Great team effort puts WSC U16 at the top of the Div 2 ladder

WSC Under 16 Vs Glenorchy Knights White

Last time these two teams met was at the beginning of the season and the result then was a very exciting 3 – all draw. This time around both teams began play awash with confidence after securing impressive wins on the previous weekend; the Knights having defeated Clarence 9-2 and Woodbridge on the back of a 4-1 win against Nelson/Mac. On paper, the game promised to be quite exciting and in reality spectators were not disappointed.

On the pitch, the Knights scored first, and just in case they had plans of repeating their 9-goal-scoring-frenzy, Woodbridge thought it best to respond in kind. While Woodbridge's first goal – via our trusty Captain, Phineas - was loudly cheered and a welcome relief, the second and third goals were worthy of the World Cup highlight DVD. Goal two came after a speedy counter-attack; with defenders chasing hard on Bolan's heels and the keeper rushing at him, he kept his head, and at the very last second lofted the ball over the goalie. Time slowed as it arced through the air – a bit like one of those Nike ads [cut briefly to fireworks and scenes of wild celebration on the streets of Woodbridge] – and then the crowd erupted as the ball dropped into the back of the net.

The third goal, from Phin again (begin again), was absolutely awesome too; hurtling net-wards from a distance, it was another Nike moment [cut to cheering crowds lining the streets and waving flags as the Under 16 motorcade drives past] it surprised the Knights' keeper - the ball or the brief visit into the Nike Psyche? no one is quite sure - he barely had time to register the threat before it was past him. And so it was, that by half time some great defending and excellent support in the midfield had helped to ensure a score-line of 3 - 1 in the home team's favour.

Perseverance in the second half saw the Knights pull the score back to 3 – 2 against as they fought hard trying to regain the upper hand. Again Woodbridge found the answer, for a moment it looked as if it might be Jy providing it, but it seems he'll have to wait until this coming weekend to notch up his first goal for the under 16 team. Instead it was Bolan, putting in his second for the game.

With Woodbridge on 4 and the visitors on 2, the Knights bestirred themselves and turned the flow of the game around once more. A series of well-executed attacks stretched the defence and ultimately paid off for the lads from Glenorchy, giving them a third goal. With the margin narrowed to one, a second draw between these two teams was in sight. Time, however, was on Woodbridge's side and the game concluded with a 4 – 3 victory for the home team.

Once again, it was a brilliant team effort with 11 fantastic performances from the Woodbridge squad (and some great play from the opposition too, but let's leave the singing of their praises to someone else). Having carried on a bit about a couple of the goals has left no room to wax lyrical about the rest of the game – suffice it to say that it was an impressive team effort.

Thanks to the re-jigged Division 2 roster and two consecutive wins, this Woodbridge Under 16 team is the first ever Woodbridge youth team to hit the top of the ladder. Well done team! Massive achievement and one well-earned!

[Cut to scenes of the Under 16 team happily clutching the World Cup trophy, while someone avoids spraying champagne all over them because they are too young for that sort of thing].

Post Script:
Woodbridge extends its thanks to the Glenorchy Knights coach, who kindly stepped in to referee the game – thank you :D

Post Post Script:
If anyone is interested, FFT is conducting a FREE referee training and accreditation course in early July, check our website for details. Given that Woodbridge has two senior and two youth teams competing this year, and that providing a referee for home games is usually expected, it would be useful to have some qualified refs to call upon. Come on, you know you want to ...

An awesome team effort from our Under16s

The team's inaugural game of the modified Under 16 roster was a rematch between WSC and Nelson/MacKillop; although last time they were scheduled to play only 4 Nelson/MacKillop lads showed up. This time 14 opposition players arrived at Woodbridge Oval nice and early, a full squad with a generous sprinkling of substitutes.

The game started well, with Woodbridge taking the play straight into the Nelson/Mac half and threatening to score right from the get-go. Unfortunately Vincent was badly injured in a very physical clash with a goalie twice his size at around the 15 minute mark. His resultant injury will most likely see him sidelined for the rest of the season; a hard knock for both Vincent and the team.

Despite this setback, it seems that the Woodbridge players are really starting to gel as a team; their passing and positional play was impressive, forcing Nelson into largely reactive football for most of the game. The opposition's occasional counter-attacks were stymied on the back-line by an impressively in-form Rainen and some exceptional play by Kye – both lads had to work extra hard to make up for the early loss of Vincent. An intrepid Deans boosted the side's defence, consistently dropping back to defend or providing valuable attacking play, by surging forward as needed.

A solid midfield, showcasing Phineas and Jordan’s speed and skill, consistently moved the play forwards, allowing Jy and Bolan to repeatedly attack the opposition's goal-mouth and keep the Nelson/Mac goalie on his toes.. Bolan had numerous unsuccessful shots before finally threading his way through the defence and putting one in from close range. A hand ball in the penalty area gave him the opportunity to add to his tally, but in a move copied almost identically by Spain's David Villa against Honduras on Tuesday morning (EST), his shot went wide (darn that jabulani ball!), and he had to score his second goal in a more traditional manner.

At half time the score was Woodbridge 2 – Nelson/MacKillop 0; (replicating exactly the full-time result for the Spain Vs Honduras game mentioned previously.)

WSC's Captain, Phineas, as usual, dominated the mid-field, setting up goals, directing play and scoring his first official goal for the season early in the second half; his chance came from a corner ball expertly delivered by Nick. Nelson fought back and managed to get the ball past a feisty Aiden soon after. Finally, around half-way into the second half, Nadirah arrived to shore up the defence, helping to ease the building pressure in the Woodbridge half.

Nelson's increasing frustration was becoming more apparent as the game drew closer to an end; Woodbridge had had them on the back foot throughout, and they seemed determined to try and salvage something from the game. But, at 3 — 1 up, Woodbridge was on a roll; and in a mad goal-mouth scrabble, where several boots were aiming to put in the fourth for Woodbridge, it was ultimately Nick's that managed the magic touch. Shortly after, the 'bridge was denied another penalty kick after Jy, on track to score his first for the season, was knocked down in front of the Nelson goal. The game stood at 4 -1 until the final whistle blew.

Well done Woodbridge! An awesome team effort.


Post Script:
If the Woodbridge Under 16s take the cake, then Sunday's games added the icing and the candles:

In Sunday's Youth Plate knock-out round our Under13s dragged Kingborough to a nil-all draw at Woodbridge, forcing the game into a penalty shoot-out which they then won 4 – 3.

The men's team, who also took on Kingborough, played shortly afterwards at Lightwood Park, putting on an fantastic performance and winning 6 – 1. Jy's disappointment at not yet putting his mark on the Under 16 goalscorers’ board was washed away when he was put on as a Super-Sub in the last 15 minutes of the men's game against Kingborough, where he scored a goal for the senior team almost immediately.

What a fantastic weekend of football!

WSC Vs Nelson/Mac; the Ad hoc friendly

Woodbridge starts the winter roster with a rematch against Nelson/MacKillop, 12:30 pm at Woodbridge on Saturday 19th June. Last time these two teams met, some form of miscommunication prevented the bulk of the Nelson/MacKillop lads from actually arriving for the game; we hope that this time they are adequately informed and come down to Woodbridge for what promises to be an exciting match-up.

The four Nelson/MacKillop lads who made it down to Woodbridge last time, stuck around for a 40 minute, 10-a-side friendly, borrowing Vincent and Jy from the Under 16 team, Jacob from the Under 13s and Justin, Dalles and Craig from the men's team. Despite dire prognostications, such as the overheard “we're going to get our (body part)s kicked”, the Under 16s were inspired to play their best game yet.

The 9 – 1 win may not have been official, but it was a morale-boosting way to conclude the autumn roster, and Nelson/Mac need not feel too bad about it, because although they had some talented players on their side, it was largely not the team they are accustomed to playing with. Woodbridge on the other hand looked as if they might finally be coming to grips with playing together, and up front they had fine-tuned their shots to actually bypass the keeper and hit the net.

Bolan reminded spectators of what he is capable of by putting in 5 goals, Phineas and Nick scored a well earned brace apiece and Jordan has broken his goal drought – when that happened in the U13s last year he was unstoppable! Nelson/Mac had numerous shots on goal, but Aiden was in fine form, leaping on everything until a well timed shot from Jy added the visitors to the scoreboard. And that's when the whistle blew...

All the Under 16 teams start winter with a clean sheet.

In its wisdom, and in order to get rid of byes in both Division 1 & Division 2, FFT (Football Federation Tasmania) have re-jigged the Under 16 leagues. Taroona and Huon Valley, the only two Division 2 teams to finish autumn with positive goal differences (8 and 17 respectively), have been moved up to a more suitable Division 1. Meanwhile Clarence United have come to join us in Division 2, welcome Clarence, we will see you on the 10th July at Cambridge :D