Albion Park JSC Under 10 White vs Coledale White

Sport can be a cruel mistress. Often you can have little go your way, and yet you can fight to the edge of victory, only to have it taken away from you. The brave showing today from the Albion Park Junior Soccer Club Under 10 White team epitomised these words as they fell to a 6-4 loss at the hands of Coledale White at Terry Reserve.

Forced to play with only eight players against the full complement of nine for their opponents, the Albion Park team was behind the eight ball from the very start. With some enterprising and attacking play the Coledale team skipped away to a 3-0 lead within the first seven minutes, and there was every chance the match was going to be a blow out. However, as has happened so often this season, the park team fought back bravely, and began to find some gaps in the Coledale defense. Both Noah Black and Ky Van Helden had great shots on goal only to be denied, before Noah finally found a way through to make the score 3-1. A couple of minutes later some terrific lead up work from Noah and Zoe Middleton got the ball in to Ky, who slotted home the chance, and despite the fast start of their opponents the Park had dragged them score back to just 3-2 down. On the stroke of half time however Coledale took advantage of their extra player and through a great lead up got their fourth of the match, and as a result went to half time with a 4-2 lead.

The Albion Park reset themselves at the break, with both coach Shane Black and Spare Parts Everything Man Andy Middleton reminding the team that they were always the fitter team in the second half, but still conceded an early goal in the second half, leaving them behind at 5-2. But this team doesn't know how to lay down and die, and they demonstrated that again here. In the midfield Jack Tate and the switching pair of Claire and Belle Kadwell were tireless, running down their opponents and not giving them a moment's peace when they had the ball. Their terrier-like work meant that the ball began to get forward, and chances began to come. Faced with a high bouncing ball, Josh Peters managed to get his knee to the ball, lobbing it over the keepers head for a goal to bring the deficit back to 5-3. From here there was some fantastic play, with Ky, Zoe, Jack, Belle and Josh all having great chances to get a goal, but all just missing. The forward pressure was fantastic, and was helped by Jack-Ryan Eberwein in goals who not only kept the ball out but used his big boot to thump the team back into attack from their own end. Ky had a shot at an indirect free kick that just missed, and a corner kick almost found its way in from Zoe. Finally, Josh beat three men on the right wing, and his cross was met by a great sliding dive from Ky to get his boot to the ball and into the net, and it was 5-4.

Andy Middleton had taken on the shepherding role, and encouraged the kids to "go for the win!" During the match he alternately pushed his charges to "have a slap at goal", "cream it into the goal" and "give the ball a smack at the goal". Unfortunately for the Park kids, an attacking raid left holes in the field, and a wayward ball meant Coledale snuck away and scored a goal in the dying moments that sealed the win. As Andy maligned, "Oh well, you've got to bust a few eggs.... what's that expression?..." Coledale ran out winners 6-4.

Player of the day was awarded to Ky Van Helden for his terrific match, but all the kids should be proud of themselves. Fighting with a player less on the field for the whole match they were all magnificent.