RYC U15. SSFA 2 V Football South Coast 1
Goals: Connor, Michael
It was do or die time! We had this win this match against Football South Coast, the only team this year to beat last year’s champions Riverina.
They came out firing and wanted to win just as much as we did. Both teams started fast and strong and only minutes in against the run of play we conceded an early goal.
At half time an inspiring team chat from Jay asking us to slow the game a little and be patient. Down 1 nil and under pressure we all dug deep and kept working hard, then with a beautiful cross by Stef to the back post and a header by Connor we levelled the score 1 all. The boys then kicked up another gear and with a brilliant goal by Michael we hit the lead, we didn’t give up and made
sure we didn’t concede a late goal.
The final score was 2-1. Goals to both Connor and Michael but it was a real team effort.
Finally a very big thank you to Daniel from the 14’s for helping out in goals, he did a fantastic job.
Connor Wotherspoon
RYC 13s Sutherland Shire 3 – South Coast 1
Goals: Oliver 1, Andrew 1, Joel Clements 1
To say it was cold on Friday nights was an understatement. The wind at Kareela blew strong and the night got colder as we progressed. We had accounted for South Coast twice already this year but with 3 games to go it was important to compete strongly.
Our lads started out very strong, using the ball well and their passing was slick. Within 2 minutes we were up 1 nil with a nice finish by Oliver and the game showed some promise. We kept pressing and all the pressure was on South Coast. Our defence was strong and they created great attacking pressure from the backs. In the 9th minute we had the second and confidence was high.
We then began to hold onto the ball too long, get a little greedy and South Coast gained some confidence. South Coast had a goal in the 17th minute and we went into half time 2-1 up. The coaches pleaded with the boys to go back to the passing game and compete better.
We started the stronger in the second half but South Coast were also competing well, they began to out muscle us in the midfield and it was only the strong defence that kept them at bay. Good attack by our boys was unrewarded as the ball flew over the bar, or hit the bar on 4 occasions. We were rewarded with our third when Andrew crossed/had a shot and the ball sailed in.
Good finish to the game. Well done boys.
RYC 16. SSFA 3 v Football South Coast 2
SSFA Goal Scorers: Nathan Wedesweiler, Joshua Donnelly, Nicholas Anagnostiadis
It was a crisp and clear 7:30pm Friday-night football kick-off on the floodlit Kareela synthetic pitch in the 5th battle this year with our Illawarra neighbours.
Sutherland dominated possession and field position in the first 10 minutes with the action punctuated at one point when South Coast looked threatening by a scything slide-tackle from Jackson at right-back. Then momentum gradually shifted away from Sutherland and towards South Coast as they slowly started to find their feet and with growing confidence they clawed their way back into the contest. Yet they didn’t have it all their way, with the boys at the back releasing Oscar for some damaging runs on the left-wing. Eventually Nathan, facing his own goal, was fouled from behind just as he was receiving a pass directly in front of goal and a meter outside of the 18 yard box. A wall was formed and Nick stepped-up in the 23rd minute to expertly strike the direct free-kick pass the left side of the diving South Coast keeper and into the netting (1-nil). Moments later South Coast were awarded a direct free-kick from an almost identical spot at the other end of the ground and the shot was parried over the cross-bar by Jonno as he leapt high, as if straining to get his own view of the Perseid meteor shower that was entertaining onlookers this evening above the night skies of Northern Australia. Despite his effort the pressure wasn’t relieved as back-to-back South Coast corners rained-in on the Sutherland goal box, but the boys held tight and then counter-punched through Josh and Nathan down the right side of the field. And when the boys headed for oranges, and some of us snuck onto the field for a kick, Sutherland held a one goal lead.
The Coach had the whiteboard out at half-time and his instructions had an immediate effect: In the 3rd minute a cross came in from the right that was athletically met by Oscar’s head at the top of his leap, only to see the ball cannon into the bar. Then in the 5th minute Jackson crossed the ball from the right to Nathan in the box who professionally slotted the ball home low and hard, to beat the South Coast Keeper to his right-hand side (2-nil). To South Coast’s credit they immediately surged back with a trilogy of dangerous attacks. First Jonno came off his line to connect both fists to the ball, punching clear a dangerous cross from his left-hand side. Within a minute he was again called off his line, this time quickly to nullify a penetrating South Coast pass that was about to find the feet of a goal-bound runner whose eyes had lit-up in murderous anticipation; until the Sutherland custodian stole their prize by sliding and securing the ball just in time to deny South Coast the opportunity. Moments later a corner was whipped-in that was directly heading into goal until it was expertly defused by Jonno, with a leap and a parry just like those he had been practising with Assistant-Coach Conner in the minutes before kick-off. Shortly after, Sutherland worked the ball up-field and, after a pinpoint pass from the right side, Josh was given time in the box in the 16th minute to line-up and incisively stroke the ball from right-to-left across both the goalmouth and the South Coast keeper and into the back of the net (3-nil). Did the boys then relax? South Coast scored their first goal in the 19th minute when one of their players was afforded too much latitude without pressure in our red-zone, which gave him time to line-up a medium range shot that ducked in the air at the last moment to effectively york Jonno’s outstretched hands as he moved to his left (3-1). Then a 27th minute run from a South Coast player breached Sutherland’s right-side and gained entry to the 18 yard box when, with great vision and unselfishness, the player squared the ball to an onrushing support player who smacked it home (3-2). Momentum had shifted big-time! But Sutherland’s mental and physical reserves run deep and the boys regathered their focus to arrest South Coast’s late surge, having the better of the remaining 8 minutes when perhaps Sutherland was unlucky not to score again, either through shots on goal or being denied a chance from the penalty spot. At full-time Sutherland managed to hang-on and maintained their half-time advantage of 1 goal. And whilst this correspondent has mostly focused on the highlights of play that took place in the penalty boxes, due praise must be meted out in equivalent measure to the backs and mid-fielders who worked their butts off throughout the match as they endeavoured to dominate their opposition, control the ball and dictate the tempo of the game. Their ability to “keep calm and carry on” under pressure is inspiring.
A big THANK YOU goes out to Conner and Ben who backed-up from the U/15s to perform superbly and acquit themselves with distinction in this older age group.
And finally, well done to all the boys and the coaching staff – you make us proud.
RYC14. SSFA 2 vs South Coast 0
Scorers: Nathan, Ben,
Run down right by Jett & Shot over bar by Bushy. Fast paced start by both sides but the last pass not sticking for both. Creating a few chances. Midfielders cancelling each other out & few chances to either side for last 15 minutes and 0-0 at half time.
Sutherland started 2nd half fast & some good pressure in first few minutes set up a great goal to Nathan off the side of his foot. More pressure from Sutherland & free kick gives another quick goal to Ben. Lots of pressure from Suth through middle creating chances for us & restricting South Coast to nothing in front of our goal.
A good win against our local rivals which sets us well for last 2 games keeping us top by a good margin. Well done especially in 2nd half when South Coast had no chances & we created a lot.
