The U11s put in the “big ones” on Sunday at the annual U11 Oak Flats Gala Day. The kids play in division 2 and tested their mettle against div 2 and div 1 teams.

They have performed really well in div 2 this year so it was always going to be interesting to see how they would perform against the div 1 sides. They didn’t disappoint and tried their guts out in 5 pool games.

The first was against the eventual winners, Bally 1. We are a notoriously slow starting team and Julio wasn’t around to impart his wise words on the kids before the game (always blame the coach!). Wiping sleep out of their eyes, they were wiped off the park 4 – Nil. Enough said.

Second game was a “local” derby aginst fellow div 2 side Albion Park. Still coming to terms with the shortened length of the game we won 1-nil, the goal scored by Sam Miranda. In the end they won pretty confortably.

Then we woke up. Psyched at the propect of creating an upset we took on Figgy 1. This was more like it. They stood up to the challenge and were always in contention. We went down 1-nil, but if we played like that every game we would all go home happy.

Next game was another tough one against Wonoona 1 who are currently 2nd on the div 1 League table. A lot of the kids know each other through academy and school. They stood up to the challenge, and Sam L came up with a well taken goal. Woonona also scored one to leave the scores at 1-1. In the event of a draw the game is decided on corners , and, surprisingly there was only one all game, which came inside the last minute. Damn! but, again, there were absoloutly no complaints as the kids were getting more and more tired and left everything out on the pitch, and showed a massive amount of skill.

Injuries and tiredness set in and they spent a bit of time between the next games. under the trees recouperating and laughing at Dean.

Last pool game was against Oak Flats, another div 2 team. The kids who play regularly in defence had the opportunity to pick their own posiitons. TK took Left midfield, Dean striker, Jasmin right midfield, and Thomas M stayed in his preferred position of central defender. It was good to see the front line taking their jobs at the back seriously and appreciate the hard work the defence put in each week, well done to SamM, Matty D and Ryan. TK took the opportunity with both hands, or maybe feet, to put the ball in the back of the net for the 1 – nil win.

With that result we managed 4th in our pool and were forced into a play off for 7th and 8th position against our foes of the previous day, Bally 2. They were up for it, andwith injuries and no luck ours weren’t. We went down 2 – nil, but I was more than happy to let this one go and keep our League record in tact.

Were to start with the praise? Probably everyone deserves a big wrap for the efforts put in, especially the parents who put aside a whole day to bring the kids along. Big thank you!