On Saturday the Football Margaret River Year 7/8 Jets were part of the Leeuwin Naturaliste Junior Soccer Association finals held on a glorious spring day at Margaret River.
Playing against Georgiana Molloy Anglican School we began tentatively, the prospect of being in a grand final on our minds.
GMAS piled on early pressure with some long kicks out of the back line but the rotating Jets defence of Sholto, Billy, Gus, Lee, Jasper and Rylee held firm. We started to play our team game which has been developing over the past few years and two cracking goals followed, Eli pounced on a through ball from Danny, turned his defender and pushed it cleanly to Danny in space who finished it beautifully.
Midfielders Danny, Genji, Kai and Jake turned up the heat setting up a free kick which Danny sent into the box. Tom followed and found the back of the net with a crisp right foot strike.
We knew GMAS would come out fighting in the second half and they did not disappoint, they began to move the ball around and created many opportunities only to be thwarted by some great defence, an offside trap that had a goal disallowed and excellent goalkeeping.
Their pressure produced a penalty but the shot went wide.
We settled and began to control possession, some great team work, crisp passing to space and foot skills by our forwards Eli, Tom, Bill, Indi and Aaron found Danny in good position, he made no mistake and we were up by 3. With a rise in confidence and settled nerves our game play improved and we continued to pressure a gallant GMAS forcing a penalty, which was saved, unfortunately the goalie had moved early and Danny slotted the re-take. – Final score Jets 4 GMAS 0
Our two Youth League Boys Teams Waves and Raiders faced up to each other last Saturday with the league title on the line for the Waves.
Although for a large majority of the boys this was to be their last junior game with Football Margaret River.
Dedicated mums Karen Leigh, Ange Longmore, Melissa White, Rae Stevenson, Alison Mattinson, Michelle Wright, Mel Halsall all watched their boys through 12 to 14 years of wet muddy winters days, with the occasional game played under a ray sunshine.
Not forgetting Erica, Karen, Monica, Carolyn, Sam, Simone, Claire and Lisa. What a pleasure it has been to watch these boys from young grommets grow into the fine young men they are today and make some wonderful friends along the way.
To the dads Gary, Andy, Neil, Mark, Tristan, Alex you have been amazing as coaches, linesmen, referees, and support to our young men along the journey, a heartfelt thank you. Final score Raiders 1 Waves 0
