APJSC Under 12.3 Green: Round 5 vs Balgownie Charcoal at Judy Masters #1

Home games probably shouldn’t matter when it comes to junior soccer, but it’s also a tough gig when you get three away games in succession, which is what faced the Albion Park Under 12.3 Green team as they took on the Balgownie team on Saturday in a match that probably deserved a different result on the face of the effort put in.

Down a player with the injury last week to the blonde bomber and down a coach due to work commitments, the Albion Park kids were coming off two victories of differing skill and needed to be good from the start against a team that was undefeated in the graded part of the season. It didn’t go well early on, as the bigger and faster home team found an abundance of possession and field position as well as finding ways to push the Park kids off the ball with freedom. A 50/50 handball call against Albion Park in the box allowed a free kick for Balgownie who managed to convert despite a great attempt by Ethan Meehan to save. Another two goals came in this first 15 minute period, which came from an inability to clear to ball cleanly from the defensive box. In the kids’ defence they were trying to clear the ball via passing to teammates and work their way out of danger, but it was big clearing kicks to the sidelines that was required. Better coaching from the fill-in pretender on the sideline could well have helped the situation.

At 0-3 down and not much going their way some teams may have packed it in and allowed the game to completely slip away, but not these 12 kids. They kept their heads high and continued to work hard, and eventually a bit of luck came their way. A good attacking raid down the right from Heath Gillis to Max Sciberras saw Max have a great run down the wing and get a great shot away only to pass by the post. From the goal kick though the boys recognised they could charge, and charge they did, with Max getting to the ball first and taking on the defence, before the ball fell to Josh Peters who managed to get the ball to the back of the net, and the boys had cut the deficit back to 1-3. For the final five minutes of the first half Park looked the better team and went to the break feeling more in the game than the score line suggested.

In my opinion, the second half performance by these boys was the best of the season. They never let up, they ran themselves off their legs, they refused to be battered off the ball, and they fought against everything that was thrown at them. They received little in the way of the rub of the green but they didn’t allow that to stop them. They faced over a dozen corners, and didn’t let in one goal. When the chance to attack came, they took it with open arms and gave it every shot. The rising tension on the benches showed just how close this game had become. From three corners when the backs were able to get the ball upfield, the forwards on all three occasions made great sweeping runs down field to attack the goals. Mick Young on left wing did his job superbly, getting the ball across to Ky Van Helden who then switched with Josh and Max to allay the ball towards the goals. The Balgownie backs were faster though and were able to diffuse these situations. Eventually though they had to crack, and with the midfield having won the ball it transferred across to Mick who made a terrific play by beating two opponents and making a superb cross inside to Josh, who took one touch and pushed it on Kyan, whose strike on goal was true, and the game was on at 2-3.

It didn’t pan out that way, but there was some memorable efforts. Harry Whiteford and Heath Gillis were both superb. They were asked to run all day, switch between back and midfield when needed, be first to the ball and not to allow any man past them with the ball. They executed this to perfection and they were a big part of the effort to win this game. At half time the backline of Nic Wynen, Jack-Ryan Eberwein and Luke Beesley were asked to ensure that we did not concede another goal, that if they did we could win the game. The defence of the second half was fabulous and all three boys – along with Harry and Heath – did their job superbly. They should be justifiably proud of themselves. Matt Shepherd again did a terrific job in midfield, and his tackling in particular was excellent, on several occasions getting himself in front of attacking opponents and stopping them in their tracks. Ethan Meehan had a memorable game. He got close enough to saving a penalty that would have been sensational, and it took two good strikes to beat him. In the second half he was harassed – hounded – by the Balgownie team and he refused to buckle. He made two super saves and was in the right place at the right time. In a losing cause sometimes the goalie doesn’t get enough recognition. Ethan deserves nothing but praise for his game. Mick Young and Max Sciberras on the wings did their job excellently today, making the run but getting the ball in to their centres much quicker today. Cohen Dick had a tough gig today, changing his position on the field with every sub, and he took it all in his stride and performed every role excellently. And Ky had his best game of the season as well, being the strong presence up front that the team needs. He moved back to midfield to get the ball and then ran hard through the forwards to be the attacking option. It’s great to have him back in that role.

You can’t win every game, but I’m willing to bet that this is the game that everyone looks back on in a few weeks and recognises as the one that changed the whole season. Against the odds they never gave in, and each and every one of them has hopefully proved to themselves that they can play well individually and as a team as a whole. What they are learning at raining is paying off, and no doubt having the coach back in the saddle next weekend and not the fill-in pretender will help to change the result next weekend.