13/08/2026
🔴⚫⚽🥇Thanks to Mr Marty Barber for his efforts coaching our boys this week, and for the write ups below. The boys ended up with gold medals, tied for first! Day 2 & 3 write ups:
Day 2
Game 4 vs Barossa and Light
Goals: Tyler 1
Best: Tyler, Georgio, Lachy
The boys weren't quite as composed on the ball in the first half, with Hamish working hard to chase down long balls but being limited to few clear chances due to some good positioning from the opposition defenders. When we did get the ball into wide areas, Georgio and Apollo used their pace and dribbling ability to take on defenders and get us into dangerous attacking positions. After a few changes at half time, the boys came out firing, with Lachy creating some great opportunities that we couldn't quite capitalise on. As we pushed forward looking for a goal, the opposition also found some opportunities on the counter, but brilliant goal-saving tackles from Heath and Apollo, along with tight marking from Jude, made it very difficult for them. Eventually, they managed to find the opening goal. The boys responded by lifting their intensity and working even harder, creating several chances that narrowly missed. With less than a minute remaining, it looked like it might be one of those games where the ball just wouldn't go in. With time running out, we pushed forward once more and won a corner. Georgio swung a great ball into the box and a determined Tyler, who simply wanted the ball more than those around him, got on the end of it to score the equaliser with just 40 seconds remaining. The boys' mentality to fight until the final kick and never give up was fantastic to see.
Game 5 vs Northern
Goals:
Best: Georgio, Tyler, Lennox
A disappointing end to Day 2, with the final result not reflecting the overall performance. After being put under some early pressure, Ted started brilliantly in goal, getting his hands to everything and making several important saves. Unfortunately, one of those saves was followed up and finished, before a quality long-range strike gave Northern another. The boys fired themselves up at half time and came out in the second half determined to turn the game around. We controlled large parts of the half and continually pushed forward, with Georgio showing his class on the ball and using some excellent footwork to repeatedly beat his opponent. Tyler worked relentlessly through the midfield, while Lennox combined well with him as we continued searching for a way back into the game. We created opportunity after opportunity, but an outstanding performance from the opposition goalkeeper kept us out. Northern had very few chances to attack in the second half, but another brilliant long-range strike put the game beyond reach. Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance. The boys' teamwork and passing were excellent, and their attitude and determination to keep fighting until the final whistle were fantastic to see.
Game 8 vs Murraylands - 7-0 win
Goals: Lennox 1, Tyler 1, Jude 1, Eamon 1, Max 1, Heath 2.
Best: All
Going into the final game, the table was incredibly tight at the top. We sat second, equal on points with Barker and just one point behind Northern. Our final game was against Murraylands, while Northern and Barker played each other. A Northern win would secure them the title, but a draw or loss meant that if we won, we would finish equal top alongside either Northern or Barker. While we were relying on another result, we still had to make sure we got the job done ourselves.
We started a little slowly and perhaps the nerves were creeping in, as we struggled to create clear opportunities early. After being held scoreless for much of the first half, the boys began moving the ball much better and Lennox got on the end of a good attacking move to open the scoring. Not long after, Tyler found the back of the net to give us some breathing room. As we settled into the game and started playing with more confidence, the opportunities began to come. Jude, who had spent the majority of the week in defence, pushed forward and was rewarded with a well-taken goal, while Eamon continued his excellent goalscoring form by adding another before the break.
At half time we changed a few things around, giving Heath the opportunity to move from centre back into midfield while Max pushed forward out of defence for the first time. Both were excellent in their new roles. Max created numerous attacking opportunities and added a well-deserved goal of his own, while Heath worked tirelessly, continually found dangerous positions and finished twice before the final whistle. It was a fantastic all-round team performance, with every player contributing to a convincing finish to the week.
Meanwhile, Barker got off to a flying start against Northern and led 2-0 at half time, which at that stage would have seen Riverland and Barker finish equal top. Northern fought back strongly in the second half and eventually levelled the game at 3-3. A Barker win would have seen us finish equal top with Barker, while a draw would see us finish equal top with Northern. The match finished 3-3, meaning we finished the week equal top with Northern.
A well-deserved result for a group of boys who showed fantastic attitudes, worked hard for each other and played as a team throughout the entire week. Congratulations boys, well done!
