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!