first half showed how far the Raiders have come this season with some really good passing and ball skills – great to watch. Eagle Boys Pizza Award went to Xavier for putting his hand up for both captain and goalkeeping duties. Yallingup Maze Award went to Finlay Brooke for his Player of the Match performance and scoring five goals. Well done.
–Andy Longmore
