At the start of the season I predicted it would take at least 6 games for this lot to become a team and right on cue they proved me right. The result was irrelevant as far I’m concerned but the performance was brilliant.

Kiama were by far the best team we have faced this season and prior to the game they sat above us at the top of the table on goal difference, (albeit by only one goal). Right from the kick off Kiama dominated possession and moved the ball around at ease. Ethan Larnach was kept very busy defending on the right but overall Russell Vale managed to absorb the pressure. Sean Donnelly whom looks more like a goalie every week also did well to keep the Kiama attack at bay. It’s worth noting that Kiama’s forward line was led by the tallest 12 year old I have ever seen but Jack Donnelly and Tom Curran never stopped battling to keep him under control.

After a hesitant start Russell Vale finally took the game to another level. With 10mins gone Jarod Tuckwood threaded a superb pass for Zac Winter to leave the home defence flat footed and slot the ball home, 0-1. A few minutes later Blair Dunn left several defenders in his wake and his cross into the box set up the second goal. After having an indifferent (to put it politely) start to the game Riley Hanlon found space in the box to control the cross and calmly finished in style to make it 0-2. He was obviously inspired by his goal because he then went on to have his most competent game in a Russell Vale shirt.

After having such a bright start Kiama were struggling to come to terms with the scoreline and while they were on the ropes, the Cobras added number three. Jarod Tuckwood once again played a slide rule pass (yes….I’m old school) for Zac Winter to leave the defence in his wake and score, 0-3 to Russell Vale. A few minutes later Zac Winter claimed his second hat-trick of the season when Jordy Errington set him up, 0-4. Then it was Jordy Errington’s turn but unfortunately his finish was just off target. Prior to half time Baxter Bowler Prentice nearly added number five but his run and shot could only find the side netting, to leave the score 0-4 at HT.

In the second half Kiama’s defence had learnt their lesson and didn’t play with such a high line, defensively they sat further back in an attempt to prevent the Cobras lightning strikes. Sadly as a football spectacle this also meant they sacrificed their passing game for a route one hoof to the big lad. For a while it worked and the closest Russell Vale came to adding to the score was a superb turn and half volley from 18 yards out by Jordan Errington that skimmed the outside of the post.

Russell Vale maintained their patience and it finally paid off, Jordy Errington was hacked down from behind for a penalty. Up stepped Tommy Heaton and after playing a one–two with the keeper made it 0-5 to the visitors. Kiama’s resolve was now broken and a rapier like thrust from Louis Ready down the left flank resulted in a great finish into the top corner, 0-6. Another move that must have involved at least 8 players started on the right flank but Blair Dunn quickly switched the play to the left for Louis Ready and he was off to the races again. At the final moment of execution Zac Winter nipped in front to steal the chance and score his fourth and Russell Vale’s 7^th of the evening. No one was complaining because Zac Winter had deservedly capped an outstanding individual performance. With only a few minutes to go Jordy Errington set up Tommy Heaton again to round the night off with an 0-8 victory.

It’s always easy to mention the goal scorers but as Coach I keep emphasising to the players it’s a team game. As such it’s certainly worth highlighting that Bailey & Christian Baade Mortimer, Blair Dunn, Ethan Larnach, Tom Curran, Baxter Bowler Prentice, Jarod Tuckwood and that Jeckal & Hyde character Jack Donnelly all put a good shift in and played a huge part in this Cobras victory.

Although the formation remains the same each week the players have become very flexible and adapt well to the different roles I ask them to play during the course of the game. As a team they looked very good tonight but individually there is still room for improvement and that’s something we will have to concentrate on at training…………that’s where the real work is done.

YNWA

One very proud Coach

Saturday 17 May

Tarrawanna 2 v 3 RUSSELL VALE  ( HT 2-0)

Before the match began I told the players that no two games are exactly the same. They may have beat our hosts 8-1 last week but that now counts for nothing and they mustn’t take this game for granted. I even reminded the players about a team called Dapto, a couple years back.

Russell Vale started off brightly but Tarrawanna were going for damage limitation and played 5 across the back, with two deep lying midfielders. Although we had a lot of the early play we just couldn’t make the break through. There were numerous shots from around the box but nothing to trouble the home team’s goalkeeper.

Tarrawanna then had their best spell of the game. Their route one football (hoof ball) paid off when their No.8 left our defence flat footed to put the home side 1-0 up. Soon after No.8 nearly made it two but Sean Connelly did really well to thwart him in a one on one situation. The reprieve was only temporary as No.8 got the better of Sean Donnelly right on the stroke of halftime.

Trailing 2-0 at HT, I instructed the lads to speed up their passing game, be more positive in their tackling, attack the ball in the box and for goodness sake pick up that No.8. We needed an early goal and that’s exactly what we got when a low hard corner from Zac Winter was poked home at the near post by Riley Hanlon. Russell Vale then turned up the pressure with Jordan Errington, Blair Dunn and Tommy Heaton all going close to that elusive equaliser. Eventually Zac Winter took matters into his own hands with a dipping shot from the edge of the box to level the scores 2-2.

For the duration of the game Tarrawanna never made it out of their own half. Then with only seconds left on the clock, Zac Winter turned provider with a defence splitting pass to set up Louis Ready who in turn fired into the roof of the net for an incredible come from behind Cobras victory. Out of respect for his former club the ex-Tarrawanna player shouldn’t have celebrated but I couldn’t really blame him, it was a cracker of a winning goal and a dramatic finish to the game.

After the way the games have gone so far this season today was a good wake up call for the lads and the experience will put them in good stead for the rounds ahead. At 2-0 down it would have been so much easier for them to lose composure and revert to hoof ball but I was very pleased and impressed with the players that they didn’t panic and continued to play “pass & move” football. As Coach I take full responsibility for any mistake they make playing this way, even if it means losing the match because it’s still preferable to watching the ball orbiting the sun for most of the game.

YNWA

Coach

Sunday 11 May

RUSSELL VALE 8 v 1 Tarrawanna

Performance wise the players carried on where they left off two days ago, creating several good chances in the opening minutes but were unable to find the net. Ironically after 15 mins it was Tarrawanna that scored the opening goal with their very first effort on target. Russell Vale’s response was instant, first Ethan Larnach went close to equalising before Zac Winter found the net 1-1. Soon after the same two players linked up for the Cobra’s second goal and Zac Winter’s second of the game.  At the half the score was still close but Russell Vale led 2-1.

The second half resulted in an avalanche of goals as the U13A’s took the game to Tarrawanna. Good battling from Tom Curren led to a cracking shot from Jordan Errington to put the Cobras 3-1 up. Zac Winter went close again but the keeper parried and Riley Hanlon’s follow up hit the post. Then Riley Hanlon became the provider when he crossed for Zac Winter to notch his first hat-trick for the Club, 4-1.

Baxter Bowler Prentice then set up two goals. The first for Jordan Errington and the other for Tommy Heaton, the latter also hit the bar. Then Zac Winter starting in his own half, went on a mazy dribble and claimed his fourth goal of the game, this emulated Blair Dunn’s feat 48hrs earlier. Just when we all thought the game was over, Louis Ready went off down the wing, cut in and his shot was parried by the keeper but there was Bailey Baade Mortimer on hand to make it 8-1.

The result has secured top spot for the U13A’s in their Group and a place in the Qtr Final. My job now will be to keep the players feet on the ground and make sure they maintain their concentration because we are away in the league next week to Tarrawanna again.

YNWA

Coach

P.S    If anyone knows any good prayers, my beloved LIVERPOOL need a miracle tonight. J

Friday 9 May

Russell Vale 9 v 0 Figtree

Unfortunately for the visitors two of their squad had to redraw earlier in the day, so they started the game with only 10 players. Russell Vale were not slow to take advantage with Jordan Errington opening the scoring and soon after Zac Winter followed up with number two. However, sandwiched in between was a rare Figtree foray into Russell Vale territory and Sean Donnelly had to be on his toes to keep out a fierce shot.

It was really nice to see our fullback Ethan Larnach score the third goal with a speculative shot from outside the box. Speedy has been with the club right from the very beginning and this was his first ever league goal. Luis Ready was on the score sheet next with a deflected effort, that the referee was persuaded to award the goal to the striker rather than put it down as an OG. The half was rounded off nicely when Blair Dunn followed up on a Tommy Heaton free kick that was too hot for the keeper to hold to give the Cobras a commanding 5-0 lead.

In the first half Bailey Baade Mortimer made some excellent runs down the wing but in the second it was the Blair Dunn show. He calmly slotted away a couple of penalties to put Russell Vale 7-0 up and also scored the final goal of the game to make it 9-0. In between he set up numerous chances for others. Unusually we had three penalties in the game and one of which was taken by Baxter Bowler Prentice, he hit it well but sadly for him the ball flew the wrong side of the post.

After missing so many chances it looked as if Tommy Heaton could have played all night and not scored but good work from Riley Hanlon finally set him up for that elusive goal. When it hit the net he was rewarded with the biggest cheer of the evening, mostly from his teammates.

Games like this do not actually test the players and I’m sure it would have been a lot closer if Figtree had a full contingent but you can only play against the team they put out. Strange that one of the biggest clubs in the league didn’t think to draft a few lower league players for the night.

Another clean sheet for Russell Vale, mainly due to the dogged determination of Jack Donnelly at the back and his partner in crime Jarod Tuckwood. From a coaching perspective there are early signs that the U13A’s are starting to find their rhythm as a team.

 

YNWA

Coach

Both teams were coming off the back of wins in round one, plus it was the first return to their previous club for Jarod Tuckwood and Zac Winter.

Right from the start Russell Vale made all the running. Blair Dunn, Jordan Errington, Riley Hanlon and Tommy Heaton all went close to getting on the score sheet but Bulli continued to battle for everything. The home side finally succumbed to the pressure when Jordan Errington notched up his third goal of the season. Zac Winter made it 2-0 soon after coming off the bench and out of respect for his former club did the right thing by declining to celebrate. Despite a couple of corners the nearest Bulli came to scoring was when Jack Donnelly from 20 yards out brought a save from his twin Sean who managed to deflect the back pass onto the post and out for a corner. Although the first half performance was rather scrappy the Cobras still held the lead at HT 0-2.

After a little pep talk from the Coach at HT the Cobras came out determined to finish the job off. Again there were chances going begging in front of goal until Tommy Heaton fired in his third of the season and number three for Russell Vale. Soon after Tommy Heaton was involved again when he was brought down for a penalty. If he had been on his hat-trick then I would have let him have the pen but to try and share the goals around the team I told the goalie Sean Donnelly to have a go. If his kick had been a foot lower it would have flew into the top corner, maybe Jack’s turn next time?

Probably the best move of the game and the fourth goal started deep in our own half. Ethan Larnach won the ball, Jack Donnelly switched the play to the right hand side then Tom Curran and Christian Baade Mortimer traded passes before Tommy Heaton applied the “coup de gras”.

Looking back on the game there were too many wasted corners, some half-hearted tackling and the passing needs be a lot crisper but some hard work at training, another three or four games and I’m sure they will be fine. Also from a coaching perspective it’s very pleasing to note there appears to be a very good spirit within the squad, the new lads have settled quickly and have already made their mark. We have a large squad, so firstly all the players have to understand the system we play and what each position entails. Then be flexible in learning to play various roles so everyone gets a game while maintaining the integrity of the team.

Please note photo session Saturday midday at Cawley Park, forms will be handed out at training on Monday.

Two games, two wins, not a bad start and a double header weekend to look forward to next week.

YNWA

Coach