Month: September 2012

Grand Final U11.3 v Unanderra

Grand Finals are traditionally tense nervous affairs and as a result the standard of football can suffer, couple that with the blustery conditions on the day and it made for a very difficult game. Things didn’t get any easier when we lost Baxter Bowler Prentice before kick-off due to illness.

After all that Russell Vale did try hard to get their passing game going but it was intermittent rather than consistent. Unanderra with nothing to lose came out and gave it their best effort but it was the Cobras who struck first. A good build up led to a superb finish from Christian Baade Mortimer that flew into the roof of the net 1-0.

It’s ironic the amount of teams we’ve played this season that have a 100% (shooting to scoring) ratio against us, especially from free kicks. Russell Vale only made two mistakes all game and Unanderra scored from both of them. The first of which was a free kick needlessly given away on the edge of the box that crept in just under the bar to make the score 1-1.

As I’ve said before in previous match reports one of the things I love about these little Cobras is they never give up. It’s not something you can teach at training the player either has that intrinsic quality or not. So back they came and it was Christian Baade Mortimer who notched up his second of the game and tenth goal of the season with a delightful chip that left their keeper stranded. Russell Vale finished the half in control and 2-1 up.

As anticipated with the wind behind them Unanderra hoofed the ball as far forward as they could at every opportunity in an attempt to get back on level terms. The Russell Vale defence were coping comfortably with their efforts until a clumsy hand ball presented Unanderra with a penalty. From only their second shot of the game they equalised 2-2. Although Russell Vale continued to create several more half chances in front of goal we lacked any clear shooting opportunities. Then the Captain Hayley Waller took the game by the scruff of the neck and went on a run that left four Unanderra players in her wake before setting up Harrison Benn to score the winning goal and clinch the Grand Final 3-2.

As I always tell the players it’s a team game, you win as a team, you lose as a team. An individual can win a game by scoring a hat-trick, making a great save or a last ditch tackle but it’s great teams that win Championships. First the U11’s deservedly won the League and now the Grand Final. It’s the performance of the team that got them to the final but on the day the win owes a lot to the three midfielders whom have been in outstanding form all season and today made damn sure the Grand Final trophy was heading back to Russell Vale.

Apologies for the lateness of this report it has been a very difficult week from a personal perspective. This was to be my last write up but things have taken an unexpected turn in the UK. It would appear my wife and daughter will be back in Australia before the end of September. So if the U12’s are still looking for a Coach next season then consider my hat thrown into the ring.

Many, many thanks to the players and their families for all your support throughout the season.

Have a great summer!

YNWA

Coach

U13.1 Grand Final v Figtree

The boys started  their preparation for the day at Julio & Leanne’s for some lunch, youtube clips, and a video of the game v Albion Park. This seemed to do the trick as at the first opportunity they ran outside into the paddock and started kicking the ball around, before Julio brought them back in for a session in front of the I Pad. We headed down to the grounds to watch the U11s kick of in their quest for Grand Final Glory.

It was great to get down there and see so many people decked out in Green cheering the 11s along.

Before we knew it, it was warm up time, complete with a passionate pre-game motivational speech from Supercoach. It was sensational! The message was clear, don’t be intimidated, and play football. We had stood toe to toe with Figgy in the cup game, AC United in the State Cup, and the other top teams in Albion Park, Shellharbour, and Bally in the last few weeks, and in reality the boys had nothing to fear and everything to gain.

There was a fairly strong cross wind that favored us a bit in the first half. To be fair Figgy had the balance of possession and created more chances than the boys. The defensive line of Jacob, TK, Lochlan and SamL held firm right up to half time, with the scores deadlocked at 0-0. They were well and truly in the game. Figgy had some big, skillful, boys running around in mid-field where Ruben, Mark, Jai and Matty battled it out.

Julio mixed things up a bit at the start of the second half. The wind probably picked up a bit, but both sides did their best to play football and kept the ball low. Again Figtree had the run of play and created, an took, a chance not long after the break. The boys stayed competitive right through the game and didn’t take a backward step, keeping 3 up front right throughout. Only being a goal behind meant we were always a chance to pinch one and get back in the game. Ryan, Wilson, SamM and Dean did what they could with the ball that they had. Wilson making a few charges. There was probably about 5 to go and SamM had a great chance off a cross to get the equaliser. The ball sat just a touch high when he connected and it went just over the cross bar, agonizingly close.  I’d say the boys did have them rattled towards the end and anything could have happened.

It has to be said that in goals Braeden had more work to do in that game than in the rest of the season put together and he did a superb job, parrying shots away, diving and throwing himself around the box. It was a great performance.

Unfortunately the football gods deserted us, or maybe we had just used up our quota of luck getting into the Grand Final, squeezing through the qualifying games on penalties. Figgy were probably expected to win comfortably, and had won their qualifying games by large margins, but to the boys credit they battled hard and did everyone, especially themselves proud.

A special mention to the unluckiest player not on the field, Jack Noli. We have obviously struggled to put the finishing touches on plays since he busted his collarbone 5 weeks ago. We have conceded a miserly 2 goals in 5 games, but scored just 1. Jack had scored half the team’s goals through the year so he was bound to be missed. We’ll never know what could have been……. Until next year!

The atmosphere at the ground was everything a grand final is meant to be, and large green contingent certainly charged up the players. It was great to have a large family and Russell Vale Community present. Thanks to everyone who came along to support the boys, you all helped to make it a special day for the kids.

The Figtree coach spoke of his team’s goals in his speech. I guess our goals were a bit simpler. We set out to make sure that the kids enjoyed themselves and that they developed as footballers, and people, right through the year. They are a great bunch of kids and I have no hesitation in saying that our year was a complete success and we achieved everything we set out to with the boys, and even more.

Regards,

Garry
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Grand Final Results

Both Russell Vale Teams had great games, and were supported by a large Green Army. The U11.3 side scored a 3-2 victory and the U13.1 side went down 1-0. Once the celebrations die down I’m sure there’ll be a couple of match reports added to the site. Come back tomorrow to check out the detail. Thanks to all the parents, friends, and families who turned up to support the kids. It was great to see the Russell Vale Community getting behind the kids.

Grand Final Newsletter

GRAND FINAL NEWSLETTER

Congratulations to both our 13.1’s and 11.3’s Teams who both won their way through to this weekend’s Grand Finals! Our under 13.1’s won a nail biting 6-5 penalty shootout whilst the under 11.3’s won 2-1.

It will be great to see RVJFC represented by 2 teams on grand final day. Good luck to both Teams and again it would be great to see a big turnout from the Russell Vale community to cheer on both teams. Grand finals are held at Terry reserve Albion Park this Saturday.

Game times are as follows:

RVJFC 11.3’s VS Unanderra at 1.00pm

RVJFC 13.1’S VS Figtree at 2.30pm.

RVJFC 13.1’s

 

RVJFC 11.3’s

RVJFC 11.3’s

Continue reading “Grand Final Newsletter”

U13.1 Elimination Final v Shellharbour

As one parent said to me after the game “Just cut and paste last week’s match report.”

In a lot of ways the games were similar, with a similar outcome. The boys had a very ordinary first half, albeit “uphill and into the wind” and HG Nelson would say. The defense held strong and maintained even footing going into the second half, Nil-all. Another half time re-calibration session with Julio and the boys went out aided by the downhill run. They created a few good chances, most notably Wilson’s bomb that somehow missed the top right corner. Full-time, still goal-less.

First half of extra -time we had the run, but still couldn’t convert. Second half running uphill we had a goal mouth scramble and couldn’t believe they managed to keep the ball out.

The penalties had a bit of a twist. Ruben got his but Jacob didn’t get his in. Both Shellharbour attempts went in, putting the boys under pressure 2-1. SamL and Wilson got theirs then Braeden made his first save (their forth attempt) putting us back in contention. TK slotted his home 4-4 and game on! Lochlan stepped up and converted his chance. Braeden made his second save off Shellharbours 7th giving us a shot. A very nervous Matty D strode up to the spot and hit the back of the net giving the boys the win 6-5.

Just when we thought it wouldn’t be our day…. the football gods were smiling on us.

Figtree await us in the Grand Final, and as we now know anything can happen, and is likely to!

We have only given up two goals in the last four games which is a pretty impressive statistic, especially as the last two games were against the teams that came second and third. What isn’t as impressive is that we have only managed to score a single goal ourselves, not good form to take into a big match.

However as we all know Grand Finals are different.  As with last week, the Grand Final starts on Tuesday at training.

Can’t wait! Even though we have rode our luck the boys thoroughly deserve to finish the season on a high, they have played some of the best football even when the results haven’t gone their way and they struggled with consistency. We are all confident that they will put on a great show and do themselves proud.

U11.3 Elimination Final v Kiama

As a wise man named Jimmy Greaves once said “football’s a funny old game”.

Football has a habit of going round in circles. Last year we lost to Corrimal at the same stage of the comp and Blair Dunn missed a penalty in that game but I always stay loyal to my players and that faith was rewarded in this year’s Major Final. Plus earlier this season we were robbed of a place in the Final of the 3rd/4th Division Plate by Kiama, so this was an opportunity to reverse the result.

The opening stages of the Final were cut and thrust as both teams went out to control the game and take an early lead. Despite Kiama winning several corners and a free kick Ethan Johnson never had a shot to save, mainly thanks to his resolute defence. As the half wore on Russell Vale were involved in several goal mouth scrambles in the Kiama box but as per the previous round we just couldn’t force the ball over the line. The nearest either side came to scoring was a cleverly worked shot at goal from Jordan Errington but unfortunately it came back off the post, so at HT the game was still locked at 0-0.

In the second half Russell Vale pinned Kiama back in their own half and that pressure finally paid off when Harrison Benn side stepped his marker and drilled the ball into the net. The team then lost concentration and 5 mins later allowed Kiama to score a carbon copy of the goal they got in the 3rd/4th Plate Semi, 1-1. Despite that setback Russell Vale again forced Kiama onto the back foot but just couldn’t create a clear opening. Kiama’s one other sortie into Russell Vale territory led to a mix up in defence but Clayton Walker quickly made amends before their striker could score.

After that it was all Russell Vale and with only a few minutes to go and extra time looming Christian Baade Mortimer went on an incredible run skipping past several players before he was hacked down in the box with only the keeper to beat. The referee awarded the penalty (our first of the season) but was lenient with the defender. All he received was a booking even though Christian was forced to leave the field with a nasty injury to be replaced by his brother Bailey Baade Mortimer. All that was left now was for Blair Dunn as the coolest player on the pitch to step up and calmly place his penalty shot into the corner of the net to ensure that the Cobras were going to the Grand Final.

Next Saturday we meet Unanderra in the Grand Final at Albion Park 1:00pm K/O. It will be another tough game as they are a well organised team and both our wins in the regular season against them were very close (2-1 & 1-0). As Russell Vale Coach I would never under estimate any opponent in a one off cup game but that said I am confident that if the Cobras play the kind of football that has been their trade mark all season, they will get the result they deserve.

YNWA

Coach

RVJFC GRAND FINAL ACTION!

We have two teams participating in the Grand Finals this weekend, Saturday 8th Spetember.

The U11.3 Team will play Unanderra at 1:00pm

The U13.1 team will play Figtree at 2:30pm

Both games are at Albion Park. It would be great to have some support down there to cheer the kids on.

GO GREEN!

 

FSC School Holiday Clinic and Academy Training

FSC are pleased to announce that Term 1 – FSC Academy is closely approaching.

Training will commence on Monday 8 October 2012 (Boys/Goal Keeper Academy) and Tuesday 9 October 2012 (Girls Academy).

Please click on the link for further information i.e. registration forms for each age group applicable
http://www.footballsouthcoast.com/news/news-archive/news-single/article/2012/july/fsc-academy/

Also, for Football enthusiasts we are running another holiday clinic for September School Holidays at various locations.

Please click on the link for further information http://www.footballsouthcoast.com/news/news-archive/news-single/article/2012/august/fsc-september-school-holiday-clinic/