Gladiators v Dare Devils

Under 13s
By Michelle Smirke
Margaret River Gladiators chasing their first win for the season, hosted Dunsborough Dare Devils.

The Devils scored quickly with a lucky goal at the start but the Gladiators gave an excellent display of forward attacking.

Their efforts were rewarded when Nathan snuck one past the keeper to level the score.

Tyron was quick on his feet and Braydon scored to keep the Gladiators in the game.

Chris showed solid goal keeping skills saving countless attacks from the Devils. Deklan was consistent throughout earning the well deserved MVP title.

The Gladiators back half fought hard to repel the Devils but another 2 late goals gave them the match 5-2.

The final score did not reflect the tight challenge put up by the Gladiators whose winning fever is in the air. Good effort Team.

MR Marlins VS MR Power

By Sally Lea
It was always going to be a big showdown between these two strong teams and the game standard didn’t disapoint.

Although Power had a height and age advantage, the Marlins were eager and showed great skill and speed throughout the match.

Angus North was the Marlins goalie and did an excellent job saving many attacks by the Power forwards. He was well supported by all teammates in defence, with Molly Quick and Joshua Lane doing some fantastic tackles, with only one goal slipping through by halftime.

The second half saw an even game with no scores made. All players put in a big effort with Tanah Woodland showed some great promise with her soccer skills building each week.

Angus Dowding worked the ball up beautifully on a number of occasions, with help from the forward line, Marlins were unlucky not to be able to get over the line for a goal.

Player of the match went to Angus North. Coach Tim Quick was very pleased with the game being played in such great spirit.

MR Hammers 8 Vs Cornerstone 0

U10s
By coach Gary Leigh
The Hammer’s had a great result and missed the heavy rain in the sunniest part of the day.

The half time score line of 1-0 showed no indication of what was about to happen in the second period.

The rain stop but it started raining goals for the Hammer’s with Sam Leigh scoring 4 times, Michael Andros twice with Killy Booth and Jasper Harvey both scoring once, with Jasper getting the goal of the day with a great strike from distance and his first goal of the season.

This score line could have been so different but for a great save by Nakita Harvey when the score was only 1-0 shortly after the break.

The Hammers built on this and got back to winning ways after last weeks draw.

Alana Clark held the midfield together and played some great football, winning my “Eagle Boys” player of the match award.

Seb Bosich defended well, Hugo Douglas and Jace Narva-Farrow both played with intensity.

Mia Mondy also played for me her best game of the season thus far.

Sam Lane and Brodey Deighton skill and tackling ability were a welcome addition, both back into the team after last week’s absence.

This team is playing some wonderful football and we are improving with each game.

MR United 4 def Australind Lions 3

By Patrick Marzohl
Margaret River United travelled to Busselton to meet Australind without several key players. Mat Kevill captained the team again with Dave Swainston taking up the coach’s role on the side line and myself being the referee.

The game kicked off in strong rain. Margaret River played their best game this season in the opening twenty minutes.

[Right: A determined Sam Connell, won Player of the Match.]

Hours of practicing supportive play, quick passing, game strategy, running off the ball and directive talking have payed off.

It was a delight to watch the boys in yellow in action. It came to no surprise then that the team was three goals up after 16 minutes.

Mehdi Balkhi (5th) and Sam Connell (10th and 16th) were the players that finished the superb effort by the whole team.

With the substitution came a reorganisation of the squad. Australind put more into the game now and was able to put one past Alex Williams in United’s goal in the 22nd minute with a well-taken shot from outside the box.

Mehdi Balkhi’s header in the 26th minute after a powerful run by speedy winger Benjamin Smith nearly restored the three goal lead but the ball went just over the bar.

[At left: Lewis Hayes.]

Towards the end of the first half, Margaret River lost some of the strong team play and instead reverted to individual actions that resulted in frequent loss of the possession.

The second half saw a changed Margaret River team. Injured sweeper Mat Kevill and forward Mehdi Balkhi were both rested. The game opened up and both teams came to some scoring opportunities.

Jack Hewton played an excellent game and Dylan Johnson-Swainston showed outstanding tactical moves on the left wing.

Australind scored a second goal in the 56th minute but Mehdi gave Margaret River the two goal lead back only two minutes later.

Australind’s third goal in the 63rd was a breath-taking long-range shot from the half-way line under the cross-bar, unstoppable for Alex.

[Right: Jack Hewton played an excellent game.]

Despite Margaret River’s earlier dominance, the finish was nail-biting; however, United managed to hold onto the winning lead.

The player-of-the-match award went to Sam Connell for his outstanding play-making qualities and the improvement award went to Dylan Johnson-Swainston.

Stingers and Wolves in 1-1 draw

Stingers Week 4 Report
By Stu
Saturday 22nd May saw the Stingers travel to Busselton to take on the Capel Wolves. The young Stingers relished in the inclement conditions and produced easily their best all-round performance thus far this season.

First gamer, Taj Spencer kept goals in the first half and swept across the defensive area throughout the second showing the value he will bring into the team for the remaining games.

Noah ‘x-files’ Mulder showed his most focussed effort, working well in all areas of the ground including a spell in goals, Taj and Noah collecting this weeks match awards.

Quinn ‘steam train’ Cargill Fletcher had some sweeping runs from defence, carrying the ball into attack, threatened the goals time and again and inevitably found the back of the net for the Stingers’ only goal.

Oscar ‘stretch’ Armstrong, Anj ‘kung fu’ Kupfer-Hollis, Hugo ‘boss’ Smith, Chloe Altmann and Bryce ‘jetsetter’ Bennett all played their part in an effort that typified the Stingers hard tackling, good passing and trapping and smart decision making, particularly in defence.

The final score line, a 1 all draw. Special thanks to Asha Altmann who ended up playing a game for the Margaret River Mambos, who were short on players.

MR Glory (8) d MR Spitfires (0)

10 and under
By Carolina Paice
As the Spitfires were down a player, James from the Glory in good sportsmanship, played for the Spitfires for this game.

Predominantly it was played in the Glory’s half of the field with the team playing very well in sometimes torrential rain downpours.

An example of clever Glory play: Jaz found himself surrounded by Spitfires. On the run he aimed and shot an awesome kick straight over their heads, finding Natalie who swiftly brought the ball up the wing, crossed it into the centre where Donnie finished it off by scoring a great goal.

Players like Carla, Jykia and Tia are gaining much confidence and really getting behind the ball. Sol, Liam, and Pascoe played well in defence. Taj as goalie didn’t have too much to do in this game but defended well. Dangerous Donnie (3) and almost unstoppable Nick (5) were fantastic goal scorers for the day.

All the Glory players are exercising great teamwork by looking before passing and communicating to one another.

Coach Alex was full of praise for his team rewarding best players to Natalie for creating good scoring opportunities and to Jaz for such great control of the ball and having a good right kick.

MR Hammers 0 Vs MR Glory 0

U10s Junior Football
By Gary Leigh, coach of the Hammers
Fifty minutes of football could not separate these two Margaret River teams; although the Hammers had far more possession they could not turn it into goals.

The Hammers had the Glory camp in their own half for most of the first period, but every attack was faulted by a well organised defence and superb goal keeping.

Nakita Harvey, Michael Andros and Killy Booth made several chances to score and the “woodwork” was struck on 4 occasions, but still the Glory defence stood firm.

After the break Sam Leigh was moved to forward and Sebastian Boich in centre of midfield, still the deadlock could not be broken.

Jace Nara-Farrow went close with a shot and Alana Clark made several majestic forays in midfield.

The Hammers started to run out of ideas and Glory could have snatched a win in the later stages of this intense encounter.

This was a great example of how a nil all draw can be an entertaining nail biter with great skill and passion to boot.

Sam Leigh wins my player of the match award for his scintillating runs forward and Alana the most improved player on the day.

Well played to both teams.

MR Munchkins v Duns Quindas

Round 4 Busselton, May 22
By James Clark
Kicking off in horrid weather with just four die hard Munchkins, the ranks grew to seven as the rain cleared.

Gratefully a spare Quinda (a flashy little chap we should see about signing) made it possible to play two concurrent games of four a side.

What ensued was some really good football, a pleasure to watch.

It seemed everyone had their running legs on and the Munchkins really took it up to the Quindas, arguably the best U6 team in the competition.

Ashley Jarvis took a nasty whack, but courageously went back on to literally kick her boots off (at right).

Ever reliable Danny Benedetti was a wall of defence, saving goal after goal.

While the unassuming Max Douglas blitzed them, in the first half hurtling down the side line and crossing to score a brilliant goal, beating three in the process.

Viva la Munchkins!
Below: Munchmen, the straight guys; (left to right) Danny Benedetti, Jack Holzer, Huon House and Max Douglas.
Munchettes, know how to party; (left to right) Ashley Jarvis, Lily Mondy and Lizy Wilkie. Photos: James Clark.

FMR Munchkins v GMAS Roos

Round 3: Margaret River 15 May 2010
By James Clark
In difficult conditions where we’d normally tell them to “get out of the rain!”, the Munchkins showed real ticker.

New recruit Mikey Jess played a great game in the mid field, regularly intercepting and feeding the ball forward to team mates.

Jack Holzer, Jaxon Deighton and Max Douglas all made strong contributions.

While the Munchettes; Lily Mondy, Lizy Wilkie and Ashley Jarvis were simply outstanding.

A Munchkin short of a picnic in the second half; Casey Castle, Danny Benedetti and Huon House showed real determination to defend and ultimately score against six GMAS Roos!

Here’s hoping for more sun and less frizzy hair next Round.

Well done Munchkins, you make us proud.

MR United 4 def GMAS 3

Above: Michael Winstanley's goalmouth header.

Youth League Boys
By Patrick Marzohl
Margaret River United welcomed Mishka Marzohl, Alex Williams and Scott Guthrie-Phelps but were without key players Benjamin Smith, Jacob Connell and Harry Hick. Captain Mat Kevill led the squad out onto the pitch in rainy conditions.

The game started scrappy. GMAS found the back of the net in the 4th minute after a corner kick. Alex Williams in United’s goal went to fist the ball away, but the wet condition and a push into his back resulted in an unlucky own goal.

This early set-back woke the home team and the players started to use the wings.

Several good combinations gave Margaret River scoring opportunities.

The equaliser by Mehdi Balkhi in the 7th minute resulted from a great sequence of quick passing. Mehdi added a second goal in the 16th minute.

Margaret River was now in control of the game. The change in defence with Oscar Howse playing central and Jack Hewton on the right wing proved very effective. Mat Kevill played an outstanding match keeping the back line together.

Scott Guthrie-Phelps integrated well into the game and added a third goal in the 20th minute.

GMAS gained greater command in midfield towards the end of the first half.

In the 30th minute, Alex Williams made up for his earlier mistake by brilliantly reacting after a powerful strike from a run-away GMAS forward.

Only one minute later, Mehdi was brought down in GMAS penalty box but Mehdi placed the resulting penalty just wide of the goal.

The team showed improved team play in the first half but the players were alerted about complacency and commitment.

The second half therefore started full of action. Aaron Locke just missed in the first minute after a powerful run on the right wing.

GMAS combined well and managed to score in the 38th minute. The home side increased the two-goal lead again only four minutes later when Jake Graebner-Bond headed home after a well-placed corner kick.

In the 45th minute, Alex saved a shot but failed to secure the ball. GMAS forwards were quickly on the spot and managed to push the ball over the line.

The home side enjoyed greater possession and slightly more shots on goal, but the game was in the balance for the remainder of the second half. Jack Hewton played a very impressive game in defence and Dylan

Johnson-Swainston’s excellent position play earned him much praise. The team will continue to focus on position play in training this week.

Congratulations to Mat Kevill (at left) for the player-of-the-match award and Oscar Howse for the most improved player award.