BMFC IM.1: 3
vs
Springwood United FC: 1
BMFC Goal Scorers: Ethan, Martin, Og
Player of the Match: Eli
Match Report: Team photo today and the boys had all got up early to do their hair and make up. Beanies worn, as is team tradition, to remember Con
The coach took a tumble in the warm up but I’m pretty sure no one noticed…ahem
To the game. We’d had a really competitive night game a couple of weeks ago with Springwood and fully expected the same today. Chances started to come after ten minutes or so – Ethan put away for a 1on1 by Martin; Damo pouncing on a loose ball in the box; a Damo cross for Finn to head and a shot saved from Harry from the edge of the box. Off a Damo corner after 30 minutes, Liam’s header hit the crossbar then keeper for another corner. Damo’s deep corner was met in the air by Ethan to give us the lead
Springwood started the second half really well and created two good chances. Eli saved the first bravely 1on1 and then a long range shot equally well saved. Aidy hit the crossbar with a deflected shot and then off a corner the ball was deflected in for an own goal. A few minutes later Jake found some space down the left and his it was saved but followed up by in form striker Martin for his third in two games
A late penalty was conceded and scored when Sam was struck in the face by the ball and hit his arm that was up to protect the face
Eli voted players player and coach’s player – two brilliant saves at a crucial time in the game the highlights. Distribution excellent as always and also headed clearances just outside the box
BMFC IM.1: 7
vs
Glenmore Park FC: 2
BMFC Goal Scorers: Ethan (2), Martin (2), Clay (2), Liam
Player of the Match: Players player and coach’s player – Martin
Match Report: Another night game. Finn away & Braydo out last minute due to work. This meant a reshuffle in the backline with Luke starting at sweeper, Sam & Clay stoppers & Aidy as CDM
The game got underway and the lighting was not the best – the lights were on but not the full game lighting brightness
The teams battled it out for 40 minutes with no goals scored. The lights then upped in brightness and almost in sync the boys, now seeing where the goal was, clicked into gear. Martin, only on a few minutes earlier up front with Ethan put his strike partner away unopposed and Ethan smartly finished. Two minutes later and a deep Damo corner was met by Clay with his head to make it two
The first minute of the second half Ethan scored again, employing a rabona finish. A few minutes later Ethan unselfishly laid the ball off in the box for Martin’s to score his first of the season. Damo sent another long corner in and a carbon copy Clay headed in his second
Damo hit the bar before Liam tapped in a goal following a smartly taken free kick by Martin
Glenmore pulled a couple back and Eli denied a third with a brilliant tip over the bar
Martin rounded out a player of the match performance in the last minute following a great cross from Jake
BMFC IM.1: 3
vs
Lane Cove West FC: 1
BMFC Goal Scorers: Jake (2), Liam
Player of the Match: Players player – shared Jake and Luke
Match Report: State Cup Last 16 v Lane Cove West
A long road trip up the start of the M1 to Asquith for the next round of the cup. Everyone fit and available
The opening 10 minutes had us largely defending as Lane Cove West kept the ball well. We started to get a foot hold in the game and once we got into the opposition’s final third we looked dangerous. The opening goal came down the left after 17 minutes with Jake lashing home. A few minutes later Jake had another opportunity after a corner, this time off his right foot which he mis kicked but the ball spun and fell perfectly for Jake to knock home with the second attempt
Lane Cove West hit back two minutes later and then Liam restored the two goal lead with a long range shot
A few positional adjustments made at half time to counter the extra player in midfield. The second half was more of the same as we defended superbly, starting from the front with Sam, Damo & later Ethan & Knobsy and when we had the ball in the opposition half continued to create the better chances. No further goals for either team
Lane Cove West’s keep ball centric football meant possession was probably 65% in their favour across the game. Our boys kept their focus and structure to limit the opposition to very few real chances. At the other end we created a lot and took our chances in the first half. Well played fellas, great game of football by both sides today
Players player shared between Jake, his two early goals really putting us in control and Luke who runs all day and never gets tired – today he was pretty close to being tired!
Photo – Jake puts away the first of his two goals
BMFC IM.1: 3
vs
Penrith Rovers FC: 1
BMFC Goal Scorers: Clay, Liam, Sam
Player of the Match: Players player – shared Luke and Clay
Match Report: A beautiful winters morning at Knapsack & a full squad of 15 available
Martin had left his drink bottle behind last week so the Coach had picked it up and ensured it got back to Martin on match Day. Martin thanked me and then said he’d forgotten his shin pads & with none of the boys having a spare pair, Coach jogged home round the corner to find a pair for him. Things I do….
An evenly contested opening, with nothing much created. The first chance fell to Ethan in the 14th minute after Liam sent him away 1on1 with the goalkeeper – the shot went over the bar. A few minutes later Liam’s free kick was met again by Ethan at the far post but this time the ball struck the post
Rovers created chances too mainly from quick counter attacks but our defence was in fine form
In the 41st minutes Harry jinked past a couple in the box and passed to Beaso who snatched a little at the opportunity and the shot went over. One last chance right on half time to Jake after Harry put him away down the left – his shot well saved.
Half time talk centred on keep doing the same – another day we would have been a few up by now, it’ll come. Keep using the full width in possession. Be careful over committing as Rovers pace on the counter is a threat.
The opening 20 minutes of the second half and still no goals. Finally we found a break through on 22 minutes – Clay rising to meet a corner with his head and into the net. Three minutes later and Liam’s cross from out wide sailed over the keeper and straight into the net – a tad lucky but we’ll take it. Sam had been introduced as centre forward for Ethan and what an impact he had. In the 28th minute Finn put a cross into the box and Sam rose and headed home. Sam’s celebration can be seen below – Sam hasn’t scored for this team for a long long time in a competitive game (possibly not at all?) so was pretty happy, as we all were, when this one went in. Now on a roll in the 35th minute another cross into the box and another Sam header, beating the keeper but hitting the bar
The last kick of the game saw Rovers pull one back
A super team performance – no goals for a long time but patience rewarded in the end with three goals in six minutes
Martin ended the day as he started, leaving his water bottle behind. Don’t worry, I’ll bring it next week!
BMFC IM.1: 3
vs
Springwood United FC Black: 1
BMFC Goal Scorers: Ethan (2), Beaso
Player of the Match: Coach’s – Aidy
Match Report: Night game away at Summerhayes. On arrival we saw we had been moved onto the mod field once again – time & space at a premium
As we got into the game it was clear Springwood were right up for the challenge. Quick and direct on the break, our defence of Brayden, Clay, Finn & introduced later Sam were tested all game
We created a number of chances but nothing clear cut. Aidy was denied a penalty when he seemed to have been brought down in the box. In the 32nd minute Liam struck a free kick that the keeper saved but couldn’t hold and Luke poked in the rebound. The goal was disallowed surprisingly for off side
In the 43rd minute we finally got the breakthrough. Beaso’s corner was well flighted and Ethan rose to nod home
8 minutes into the second half, on the break out of defence, Luke put Ethan away and as the keeper came out Ethan knocked it over him from outside the box & just under the crossbar
Springwood continued to trouble us on the break and also had a goal disallowed for offside. With 5 minutes to go Springwood were rewarded with a penalty. Eli was given 5 minutes in the bin so Luke jumped between the sticks and almost saved the kick as it just went under him
Safety first for the final few minutes, keeping the ball & holding it in the corners. In the last minute Beaso had the ball in one such corner and then jinked his way round the defender, created space and shot home into the far corner to wrap the game up
BMFC IM.1: 4
vs
Strathfield FC: 1
BMFC Goal Scorers: Ethan, Liam, Harry, Jake
Player of the Match: Liam
Match Report: Round 2, U18 State Cup v Strathfield
With a number of the boys, & coach, Chelsea supporters, the Champions League Final win early in the morning had us all in good spirits & excited for our next round of the Cup. A chance to test ourselves against opposition outside of our Association & have some fun
The boys were simply exceptional in the first half, taking the game away from the opposition playing high tempo, possession-based football. Four goals were scored – the first after 9 minutes when Captain Aidy drove into the box, his shot parried by the keeper & goal machine Ethan was on hand to out the rebound in the net. On 17 minutes, Liam received the ball on the edge of the box and turned and hit a bullet off his weaker left boot into the top corner. On 26 minutes Liam’s central midfield partner Harry did similar after Knobsy had played the ball to him but off his right foot into the bottom corner. Finally on 33 minutes Liam evaded a late challenge by hopping over it & a super cross from the right hand touch line was met cleanly by Jake to head home
At half time I asked to focus on keeping a clean sheet as the game was virtually won. No cards & no injuries too please
The second half was a different game – Strathfield upped the aggression & it become a battle. We still created chances but didn’t score. Eli made one double save off a free kick & follow up. Strathfield pulled one back with 13 to go
A very good win & look forward to the next round in 2 weeks time
BMFC O35.1: 6
vs
Warradale FC: 1
BMFC Goal Scorers: Thor (3), Paulie (2), Iceman (pen)
Player of the Match:
Match Report: An early start out at the Waterboard Oval & limited personnel – 11 players plus Sensible Sem (injured but available in a reduced capacity, if required)
With Brad unavailable, The Gaffer called out that someone called Tolly would be the Captain for the day
We got out of the blocks quickly with Paulie getting a couple & Thor a hat trick by half time
Captain Tolly withdraw himself with a calf niggle & Sensible Sem came on in centre midfield with clear instruction from the Gaffer to not run, consider this walking football. A few of the team forgot Sem couldn’t run & played balls in front of him & then realised their error when Mark didn’t move. I think I heard one of my team mates comment that Mark still moved quicker & more gracefully than myself at full speed. Harsh. Fair though.
Captaincy went to Zap who has now filled every position & role in this team
Second half was a little less productive, which was pointed out regularly by Warradale’s head of the supporters club on the side line. The best quip was ‘and you’re going to play Champion of Champions’ to which Paulie took as a massive, if a little premature / optimistic, compliment
One more was added by Iceman slotting a penalty away
BMFC IM.1: 13
vs
Springwood United FC: 0
BMFC Goal Scorers: Ethan (3), Damo (3), Beaso (2), Aidy (2), Clay, Eli, Liam
Player of the Match: Players player – Damo
Match Report: The boys all had a quiet Saturday night in before Sunday’s game….well, some might have done. With the Eurovision Song Contest on this weekend, the Glenmore Park Massive had been to a Eurovision fan party – there were some great costumes, see photo below (one of these is our regular sweeper – can you pick which one?). Beaso & Brayden had both got themselves new mullet hair cuts for the shindig – Beaso’s the local hair salon ‘Snips n Tips’ & Brayden at home by ‘Liam’s Luscious Locks’. Beaso’s new look helped him score on the weekend…
Football-wise there were some super goals scored – a couple of long-range ones from Damo, Eli coming out of goal for the second half setting up both Clay & Ethan for goals & bagging one for himself too.
Finn, who turns 18 later this week, was given an incentive by one supporter to score a goal with an overhead kick which he attempted & failed on at least two occasions. I am told the offer stands for the rest of the season due to the effort put in today.
BMFC IM.1: 4
vs
Lowland Wanderers SC: 0
BMFC Goal Scorers: Beaso (2), Jake, Ethan
Player of the Match: Players player – Beaso
Match Report: Our first night game of the season at home at a chilly Knapsack. Fortunately, the barbie was on & hot soup available too. Thank you so much to the lovely ladies that ran it
Same ref as last Sunday so were aware a free flowing game with not too much pulled up likely. Opening exchanges even until Jake popped a well weighted ball over the top for returning Ethan to notch – would have felt good I am sure Eth!
Ten minutes later and Liam pinged a delicious cross in from the right that evaded Ethan but Jake in off his wing hit the volley well and into net
The bench and the bench groupies were commenting on Jake’s rich vein of recent form…just as we were doing so Beaso put a cross in from the right that cut out the keeper and fell to Jake about 3 inches from the goal and Jake somehow managed to put the ball over the cross bar. Form dip
Martin had a super first half in centre midfield – some great driving runs at the defence that created space and opportunity for others
Half time focus was obviously that a 2-0 lead is a dangerous … you know the rest
Two goals in quick succession about 15 into the second half secured the result. Firstly Harold jinked down the bye line and pulled the ball back for Beaso to pass solidly through the crowded box and in. Moments later Ethan hit the bar, rebound hit the post from someone I think & Beaso was on hand to pass it in
With the chance of a hat trick Beaso was in everything & thought he had got it when Aidy was through on goal and unselfishly passed to Beaso to score – no flag from the lovely lino but the ref went over to have a chat anyway. The other lino ran a hundred metres from the other end of the pitch to be involved in the convo that Beaso was off side. No goal. Hat trick denied
Both keepers were having super games – Lowlands keeper denied us a number of times most notable diving to his right to push Aidy’s shot around the post. Eli scrambled well after a bit of a mix up at the back and did well to dive on the ball and not give a penalty away
Luckily this week coach had just about bought enough bread so the boys had the luxury of some carbs with their snag rather than just a sausage on a napkin
