Under 12s
Tommy Giuliani
It was a fantastic football feast on the weekend for the U12 Suns as we took on Murray Utd and Richmond. Some wonderful passages of football were played,there was staunch and gritty defending, lots of evident development and two clean sheets.
On Saturday we headed to Murray Utd away. On the training track this week we focused on "Controlled possession in the Middle Third" and the boys really knocked the ball around nicely. The tempo was high, passing crisp and the decision making on when to play the higher risk through balls from midfield was fantastic. We created numerous gilt edged scoring opportunities from these raids and were very unlucky not to score goals. We dominated possession and were vey good out of possesion; the boys pressing hard and winning the ball back quickly. The game ended 0-0 and didn't reflect our domination, but we were wasteful and really should have won this game 5-0, due respect to the opposition.
Sunday was a chance to atone for a very poor away performance at Richmond back in May. Richmond are a quality outfit and gave us the runaround early in the game, we had some structural issues in midfield that caused us real problems staying in possession and trying to win back the ball. However the boys defended grimly and we closed down the spaces so well that Richmond weren't able to do any damage in this period. Once we sorted out our shape it was like flicking the switch. We started to string together some lovely passing combinations together and it was classy one touch triangles around the throw ins and shortly after we scored a goal to give the boys another huge lift going into half time.
To not concede a goal when Richmond were on early and to then get control of the game was a real sign of maturity. The second half was mostly comfortable too but the did enjoy a period in the last 10 minutes where they committed numbers forward and pushed for goals , but again the boys pressed, blocked and cleared their lines in and around the box really well to keep a second clean sheet for the weekend. There were lots of sore boys before the game and I applaud their efforts over the weekend. Each and every player should be very proud of their performances.
Next week we have a brutal 9.00 am away game with some players unavailable, another huge test!
Under 13s
Matthew Lelliot
Two very different games over the weekend with a 2-0 loss to Murray on Saturday and a 4-1 win against Richmond on Sunday.
An impressive first half saw us 0-0 at half time to Murray and if not for some wayward shooting we would have had the lead. The second half was one of our worst for the year but still created a few chances that could have salvaged a draw. As a team we were very frustrated with that result and we looked forward to Sunday. We started very, very well and came in 4-0 up at the half. We changed a few things up at half time and gave some guys a bit of game time but a great performance and result thanks to a double from Teng Kuol and a great game from Brandon Giacherrini.
Under 14s
Nathan Saron & James Lelliot
A tough lead up to the double header this weekend with a long sick list. Training this week saw 6 boys available 3 of which train and play 15's, so we were not able to build some team structure - that would need to be done game day.
Saturday against Murray United we had 5 players not able to attend, thanks to Brandon and Billy and all the boys that had been sick this week for making up the starting 11 and playing a full game (no subs).
We started the game with some good movement creating crosses and shots in a end to end game. Mid way through the half, a through ball was played to Moses which he scored but the Ref disallowed due to a foul. Murray scored 2 goals not long after this to take the lead at half time.
The boys kept searching for a way back into the game, but unfortunately our pressure dropped off as we were turning the ball over to easily and Murray switched it around their back line to find passing lanes and take a 5 nil lead. We were able to win a corner or two late in the game and score, so the game finished 5-1.
Sunday against Richmond we had 4 players back to the team. It was a really positive start, the boys worked hard off the ball and with some good passing in close we were holding on to the ball for longer. We were matching Richmond in the midfield but were not able to split their back four and create any clear cut chances. So when the Ref gifted them a penalty and they scored again from
a through ball, the warning signs were appearing and with a short break between halves the boys had little time to clear their heads and regroup.
So the second half tapered off and we began to turn it over and make it hard for ourselves. Four through balls to the opposition created another penalty and 3 one on one's with the keeper and although Izaak gave it his all the final margin was 0-6.
Thanks to Brandon and Teng for stepping up this game.
Under 15s
Glen Wilson
Once again at training we worked on “Playing out from the Back & Retaining the Ball” and over the weekend we saw some great examples of this being achieved ….unfortunately not all by us!
On Saturday our trip up to Murray United saw our pre-game preparation thrown into disarray as we were not informed of the change to game time until 15 minutes before the official kick-off time…….. we were in the final phases of our pre-game warm-up when told that the game was pushed back an hour ………..not impressed.
When the game started we got off to a bit of flyer and got our noses in front when Tom Raditsas managed to bundle the ball over the goal line. Our ability to string passes together and retain the ball was not good in this game….not exactly sure why this was, as we certainly got our share of the ball, but tended to hang on to it for too long and not pass it on to a teammate. This constant turning the ball over eventually allowed MU to level the score before the half time break.
At the break we spoke about the need to move the ball quicker and into open space, but as per the first half – we continued to hold the ball for just too long and eventually turn it over…….even with this, we did manage to get the next goal in the net, due to a rare package where we managed to pass the ball just before being closed down ….another clinical finish by Fraser Gosstray.
But, as per the majority of the game, we allowed our opposition to control the ball for the greater part and eventually that wore our defenders down, them slipping over didn’t help, and they managed a nicely placed ball into the goal over our Keeper, Lucas, who got caught just a bit off his line. Simply, if we continue to give that much time to anyone in this league in that position on the pitch – they will hurt you.
In summary, we finished with a 2-2 draw……a result that I think we perhaps didn’t deserve as we just gave them too much time on the ball. Ironically, we almost got lucky and got all the points with a late chance.
On Sunday, we played host to Richmond – this is a team that we beat on their deck earlier in the season…..we were hoping to do the same again. The game was played significantly better than the day before…....our guys were certainly up and about and were not going to let the same thing happen 2 days in a row. Our opposition had improved quite a bit from earlier in the season, which should be expected, and they had intentions on getting the points as well. There were a few good chances in the first half, but none of them made it all the way to the net….Half-time 0-0.
I mentioned earlier how we have been working on playing out from the back and we saw first-hand how good this can be, when our opposition took the ball from a goal-kick to a goal at the other end in a matter of 15 seconds without us touching the ball – fair to say a couple of crucial errors by over-committing helped their cause – but this then saw us down 0-1 early in the second-half.
From this time on, I think it’s fair to say we dominated play and moved the ball exceptionally well and that resulted in us scoring twice - it could’ve been more. Not to forget the great save Lucas Enders made in a one-on-one exchange to get his right forearm to the ball and knock it over the bar. End result 2-1, another win and chance to sing the song loud and proud in the rooms after the game.
In summary, this game was completely different to Saturday's – some much better possession and movement of the ball – let’s hope we learned from this and do the same next week.
Under 16s
Paul Nieuwenhuizen
Along with all our other age groups, the Under 16s made the trip to Wodonga to take on Murray United. Shortly after we arrived the game was called off because other games had been relocated from unplayable pitches onto our designated pitch and we had no prospect of a reasonable kick off time. Thanks to the boys and their families who made the effort to drive across for no match - fortunately the under 18s and under 15s benefited.
Sunday - different week but the same story. Again our preparation was disrupted with late withdrawals due to injury and no shows.
Luca Enders has been playing multiple games each weekend and the inevitable happened. Lucas was forced to withdraw with an injury and so the call went out for a goalkeeper. Ali Ali put his hand up. The team was asked to protect him the best they could. However, we soon found ourselves 3-0 down again due to some poor team work and decision making. Despite the setbacks we continued to move the ball forward and were soon rewarded with a goal from Conor Dodson to go in a halftime 3-1 down.
A quick talk at halftime reminding the team about the need to work together and keep things simple. The team got together and revved each other up, but this soon was forgotten as team members lost focus and effort. This attitude spread through the team and we conceded another 4 goals in the second half. Though through the efforts of the players that kept trying we still managed to trouble the Richmond defence with Hamish and Liam creating a number of goal scoring chances.
Thanks again to the under 15 players who stepped up and put in an outstanding effort.
The team must remember that the respect it had earned over the course of the year is now disappearing because they are no longer playing for each other or the team.
Under 18s
Pat Kielty
A double header weekend is always a big ask especially considering that the older age groups help each other out which invariably means that some players play more then their assigned games. Half way during the first half we found out that the later 16’s game had been cancelled so the sixteens helping us out would only be playing this game. What a difference it makes when you have fresh players with fresh legs. We were competitive and if MUFC thought they were going to walk over us due to our league position they were very much mistaken.
The first half ended nil nil and in fairness to us we are usually still in the game at half time, our problems usually arrive midway during the second half when the players who have already played run out of legs. Not on this occasion though, when the second half began we took the game to them and Kiwi scored a lovely goal as a result of some lovely midfield combination play. About ten minutes later Willie then scored another. We had another goal incorrectly disallowed for offside. We were in complete control and MUFC were very shocked that they had lost to us. Thanks to Willie, Alou, TC, Charlie, Jayden and Hammad and their fresh legs. Final score MUFC 0 - 2 GVS.
Sundays game was against Richmond and due the win on Saturday we were eager to get at them. During the first 10 minutes we rode our luck and but for their striker trying to knock an imaginary koala bear out of a tree with the ball we should have been three goals down. We eventually settled and began to take control of the game. At half time we went in two nil up due to the goal scoring ability of Todd Wallace but two nil up at half time is known as the most dangerous half time score in football and so it proved.
Second half we attacked them from the whistle and very quickly Rocky was chopped inside the eighteen but wasn’t awarded a penalty. If he had been, and we scored then that would be it, but we weren’t. In a cruel twist of fate they were shortly afterwards - and rightly so- awarded a pelanty which Sam initially saved but couldn’t hang onto due to the wet conditions. They were now attacking us and due to some poor discipline from our player were awarded a free kick which resulted in a goal to them. Todd then struck back with his third.
So with eight minutes to go we were three two up but somehow they managed to score two more goals and so it finished GVS 3 - RFC 4 . This result was the worst we have had all season and it certainly took the gloss of the win the day before. All four goals can be directly attributed to either indiscipline, lack of fitness resulting in a desperate tackle or being out of position due to missing training.
A very very frustrating afternoon and a golden chance to secure six points was wasted. Thanks to TC for playing an extra game and thanks to Rocky, Todd and Makuach for playing as well. A big well done to Todd on his hat trick, sorry the final result wasn’t better.
With two out of three rounds at home next year there will be at least 108 junior games that need a qualified ref.
