APJSC Under 12.3 Green: Round 3 vs Lakeside Orange at Webb Park #1

After last week’s disappointing result, it is impossible to convey just how well the Under 12 Green team responded to that performance, and how well every single individual played in tonight’s match against Lakeside Orange, in their first match under lights on a Friday evening.

 
Down to the bare minimum of eleven players with the absence of the injured Kyan Van Helden and the ill Ethan Meehan, it meant with no subs every player was going to have to dig deep to keep going for the full 60 minutes, and they did so wonderfully well.

 
Albion Park got the perfect start, retrieving the ball from their opponents kick off and moving the ball quickly and precisely from their backline. Nic Wynan and Heath Gillis combined nicely to get the ball up to the right winger Max Sciberras up on the halfway line. Max beat his opponent and got a great ball in to Josh Peters, who in turn made a perfect through ball to his partner Cohen Dick on the right. Cohen calmly ran the ball to within striking distance before putting the ball nicely into the back of the net, and Park had a 1-0 lead within the first minute of play. It settled the nerves and eradicated the doubts from the previous week, and now the team could show what it could do. And this they did with style.
Now we saw a lot of terrific play from kids who believed in themselves. The way that the combination of Heath Gillis and Michael Young played down the left side of the field was refreshing. Both used the time they had perfectly, and manoeuvred around their opponents with plenty of skill. Along with Matthew Shepherd and his bubbly centre partner, the opportunities for the forwards were coming with better regularity than last week. A lovely piece of play between the blonde headed centre and Mick down the wing found the ball back inside to Josh who slotted the shot home to extend the lead to 2-0 halfway through the first half.

 
All the ball was now in the Albion Park attacking zone and the boys were combining beautifully. Harry Whiteford and Heath were both marshalling the backline to keep the Lakeside team away from the ball, while up front the chances kept coming in waves. Within the congestion from one throw in and then corner, both Mick and Matt fought for the ball, which then fell to Cohen who got a short ball inside to Josh. Josh twirled with the ball and through traffic got the ball past the keeper to take the lead to 3-0.
Better was to come in the following attacking raids, where Max and Matt and his centre partner were instrumental in the ball being right in the mix around the box. One clearance from the Lakeside backs fell to Jack-Ryan Eberwein playing at the back. He was in space, and had been given the green light under such circumstances to feel free to take a crack at goals. He was only five metres into the attacking half, but he struck the ball with power and accuracy, and the ball went high over the players in front of him and lobbed perfectly between the cross bar and the outstretched keepers' hands to bring up the goal of the season, and the lead moved out to 4-0.

 While Lakeside looked demoralised, the Park contingent refused to drop their intensity, and kept pressurising their opponents. This was also true of the goal kicks, and late in the half one of these came straight to Josh who trapped in perfectly, took a couple of steps and bashed it past the keeper to register his third goal of the half, and at the break Albion Park had a commanding 5-0 lead.

 
At half time the Park boys were implored not to let up in their play, and to keep playing in the same fashion. With the comfort of a big lead it seemed like all of the boys had their eyes widening with the chance of scoring their own goal, while Lakeside spent most of the time just kicking the ball out of play. This could only last so long before it would break down, and so it proved. A lovely steal and run from Harry continued as he passed to Max who made a terrific run down the right, with his bullet shot on goal only just missing to the right from a deflection. Two more plays followed, this time instigated by Matt who not only retrieved a loose ball from Lakeside but then deftly made pinpoint passes to Max on the right who again showed great skill to attack down his flank. The third one of these was completed when Max made a superb cross that skirted across the goal face, finding Josh rushing in from the left post to get the ball into the goal in a play that has been getting attention at practice, and Park moved to a 6-0 lead.

 
There was plenty going on, and everyone was getting involved. Max was having a blinder, and was soon in the action again when he took a corner on the right which he passed back to the livewire centre, who beat his man and pushed it forward to when Cohen was waiting. He turned with the ball but was unable to get onto his preferred right foot – but instead crushed the shot with his left foot, and found an impossible gap between the keeper and the right post with a terrific shot, and with a well deserved second goal Cohen had increased the lead to 7-0.

 
The scoring stymied at this point, but not through a lack of opportunity. Perhaps the only change here was that everyone who got the ball thought they were a chance of scoring, so everyone was having a crack from longer range. And, if you can’t have a bit of a go with a 7-0 lead, when can you? Matt in particular was very unlucky with a beautiful shot he had from outside the 18 yard box, and it took a good save to deny him. So too Mick on the left, who unfurled his cannon left boot late and only narrowly failed to score. Jack-Ryan had another chance that just fell short, and Heath also had his own chance. Lake side began to make a few breaks late in the match, but on each occasion, they were terrifically defused by Nic at right back who made three separate brilliant tackles and then perfect passes to his teammates downfield, and was well backed up by Harry who with speed and skill rounded up every ball that came through the centre field and ran it back through the tiring opponents.
Just when it looked as thought the final score would be settled at 7-0, the Park kids got back into the swing of things late. A ball through the centre found Mick who, though somewhat out of position he got the turn and pushed the ball through to Josh, who then found his way past the keeper again to make the score 8-0. Finally, on the stroke of full time, another great rush at a goal kick found Cohen able to trap the ball on this occasion, and like Josh in the first half he took a couple of steps before finishing off with style and completing his hat-trick, and completing the game as a triumph for the Albion Park team, running out convincing winner by 9-0.

 
The award winners today went to Jack-Ryan, whose fabulous goal was backed up by solid defence once again and showing he has a deft pass as well as power in those boots, and Max who had a terrific attacking game, looking the most confident he has all season, and that belief today drove him to his best performance of the season. Well done to both boys, but honestly it could have gone to any of the boys today as each player had a wonderful evening. Special mention goes to Luke Beesley who filled in at keeper tonight at short notice. Though talking down his chances he showed good skills in the warm up and if he had been challenged I think he would have been up for it, As it was, he did not touch the ball once, such was the dominance of the team and of its defensive structure.

 
Finally, I don’t like to talk up Josh too much, as I am extremely biased when it comes to his sporting prowess. But tonight he scored five goals, and also had at least two other assists, as well as countless number of perfect passes to put his teammates into gaps down either flank. He hated losing last week and was very very motivated to ensure that didn’t happen again this week. He’s learning a lot this season and loving playing in this team. I was extremely proud of the way he played tonight.
Next week we are up against the Russell Vale side that we drew 3-3 with earlier in the season. It will be another good test as to how much this team has improved in that time.