Results, goal scorers and match reports

Under 13: Western District 5-1 AUSC (Della Verde)
With 5 players missing the AUSC lined up with exactly 11 players, forcing them to reshuffle and having players play out of position. Starting in goals was Aspen "OW" Smith, while captain Antonia "Gotcha gotcha, now I'm gonna clear ya" Ditroia lined up as the sweeper. The defensive quartet consisted of, Georgina Bolzon and Sara Della Verde as the wide backs, with Dimitra Dounas and Elizabeth Stankevicius sitting in more central roles. The midfield had Philippa Mikocki sitting as the defensive shield while Brooke "I don't mind them kicking balls at me but I hate diving" Smith sitting behind the striker as an attacking midfielder, with Hannah "Catch me if you can" Schoolz and Kate "Ninja" O'Connell as the wide players.

The game did not get off to the start the uni would have liked with the girls still sleepy from the early start (next week there will be firm no partying or sleep overs the night before a game policy in place), and Western District capitalized by punishing the the out of position uni with an early goal. Spending the majority of the half trapped in their own defensive third, the defence was under heavy pressure with Toni working over time to clear up the loose balls and Aspen making many saves. There were only a few attacking chances and most came from the wide players with the gritty, get in there and win the ball, spirit of Kate, often resulting in a loose ball for the attacking players to fight for and push forward. Mean while on the other flank, Hannah (complete with new hair do), ran at the Wester District defence and often left them bamboozled as she waltzed pass with a grin on her face. Number 42 for the opposition was identified as the key trouble maker for the defence of the uni and the job of marking her out of the game was given to Dimitra, who resolutely chased the skilful player all over the park and restricted her impact on the game. All in all the first half showed glimpses of what the girls could do but a lack of cohesion of still evident and the girls went in to the break 4-0 down.

During the half-time break, coach Bilal "Wow, getting up at 7 am is hard for a uni student" Farooqi talked to the girls about tightening up at the back and to get forward more often. Lee "Hi, I'm Brooke and Aspen's Father, Lee" Smith, helped fire up the girls, and they went back in for the second half to win the second half and then challenge for the game.

In the second half, Brooke and Aspen exchanged places on the pitch, with Aspen slotting in to central midfield and Brooke playing in goals. Phillipa moved to right back and Sara moved in to central midfield to provide an extra bit of flare and creative ability. The second half began with the AUSC camped in the opposition half attacking the box from all side, but unable to break down the resolute District's defence, last ditch tackles/fouls and keeper saves were what kept the AUSC from getting back in to the game. Fifteen minutes in to the half, and a lovely cross from the right flank resulted in a hand ball in the box, not even looking around or asking any one else, Sara calmly walked up to the box, picked up the ball, put it on the spot and gave the keeper the death glare before calmly bagging the first goal of the season for the team. I should say at this point that Sara's father is a well known taker of penalties, urban legend has it that he has never missed a single on, in his life, obviously Sara picked up a few tricks, now if only he could convert her to an Inter supporter from an AC Milan supporter. In reply to the penalty goal, the District players lifted slightly, and began pressing forward again, but the uni did well to repel them until the eventually snuck a dubious goal in (sideline banter has it that another District player was standing inside the goal post in an offside position when the ball was struck, but the referee adjudged her not to be in active play).

5-1 was the final result, but more importantly with only 11 players, the AUSC fought hard in the second half and came away with a 1-1 second half result. With another 3 weeks before the season begins the AUSC can look forward to a successful season if the rate of improvement continues.

 

Under 13: AUSC 6-0 Fulham United (Bia (2), Dragana (2), Emi, Brigette)

 

Third Division: Elizabeth Grove 0-4 AUSC (Madeline H, Kate N, Margaux H, Kate J)
With the match reporter arriving part way through the first half (hey, cut me some slack I had to drive over from Pennington) the game was under way in a new look reserves outfit. With the reshuffling of the squads during the week, Lia "KAPOW" Klatowsky came in at the back as a sweeper, on her left was Speedy Gonzalez….err I mean Penny, along with two other players (Sorry, still learning names, I'll get better, I promise). Ruth "complicated sur name" <insert long surname starting with V> was playing as the left winger with Emily playing upfront. I just remembered Madeline was playing as the centre back.
Oh, I forgot to mention the score was 0-1 in favour of the uni upon my arrival, and as if I were some kinda of lucky charm, as I approached the pitch, there was a second goal, when the AUSC capitalized on the opposition keepers indifference to coming out and pounced to put the ball away. The AUSC was barely giving the vale girls a whiff with most of the problems coming from balls bouncing oddly on the un even ground and two weird men standing on the side of the pitch talking about pulling their pants up or down to compare grass burns (sorry girls it's a male defender thing). A third goal almost materialised when the ball found it's way in to the back of the net but Ruth was adjudged to be with in the goalkeeper’s personal space while in an offside position, goal disallowed, much ranting and screaming from Kevin ensued. The man in the centre wearing a rather small fluro road worker orange bib blew his whistle to signal half time (it can be assumed he was the referee).

Kevin gave the girls a half time pep talk, and the girls headed back on to the pitch to grind their heels in to the opposition to not give the many chance to get back in to the game. The second half as much of the same with the uni girls coping with the uneven bounce a lot better then the Vale and linking up with some fluid passing to put another 2 away for the half. The girls thoroughly deserved their song and when they gathered to sing the team song, members and former members of the men’s team began to sing Kevin's club song, part way through the first chorus and after a few confused stares they stopped; it seems the girls have their own song which they promptly sang. First win under their belt, the Third Division team is going to be a force in the league this year.

 

First Division: Elizabeth Grove 4-0 AUSC
After getting an undeserved 0-7 drumming last week, the uni lined up with a fresh outlook and pride. Three of the stands out players from the previous week’s Third Division clash were given a call up. Skye "I crammed last night, and now I know the offside rule, wait….was it the last or second to last defender?" Scrutton lined up as a striker, with Rosie "THOSE ORANGES ARE MINE!" Rockliff slotted in to a central midfield role. Rachel Farquharson eased in to a centre back role while Monique "I look innocent, but violence is a way of life" Stam played as a right side midfielder. Congratulations to all 4 on their call up. In goals was Katheryn, with Zeena marshalling the defence in front of her. Joining Rosie in midfield was Sylvia "It's the SHIP program" Ozols, and joining Skye up front was Bridge the Midge. Sorry for those I didn't name but…names, still learning.

The game started off well with the uni and grove team battling for the ball with it mostly floating around in the central area of the pitch. The same issues cropped up from the previous week wit ha lack of team cohesion leading to players drifting off opponents they were meant to man mark or failing to run out as the defensive line pushed out, leaving opposition attackers onside. Grove then began to respond with the trusty old long ball, which was ironically enough, too long and Katheryn was there to pick up the lose ball. Fifteen minutes in to the match and horror struck the university team when Katheryn was injured, with no reserve keeper on the card, Celina "Is this a shirt or a really big dress" Van Nguyen stepping in to goals. Thi Thi "Zezou? I'm Tetou" Nguyen stepping on to the pitch as the replacement left winger. Grove then began to press down both flanks having the majority of the ball but the uni was still looking dangerous on the ball, not relying on the long ball but looking to play the ball around with short crisp passes. Skye often made decoy runs, although there is an argument as to whether she had seen the ice cream truck and was merely after a choc nut sundae with caramel sauce on the side. Her decoy runs often left Bridge some space to run on to the ball and try to take on the opposition defence. Once the uni defensive line had sorted itself out, the game was an even affair until the last 5 minutes.

Five minutes to go in the game and a long chip just went over the grasping Celina's hands, 1-0 down. At this point, the game took a turn for the worse; the uni girls dropped their heads and conceded 3 more quick goals before the final whistle. Once again the girls ended up wit ha score line that was much worse then they deserved. Looking on the bright side, the girls showed what the yare capable of, and in the coming week will no doubt prove it to the other teams.