UNDER 11/D’S DEFEAT FRONTRUNNERS
Posted on Thursday, 30 June | Comments
JUNIORS // 
The Junior Devil’s approached this match in high spirits after a couple of weeks off due to wet weather and were keen to try and impress against top-of-the-table Nelson Bay. The boy’s started the game strong with a few early chances and lots of good solid defence.
The game was starting to turn against us with Nelson Bay beginning to create a few good chances but our back line was holding firm, anchored by Dylan and Liam. Nelson Bay continued to press and managed to knock one in. A few of the boy’s were finding it hard-going with a lack of games over the last few weeks.
After the hard work done by Leighton on the wing took its toll, he came to have a rest and let the little pocket-rocket Luke have a chance to break down the solid ‘Bay defence. We started to press and force a few mistakes, gaining the upper-hand in possession and creating some good chances, but the ‘Bay defence was holding strong.
The boy’s kept pushing through and were rewarded with a goal after some great build-up play from Alex, who pressured the right back into a mistake, and cut the ball across the edge of the box to Riley who then smartly flicked it on to Matty. In a wide area, Matty spotted the ‘keeper away from his near-post and calmly slotted the ball in from 25-yards to make it 1-1.
The boy’s continued to dominate the first-half and were unlucky not to score through Jacob who saw his shot from 10 yards just miss. Half-time ended 1-1. After coming back out in the second-half, we fired a few warning shots at goal but with no luck.
Jared was buzzing around at the back, keeping the strikers for the ‘Bay honest and challenging any player that came near him. He was working hard and kept the pressure on. However, Nelson Bay were beginning to take back control of the game and it took a number of brilliant one-on-one saves from young goalkeeper Zac, to keep us in the game.
Inspired by these efforts, the boy’s lifted with the back-line scrambling well. Nelson Bay were starting to get rattled after a few bone-crunching challenges by Nathan, and by Xander showing his wide-range of passing abilities. Young Travis up-front was working hard to try and relieve a bit of pressure off the defence and was starting to get into some good positions to link up with the midfield. The boy’s were doing everything they could to hold out with Alex even trying some diversionary tactics with his ripped shorts - it didn’t work but it gave the referee a chuckle, anyway.
Continuing to absorb the pressure, we were looking good on the counter-attack. Then, in the last minute of the game, a ball was slipped through to Travis who then smartly switched the play, splitting the opposition defence to find the speedster Luke tearing down the right-wing. He took the ball to the base-line while holding off his defender and then cut it across the penalty area to find Leighton who tapped home to score a dramatic winner.
The excitement shown by the players and parents truly showed how exciting a game this was with myself having to hold back young Riley on the bench who was determined to run on the field and celebrate with his teammates. We then held well for the tense last seconds to record a great victory, 2-1. Looking forward to next week against local rivals Plattsburg, and hoping for a win to keep them within touching distance of the top-four.
All are welcome to come down and watch and support the boys next week with kick-off at 10.00am at Wallsend Oval.
Match Report by Coach, Trent Richards.
