Under 6 Match Report for 16th May

On another beautiful Saturday morning our Under 6’s prepared to take on our upper channel rivals Kingborough Lions Blue (when is a little rivalry too much). As with last week, we had enough for two teams. Ella, Noah, Rory and Ruby were in one team, with Amber, Caleb, Derek and Serafina in the other. Last week the score was 2 to 1. Could we do the same again? All of the Under 6s staff (me) were a bit concerned that only four players made it to practice. Was the team going to be underdone, was the seven day break too long?

The two coaches had exchanged pleasantries and tried to get the inside running on what to expect. The Lions had also lost by gazillions to nil against Cygnet and beaten Margate 2-1. General consensus was therefore this should be a close game. Should have been, but somebody forgot to tell Woodbridge. Noah banged in a couple of goals to show all his previous ones are not flukes. At training we had spent a little bit of time teaching how to kick the ball with the laces (preferably done with a foot still inside the boot and the laces firmly tied). Rory decided to show the coach that he had understood the lesson and slotted home a long-range goal. I told Dalles and John Owen that it was at least a forty-metre kick but they pointed out that we only play on a 30 by 20 metre pitch.

Ella and Ruby were providing good support and the teams changed. The Lions started to play a bit better and Amber, Caleb, Derek and Serafina were up for the challenge. Serafina continued where she left off last week with some tenacious defending against the Lion’s playmaker (William). Caleb made two great runs for goal and was close to scoring both times. Derek and Amber provided good support. After that good tussle, the half-time score was 3-0.

The Lions had started with four players but had a refusal at the start of the second half. They asked if we could spare a player. Caleb and Derek very sportingly agreed to change shirts and then it was suggested that we play five a side (leaving Woodbridge with one sub). Derek and Caleb definitely provided something for the Lions and it was close for a couple of minutes. Then Noah decided a break from the pack and a couple of goals were in order to relieve the pressure. Derek was having none of that and slotted in a long-range kick to give the Lions their first score of the day.

Serafina had been playing really well in a defensive role and decided to fly the flag for the feminist cause with a solo run down the right wing, a quick inside pass to herself and finished off beautifully to score the first goal for the cause, and it was her birthday so she had provided herself with a present. Noah had been cooling his heels on the sideline (aka subbing) when Rory complained of leg soreness (it was that raking 60 metre kick that did it). The coach decided that it was time for the girls on the team to show what they can do and that is how the last 3-4 minutes were played, our four girls against five opposition players. They played really good defensive football with Amber, Ella and Ruby relishing the responsibility of keeping Woodbridge’s dream alive.

It was a really pleasing game to watch and to see how much the players have improved. At the end of the game, everybody finished off with a chorus of “Happy Birthday” for Serafina. Next week we will have an intra-club game because the scheduled team has forfeited. I won’t be there unfortunately because I have a prior commitment. I will arrange for somebody to coach/ref on Saturday.
Go the Whalers
John the coach