Rnd 15

Sunday 25 July

Balgownie 0 v 0 Russell Vale

The teams paid their respects to a Balgownie official who had recently died with a minute silence prior to KO. The game itself turned out to be one of those matches no matter what we did the ball just wasn’t going to go in. Russell Vale had the majority of the possession through out the game but Blagownie were always a threat on the break. The first real chance fell to Chris Behan who went close from 20M out. This was followed by a run and cross from Shae Morgan that somehow eluded everyone in the box. Another good run this time from Jean Paul set up Jordan Woods but his turn and shot skimmed the near post. Jordan Woods then turned provider and set up Matt Nelson only to see his first time effort some how miss the top corner of the goal. Matt Nelson then returned the compliment by setting up Jordan Woods but on his weaker foot his shot flew over the bar. It wasn’t all one way but with Kurtis Trindall and Joel Dalmonte both having a solid game in defence Balgownie were limited to only a couple of half chances.

In the second half Russell Vale moved up another gear but unfortunately so did the Balgownie goalkeeper whom I doubt will ever have a better game. Their goalie performed heroically to deny Matt Nelson, Shae Morgan and Chris Behan from getting on the score sheet. There were several goal mouth scrambles but again the ball just wouldn’t go in then when Hayden Brown was put clean through from a Joel Dalmonte free kick he looked certain to score but the keeper somehow deflected the ball onto the bar. Even with a full squad due to the return of Jawad Khan to the team after a long injury lay off the Cobras still couldn’t conjure up the winning goal that their football deserved. In the end I couldn’t have asked any more of the players and the result now leaves Russell Vale 7pts behind the top team Albion Park with only three games to go. On the plus side we only need one more victory to guarantee finishing Runners Up.

Regards,

Shaun Hamlet,

Rd 15 Russell Vale Vs Coledale

Today the girls learnt a great lesson involving the game of soccer.  Today we played a very committed Coledale side who hadn’t scored many goals but had not let many goals in.  Today we had three players missing Samantha, Isabel and Tara and also had two players doubling up who helped out with the U13’s earlier in the day.   The first half was a game of let’s try and go round the Coledale defence without much luck.  We never really got into the grove in the first half and the girls didn’t really listen to the instructions given to them.  Jasmin went close with a long range free kick which the keeper spilled out but we all stood and waited when we should of been attacking the ball.  Half time nil all.

After a few words of wisdom the girls returned in the hope to secure the points, at times we played well but it was a case of we all want to try to score and that doesn’t work. A good build and great play by Stella set up Jasmin who finished a good move with a great finish one nil to us.  As we got tired Coledale used their reserves and we started to run out of puff.  With 20 seconds to go the girls found out how heart wrenching soccer can be when Coledale had a break away and they scored this making it one all.  Brianna was the coaches’ award as she did not pull out of any tackles and played her position well.

The girls were so disappointed as it was Coledale’s only shot and they scored.  It is a good lesson that we must defend to the end at that if we all go forward that we may get caught out.  Next week we are up against Unanderra who are we were one point in front off.  We have got to bounce back and get back into our grove I know we can.  Well done to Coledale who defended very well.

Cheers.

Martin

Having a Friday night game was meant to be something fun and different to do. Well, this year it was different, but probably not as much fun as it could have been!

The team started off pretty well, even if Shellharbour had the first real chance of the game with the ball bouncing off the post. The play was pretty solid and some good pasing. One passage between Dean, Reuben, and Mark up the left hand side was the best I’d seen all year. Unfortunately the team lost their way a bit and couldn’t keep it up. Maybe it was the result of a long week at school and half the kids had an athletics carnival all day Friday.

The Shellharbour Team were pumped up for the occasion as will every team be when they come up against the Comp Leaders. From what I saw the Shellharbour team backed their defence and kept their players up front, there were always three kids parked on the halfway line waiting for the break. Normally we spend so much time attacking that othe rteams fill the defence with players and we end up attacking all game. Most of the time there is only one kid up front and we have always been able to stop any break aways. Shellharbour had 3 or 4 good chances and took 2 of them, while we weren’t able to convert ours. Shellharbour were also a physical side with a few big kids and for once we seemed to get intinidated by that, which we normally cope pretty well with. The pleasing thing is that we were still attacking, still trying to pass the ball and play football, and did create opportunities.

Out of the game we’ll continue to work on the same things, passing the ball early, looking for space and keeping the “shape”. We would have created a truck load more chances if we released the ball one touch earlier. The only negative for me would be the way some of the kids reacted when the going got tough, something we don’t have to deal with too often.

Next week is against another physical side in PortKembla. it will be interesting to see how the kids react to the loss. I’m sure it won’t do them any harm and encourage them to work hard at training.

A big congratulations to Wilson who has been selected in the Illawaraa U10 development squad and trained with them on Sunday.

Garry

Our game against Figtree was a hard fought affair and there was great football played by both sides at Cawley park this morning.
 
Our side started off in an attacking frame of mind and showed plenty of enthusiasm with a few shots on goal that were well saved by the Figtree goalkeeper early in the first half. Tyla was heavily involved and was unlucky not to put at least one away.
 
Midway during the first half Alyse scored a great goal, unfortunately for Alyse and our Team the ref didnt have a great view of the goal and didnt consult his assistant ref and the ball was deemed to have been wide of the goals. The ball was struck low and hard and went in the goals and out the side of the net- that wasnt pegged down properly by someone that looked very much like the Team Manager- suffice to say I will be doing a crash course in pegging down goal nets during the week!!
 
Not to long after that Figtree scored a goal and we went to the break 1-0 down. The girls although disappointed with the ref’s decision were determined to make amends in the second half and they didnt let their supporters down.
 
We had Jasmine and Tyla leave at half time as they had dance commitments at the IPAC  and we had Jasmine and Remi from the under 11’s take their place and they both played some great football.
 
Hannah again did a great job in goals and she stopped a few goals early in the second half with some clever work and some great support from our defensive line. Pamela, Tarmiqua and Chloe all played well and their efforts to get back and help each other out was fantastic.
 
Alyse was taken down in the box midway thru the second half and we received a penalty. Keely calmly put the goal in the back of the net and we were tied 1 all with about 15 minutes to go.
 
Try as we might, we were unable to score a winning goal in those final 15 minutes although the girls did their very best. Casey, Jade and Sarah along with Alyse combined well and  gave the Figtree goalkeeper no end of trouble.  Even though we had the better run of play and more shots on goal (and one goal not awarded) – 1 all was probably a pretty fair result at the end of the game.
 
It was another outstanding effort from our girls as we played the second half with no reserves and girls filling in from the under 11’s. The coach from Figtree came up to me at the end of the game and commended us on the way we played and commented on the fact that he thought we would be higher up the ladder as we are one of the better Teams that they have played this year!
 
Thanks again to Remi and Jasmine for showing great club spirit by playing for the 11’s and 13 Girls team on the one day and i am sure Remi enjoyed playing with her big sister!
 
See everybody at training on Thursday night at 6pm and and then down at Bulli for our 8.30 game on Sunday morning.
 
Cheers
 
Michael

The record book will show another win and another 3 points, but as often is the case the record books don’t tell much of a story. We came into the game facing the team at the bottom of the table, and as our regular readers would know our kids are sitting comfortably on top. As our fan base will also know we don’t get off to very good starts. Apparently, even if it is a 11:00am kick off!!!! I would have thought this would suit the kids, but it seems they just can’t get started untill trhe second half, and at the end of the day that’s when the games are won!!!! Maybe we were just missing Mark who was away on holidays……

In saying that I’m probably being a bit harsh. They did create a few chances in the first half and could have easily gone to the break a few goals up. SamM was running on empty after being sick the night (and morning) before. After struggling along he came off to try to find a cool place to sit (boy it was hot for the middle of winter!) Jacob was more than happy to fill in up front for Sam for the remainder of the game.

The kids accepted Julio’s half time motivational speech and took to the field with much more focus and determination. Ryan, who was also struggling with the flu, finished a nice passing move and decided not to “chip the gaolie” as is his normal custom, but slotted the ball into the back of the net. This was followed by Wilson getting his head in the way of a TK corner kick and gently guided the ball past the goalie. Well done Wil, and another example of what the kids can accomplish if they turn up to training and practice, we haven’t done much structured training around headers, but the kids do get together and it is something Wil and the kids have been practicing in their “spare time”  at the start and finish of the sessions. With TK’s exceptional kicking I’m sure there’ll be another on offer before the end of the year. Jacob also came close with a rarely seen “reverse header” and was also unlucky not to put another couple of goals away.

SamL pummelled the gaols a few times with one shot bouncing off the cross bar and side posts but refusing to go in. Eventually a defender helped SamL with an own goal, whioch was also a header, keeping in the spirt of the day.

Our structure improved in the second half with MattyD and Reuben also getting more involved and holding their position in the middle of the park. Wil made several great runs down the flanks as did Deano, even if he did stop for an occasional laugh at the opposition. Probably one of Deans better games at the end of the day when he chose to keep the ball and play football, rather than flogging the ball when it came his way. ThomasM also kept his position and the strikers under control and intecepted a lot of ball. Jasmin was as solid as ever and took on a few heavy hits, refusing to back down.

I spoke to two parents of oppostion players who I know through work and their comments were that the kids are obviously playing on a different level and the most impressive thing is the way they are playing with a structure, and being disciplined enough to stay in a formation and pass the ball around, which was really pleasing to hear.

Not long to go in the season and the League Championship is all but sewn up. The important thing now is to maintain the standard and not get complacent. More importantly keep on improving skill levels and get set up for a great season next year. The other goodies and recognition will hopefully follow. We still have a comp game against Kiama, at Kiama, without SamL and Wil playing, to get through (bogey side at the bogey field…..)!!!!!!!

Garry

Rnd 3

Saturday 10 July
Russell Vale 2 v 1 Oak Flats

Originally scheduled for a Sunday, applied for a Friday and the FA in their infinite wisdom decreed it a Saturday game. Russell Vale were very sloppy in the early exchanges, the ball control was poor and they gave the ball away far to often. Oak Flats tried to take advantage but the nearest they came was when their striker blasted over the bar from well inside the box. Russell Vale hit back with a Dylan Andrews long range effort from 30M that just dipped over the bar. Chris Behan also went close when Shae Morgan set him up but he dragged his shot wide. That was as good as it got for the Cobras in the first half as Oak Flats continued to have most of the ball without creating any clear cut opportunities.

The second half begun much the same way as the first half ended with Oak Flats having most of the possession and it almost paid off when a badly mistimed tackle resulted in a penalty. Gareth Garnon came out tops in goal as their striker pulled his shot wide. Spurred on by the miss Russell Vale started making some decent chances of their own. Firstly Hayden Brown went close when his free kick was deflected wide. Then from the resulting corner Matt Nelson was inches away from scoring direct from the corner kick. Soon after Matt Nelson was in the thick of it again when he turned and shot from 12M out only to see their keeper tip his effort onto the bar. As Russell Vale piled on the pressure a quick counter attack from Oak Flats fell kindly to their winger who avoided three tackles before slipping the ball past the advancing Gareth Garnon to give the away side the lead with less than 15 mins to go. Russell Vale threw everything at Oak Flats then with only 5mins to go a Hayden Brown corner found Nathan Hennessy, who knocked the ball back to Matt Nelson who in turn laid it on for Shae Morgan to score the equaliser. Oak Flats were obviously rattled and the Cobras continued to press and when Shae Morgan was brought down on the edge of the box Hayden Brown stepped up to blast the free kick into the goal and Russell Vale were 2-1 up with only a couple of minutes to go. It was then the turn of Oak Flats to throw everyone forward but Russell Vale defended desperately as if their lives depended on it and secured the three points with yet another come from behind victory.

Regards,

Shaun Hamlet,