Albion Park Junior Soccer Under 13.3 Round 4. Vs University at Terry Reserve #1, Albion Park

Albion Park Junior Soccer Under 13.3 Round 4.

Vs University at Terry Reserve #1, Albion Park

In a top of the table clash between first and second on the ladder, in conditions that were reminiscent of March rather than deep in the winter, the young Albion Park 13.3 team fought periods of lethargy with moments of brilliance to wear down their opponents and come away with a reasonably wonderful 4-0 victory.

The game began in a flurry, with the Park team going forward early through some good work by Matt Shepherd and Josh Peters down the right of the field. Josh’s ball fell at the feet of Cohen Dick who put through a wonderful cross into the goal mouth, where Kyan Van Helden was able to get his head (actually it was his neck) onto the ball and guide it into the goal for an early 1-0 lead.
The remainder of the first half was a tough slog, with some tight decisions either way for both teams when it came to arms and shoulders in tackles. The University team was much bigger than the Park kids but they refused to be pushed off the ball despite sometimes being hurled to the ground hard. It was impressive and at times brave efforts from the kids, with the blonde headed bopper and Heath Gillis especially findng this, with kids twice their height thinking they could get around them and finding out that they could not.
There were moments of excellence at different periods. Will Schofield put through a brilliant ball from the back that Josh ran on to, but the shot under pressure was pushed wide. Along with Will at the back, both Luke Beesley at sweeper and Matt Shepherd at right back were simply marvellous, pushing their opponents out to the wings when they had the ball and gave them almost no easy shots on goal. Luke Golding had more to do this week than he has in recent games, but he defused every ball that came his way with ease and great positioning. Through the middle of the field Kane Rex, Indiana Middleton and Lincoln Calder all worked hard in getting the ball forward. In the dying moments of the first half Josh made a cross that then went through two others to fall across the goal mouth to where Ky was waiting in front of goal with no one in front of him. It could only be a goal, but Ky’s wide eyes at this easy addition to his seasons tally must have blinded him, as the miskick trickled ever slowly to the line, and the keeper fell on it just in time to deny the goal, and for the whistle to blow half-time leaving Albion Park leading 1-0.

The second half started much like the first with Albion Park attacking early. From the back Luke Beesley made a great steal from his opponents attack, and moved wide down the left and making the perfect pass to Cohen on the left wing. Cohen ran hard in space before passing to Ky whom had run hard to get into space on the left. He beat three men with wonderful footwork before crossing to the blonde bomber in the centre, who steadied and got the ball to the right where Heath was in the clear, and he rifled home the strike of the day into the top centre of the net with a brilliant ball. The good guys had a 2-0 lead and some comfort returned for the coaching staff

The second half was a much better performance from the team. They ran and worked hard together and showed how important fitness can be, as well as the benefit of a large bench to give everyone a good rest when needed. Another wonderful run from Anton Anoop through the middle of the field, beating four players before expertly pushing the ball forward found Kyan racing hard on the right of the goals, and his flying shot just passed by the right post. The pace engine room of the blonde bomber and Heath, who both created great speed which sparked the team in attack and defence, kept the home team on the attack. They both combined with Anton to give Heath another chance to score, but the ball fell loose at the final attack. Josh then returned to beat his man point blank before putting a gorgeous ball in front of Heath, but the resulting tap just went a touch too far.
Eventually something had to give, but it was from another excellent piece of play that brought it about. It started down the left-hand side again with excellent work from Jack Pomery and Zoe Middleton keeping the ball alive, before it was pounced upon by Anton, who then beat two defenders beautifully before running forward and crossing into the centre where Josh waited. Unfortunately his air swing left him lying on the ground with his dignity busted. However the ball was kept alive by Heath Gillis on the right, and after beating a couple of defenders he crossed back into Josh, who with no one around him lined up and completed the goal. At 3-0 the result now appeared in the bag.

 
The superior fitness of the Park kids continued to set up chances, and soon Josh forced his way through with only one defender and the keeper to beat. The foul from the defender was obvious and called, and Josh took the penalty from outside the box, kicking a beautiful curling shot over the wall and into the top left of the goal for a 4-0 lead, which is where the game finished. Josh was named as player of the match, a great reward for a game that he orchestrated wonderfully through the middle of the field, with wonderful help from his teammates in the middle.

Undefeated after four games, and with four clean sheets, the Park has set themselves up as the team to beat this season. There are tough games to come so laurels cannot be rested hpon5, but if they continued their hard work at training and get off to a more consistently fast start rather than a lethargic one then here is no reason why they cannot continue on this excellent season.