Spurs lead junior soccer ladder

Spurs continue to head the Maryborough City Soccer Ready Set Web under 15 ladder after a  2 - 1 victory over Rangers in last Saturday’s competition. In the second match of the morning Wolves slugged out a three all draw with United.

Spurs and Rangers clashed in the early game with the wet ball making conditions difficult for the players. Neither side could get the upper hand during the first half with the score nil all at the break. The second half opened dramatically with Spurs’ goal sneak Nathan Leist finding the target twice in the space of five minutes.  Youngster James Jardine and seasoned defender Cameron Radnell also hit their straps and Spurs were suddenly looking very good.

 Rangers’ star Hayden Carr however, had other ideas and he immediately  kicked a long bomb to put his team back into contention. Jessica Hansen and Anders Malone also lifted and the game was suddenly wide open.  The Spurs defence, lead by sweeper Ned Coverdale and goalie Jesse Grogan managed to hold strong until the final siren to give Spurs victory and consolidate their top spot on the team table.

In the second match of the morning Wolves and United showed the evenness of the under 15 competition this season by recording a three all draw. In an entertaining game United opened strongly and had two goals on the board within ten minutes through the good work of Kurt Teague and Kyle Thomas. Sweeper Michael Burton was also in fabulous touch with a best on ground performance and Jeremy Dellavedova continued his great form.
However, Wolves regrouped midway through the first half with champion striker Eddie Carson slotting in two timely goals in the space of 10 minutes. Daniel Potter kicked a third just before the break.
 The second half was a tense struggle with neither side able to gain the break. Keeper Sam Fary was in great touch and younger brother Nick played his best game for the season in the mid field. An own goal to United in the dying moments of the match saw a fitting three all draw result.

Results

Spurs d Rangers 2 - 1
Spurs:        Goals - N Leist 2
                   Best -  N Leist, J Jardine, C Radnell, J Grogan and N Coverdale.
Rangers:   Goal - H Carr.
                   Best - H Carr, J Hansen, A Malone and R Walter.

United drew with Wolves three all.
United:     Goals - K Teague, K Thomas and own goal.
                  Best -  M Burton, J Dellavedova, K Teague and K Thomas.
Wolves:    Goals - E Carson 2 and D Potter.
                  Best - S Fary, E Carson, N Fary and D Carless.
 

The excitement in the Under 11 competition flowed from the first game when Saints ran out winners in a seven goal game. At first Saints were dominant with Hannah Walter opening up the scores with a clever goal and then Reece Perry making a strong run and squeezing his shot past brother Coby. However, in the second half City struck back - a great shot by Josh Diwell reduced the deficit, the 2 goal lead restored by Mark Noonan until 2 strikes by Coby Perry brought the game level. With ten seconds remaining Mark Noonan finished coolly to steal the  points. In a game where brothers and sisters were on opposing teams, all of the Perrys and Butlers were prominent and other good performers were Mark Hansen & Emily Kayes for Saints and Kallum Maffescioni and Ashleigh Forrester for City.
 
Forest and Spurs were separated by only one goal, a late finish by Lewis Rinaldi who makes a habit of popping up in the right place at the right time. Spurs battled very hard, no-one more than Madison Jones in defence playing her usual strong game, and Josh Mottram excelled both in goals and up the field during the second half. Tristin Clark played a hard running game for Forest and Edward Akers again picked up possessions as did little Nick Clark. Forest and Saints remain the two unbeaten sides in the under 11s and clash in the first game after the break.

Rangers and Gunners shared the honours with a 1-1 draw. Lauchie Dodson played his usual reliable game and scored the goal to put Gunners in front, but this was quickly answered by an amazing looping shot by Mitchell Hare which found the back of the net. This was well deserved as Mitchell was again an outstanding player. He was well supported by Rylan Jardine, a fearless defender and Isaac Roberts. Gunners were well served by Lachlan Patten, Daniel LeTisser and Zac Polinelli who is quickly adapting to the pace of the competition.

Celtic and Strikers were both teams in good form and it was no surprise when Celtic took the lead with a first goal to Brandon Solomano. However, Matt Gibbs made it one all at half time as he took advantage of some Celtic lack of concentration at the back. Stephen Fitzgibbon then set Strikers on the way with his first goal of the year and as Celtic regrouped, Matt Gibbs and Breanna Norton added another two. However, the Celtic players’ heads did not drop and Jarryd Clifford scored a deserved goal when he converted a penalty late in the game. Jackson Solomano and Sam Christie were Celtic’s outstanding performers while for Strikers it was Jack Collings, Sarah Cudmore and Patrick McGregor who shone.

The final game was a struggle between two of the smaller sides in the competition, but that did not stop the players giving their all, and in the end a 1-1 draw was a fair result. Both teams battled to progress in the first half, but the game became more open in the second. The deadlock was finally broken when Wolves Will Collicoat fired in a free kick from well outside the box, the ball taking a deflection on the way. In the final minute, United’s Jayden Hartwell finished off an outstanding game by slotting home the equalizer. Young Phillip Collicoat was a good Wolves player and Courtney and Kallum Dix both had many touches. United relied on the endeavour of their smaller players as Mitchell Carrod and Dylan Brereton took the game up to Wolves and Tianni Donald played their best games for the year.