Round 1 had us pitched against the same Corrimal side that we played in the trial game a couple of weeks ago. Everyone was available to play except for Benny who’ll be out for a few more weeks yet. As promised I swapped the team around a bit. Jackson and Riley shared the goal keeping duties, with Jackson doing the rain dance to keep warm in the first half, while ET did much the same in the second and was called on once to make a great one on one save against a stray striker.

Stuart and Texas played in midfield and had fun roaming around the middle of the park. It will be interesting to see who are the natural fits for this position as the year goes on.

Millsey got dizzy running around filling in the holes for the kids as they came off for their rest and did a great job, poaching a goal (or two?) in the process.

The first half had Olivia, Burto and Anakin forming the back line with Tom, Nash and E.T. up front. The two lines swapped at half time, Jackson coming into Right Back when ET went into goals. I am pretty sure we scored two goals in the first half, and two or three in the second. It was a bit difficult to judge one of them when Anakin launched a ball that would have been a goal on any pitch that played with goals and nets instead of sticks.

In all I was very pleased with the kids have learnt their positions and the effort they are putting in. It will be a bit disruptive with kids playing in different positions, including ones that they don’t like, but at the end of the day it is meant to be about development, and getting better at the game. For me, some of the best football was played when we were under pressure and in our own half. The kids pulled off some very good passing moves to get out of trouble when they were under pressure and “build from the back” rather than taking the option of the big kick to clear the ball. That was even more satisfying to me than seeing the ball go into the back of the make-believe net, even if the kids didn’t appreciate it as much. I really look forward to seeing them develop each week. Hopefully those passing moves will turn into more goals.

Plays of the day… E.T’s one-on-one save and Nash taking the ball wide from a goal kick with a  couple of attackers around him and still managing to find Anakin and Stuart to take the ball up into the other half.

Well done everyone.

Garry

Hi All,

What can I say WOW 7 – 1, I am so happy and proud for you girls. All the hard work that you have been doing at training is working, OR was it daylight saving – the extra hour sleep must have helped. Whatever the reason there are no more excuses for early morning games.

It was an amazing feeling to be up 3 nil in the first 10 minutes of the game and only to get better with a 6 nil lead at half time.

Sundays game was outstanding. It was a great effort from all the girls. We only had 12 girls available for this game and it was a lot to ask for from the girls for the first game of the season. Everyone ran tirelessly throughout the game and it was great to see their fighting spirit kick in when they were starting to run out of puff.

We still have the other girls that were not available today (Jazz, Alyse, Chloe A, Kirra, Layla) to come back into the team. The squad has a lot of depth this year so we are in for a big year.

For me today Sarah’s efforts were outstanding. Sarah your countless chasing and clearing of the ball was excellent.

Well done Kylie. Stopping the ball with your hands, feet and stomach! Great work let’s keep this up for the rest of the season.

Chloe J you are such a fighter. Your never die attitude is great to watch well done.

The defenders Hannah, Emilee and Meg great work you three girls were awesome in the back line. You all stepped up putting your body on the line. Hannah nice goal!

Madeline a lot of running and chasing your hard work was much appreciated great to watch keep it up. Again welcome to the team.

Brooke, Jade a lot of good runs and through balls. Brooke nice goal. I keep telling you believe in yourself it will happen and it did, great goal.

The forwards Paige, Ash and Teya well done girls. Paige great goal, great runs down that right hand side, let’s keep this up.

Ash well done 4 goals. In my years of playing soccer I did not achieve this in a single game so you now have one over me. But you still must do as I say! Ha ha!!

Teya for someone who has not played soccer before your efforts are amazing, great runs down the left hand side keep up the good work and the goals will come for you as well. Welcome to the team.

Overall girls it was a great effort to be celebrated but let’s make sure we do not get ahead of ourselves. It is a long season and we need to be consistent. Remember this feeling and take it into each game from here onwards.

Remember, Work as a Team by Supporting each other, Praise each other, Be Confident in yourself and Believe in yourself and Don’t panic on the ball (Relax and look around) AND HAVE FUN!

From a Very Happy Coach

Danny