University Of Wollongong Football Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIRST GRADE: UNI 10 (Maarten 4, Bosco 3, Dan B, Pete, og) v Corrimal Rangers 0

This was the last game of the league before the finals against this year's wooden spooners from Corrimal and the Uni boys were in a low key frame of mind with  second spot sewn up and a bye next week to look forward to.  Russ, Tor and Barass were absent and in their place came Sunny, Raph and Abdul. Even so the players were surprised at how easily they were able to find the back of the net and after an initial period of competitive play the goals came almost at will. By HT it was 7 -- 0 and a cricket score was possible. Richmond came on for Dan B for the second period and Henry also had a good spell off the bench. As is often the case when a team has a large lead by HT, it took time for Uni to add to the total despite numerous chances. Three more were added and for the first time this season the scoreboard ran out of numbers. The first finals game is against promotion contenders Balgownie, an encounter more likely to present more challenges both defensively and offensively than today's opponent were capable of showing. Congratulations and good luck to the first grade team in the finals.

 

RESERVE GRADE: UNI 5 (Bolty 3, Christian, og) V Corrimal Rangers 1

The presence of former first grade star Bolty has added that extra touch of class needed for the ressies to become a force in this year's reserve grade competition. The struggling Corrimal outfit were no match for the precise passing, high level organisation and speed of a rampant Uni side and could only manage a late penalty in a game which Uni were always going to win.  Again sound games by Raph in goal, Flash and Oscar in a solid team effort and lead into the finals with the boys finishing the league season in fourth spot.

 

YOUTH GRADE: UNI 2 (Johnny, og)  V Corrimal Rangers 0

Two wins from two to finish the season was a good outcome for the youth grade and they finished the year in an upbeat frame of mind. In this game they put effort into enjoying themselves forcing a classic og out of the opposition keeper, before Richmond set up Johnny for a well taken final goal for 2008. While some of the boys will be involved in squads for the firsts and ressies finals campaigns, for others they can look ahead to 2009. Congrats and thanks to coach Bosco for making the season worthwhile for the youthies, as shown by the solid training attendances right up to the end of the season.   

 

 

    

FIRST GRADE: UNI 3 (Russ, Bosco, Dan B) v KIAMA 3

With Maarten away and Mat B stood down, the firsts went into the game with a few changes allowing Sunny and Abdul a start. The team began slowly and looked disorganised in the middle of the park for the initial fifteen minutes as the passes struggled to find a target. It took a penalty conceded when Sunny fouled in the box to get the boys into the right frame in the match. With Rob getting more involved in midfield Uni adopted a better shape and structure to their game. Russ finished well following a good sequence of passes to make it 1-1 at HT. A lot of the good work was undone early in the second half when a Kiama striker broke through several attempted tackles by the Uni defenders to regain the lead. Uni attacked and another good passing move saw Bosco reply within minutes and Uni gained dominance of the middle and the lead when Dan B was on hand to head home a well placed cross from Rob. Uni continued to dominate and looked to go further ahead when Russ, then Abdul hit the goal frame. Unfortunately tentative defending conceded a free kick in the last minute of the game and this was headed home to level the score at FT. Overall a good offensive display, although defensively there are some problems that need to be worked on coming into the finals.

 

RESERVE GRADE: UNI 5 (Oscar 3, Bolty 2) v KIAMA 1

A good result for the ressies which should just about get them into the finals playoffs. The players were capable of knocking the ball around well and quality crosses produced goals with sound finishing. The defense played well and when Raph saved a late penalty at 5-0, it looked as if they would keep a clean sheet. Kiama did get a consolation goal near the end but  a satisfying effort with one game to go in the reserve grade competition.

 

YOUTH GRADE: UNI 3 (Gary, Richmond, Matt) v KIAMA 1

The second last game of the comp  for the youthies and a pleasing win, although the boys are out of finals contention. It is good to see the way they enjoyed their football and they can look to another win next week and on to 2009 well pleased with their efforts at the end of this season.

FIRST GRADE: UNI 3 (Maarten, Dan B, Bosco) V Highlands 0

The firsts clinched second spot in their league for the playoffs with a solid win against third placed Highlands. Again Maarten "dutchy" put Uni into a strong position early with a typical piece of individual skill when he cut in from the left and showing fine control and a radar-like nose for goal, he was able to beat the keeper with a low drive from the edge of the box. In fairness to the visitors they then did have the better of the midfield for a long period of time and Barass saved Uni with a number of fine saves. HT 1 -- 0.  Uni scored early in the second half when Dan B made a long awaited return to the scorers sheet when his low shot early in the half proved decisive. From there the game was reasonably comfortable for the home side and when Bosco scrambled in the third goal showing his trademark determination in front of goal, the three points were guaranteed. With two rounds left the boys can start preparing for the finals series.

 

RESERVE GRADE: UNI 3 (Tom, Abdul, Mussa) V Highlands 0

The ressies fielded an almost full side in winning a game which keeps alive their chances of appearing in this year's finals and the side was strenghtened by the inclusion of Bolty from firsts. This gave the team more presence going forward and the team's first goal followed good football as the ball was switched from left to right for Tom to neatly put away a low Bolty cross on the near post. Overall the boys dominated the game in a manner not seen for some time. Sustained pressure in the second half saw first Abdul, then Mussa add to the scoreline for a well deserved win. Put simply wins in the final two games are a must for a finals place if the ressies are to remain in this year's competition.

 

YOUTH GRADE: UNI 2 (Zead, Rowan) v HIGHLANDS 3

Again the youthies flattered to decieve in losing a game they could and should have won. A well worked goal inside the first ten minutes when Richmond won the ball, passed to Alex who crossed for Gary to have his header blocked for Zead to put it into the net, was a promising start. The boys looked good for their 1-0 lead at HT. Unfortunately Highlands equalised almost from the kick-off in the second half, and almost predictably went into the lead not long after. The team got back level when Rowan scored from a solid header from a well placed cross to the far post. Another piece of indifferent defending made it 2-- 3, and despite Sonny's effort in hitting the

post in the final minutes it stayed that way.  They can only hope to win the remaining games to finish the season on a winning note.  

 

FIRST GRADE: UNI 1(TOR)  V WOONONA 2

This game again demonstrated that at full strength and with their minds on the task that this Uni side can defeat any other in the District Leagues. Against the undefeated competition leader on their own pitch Uni played attractive constructive football which enabled them to keep the ball and apply pressure to the opponent. They were denied a first half lead when Richmond had the ball in the net only to see it cancelled out by a curious decision from the ref's assistant. In the second half Uni made the early pace and deserved to take the lead when Tor headed home a dutchy cross on the far post. For the following quarter of an hour Uni dominated the midfield, as Dutchy again went past defenders to hit the cross bar and Woonona were forced to concede several corners. With no addition to the score, Uni's soft defensive underbelly was exposed when they failed to deal with a routine long ball and hesitancy allowed the opposition striker to equalise against the run of play. This lead to Woonona's best period of play and Uni's mistakes started to mount, until a rash challenge from Tim resulted in the winning goal from the penalty spot. Having to chase the game, Uni again asserted midfield dominance through Rob, Tor and Mat B and applied consistent pressure to the opposition goal in search of a deserved equaliser. This did not happen and Uni's loss is not down so much to a lack of playing ability but to their inability to squeeze out a determined opponent at a crucial time in the game when they were on top. This is a situation which needs to be overcome if the team is to achieve success in the finals series and go one better than the grand final runners up of 2007.

 

RESERVE GRADE: UNI 0 V WOONONA 4.

Not a good afternoon for the ressies. Raph suffered a bad injury requiring transfer to hospital and the rest of the team showed little determination or self belief in defense and a lack of thrust in offense. Thanks to Johnny for filling in in goal and heres hoping Raph's injury is not as bad as first thought. Seriously these boys need a win to lift motivation levels in the remaining games of the season as on paper the potential is there to do much better.

 

YOUTH GRADE: UNI 1  V  WOONONA 6.

Maybe the absence of coach and mentor Bosco appears to have left the boys uncertain as to how to approach this game. Down 0 --3 by HT due to indifferent defending, the score went to 0-- 5 by early in the second half. Strangely the boys then started to play enough to make a contest of it as they adopted a better tactical structure and shape. A neat header from a corner in the last five minutes finished off the game and at least it could be said that they finished on top!