We hosted neighbours Sutherland Shire in the AYL and Mt Druitt Rangers in the GCL this week. We are delighted with our teams’ progress and our results are starting to show with six out of seven teams in the top four. Let’s start with our weekly wrap of games.

ASSOCIATION YOUTH LEAGUE | Under 13 Boys | Football South Coast 2-1 Sutherland
It was a fantastic result against a side that had been undefeated leading up to this game.

After a tense opening period where it turned into a battle of the midfield, we took the lead after some great movement on the right with an overlapping run by the fullback who was able to find the open player on the far post.

Having led 1-0 at half time, the boys were looking to put Sutherland to the sword however the visitors countered with precision and managed an equaliser somewhat against the run of play.

The boys were determined to regain the lead and kept the pressure on the visitors. We were rewarded with a goal late in the game to eventually take the match 2-1.

In a heart-warming moment of great sportsmanship, hats off to Blake Pearson who showed empathy and selflessness by consoling the opposition goalkeeper who was distraught, before celebrating the victory with his team-mates.

Player of the week – Josh Keir has had a great attitude all week and his application to training was excellent. He also showed good football intelligence and awareness throughout the game.

ASSOCIATION YOUTH LEAGUE | Under 14 Boys | Football South Coast 1-3 Sutherland
The boys were pegged in their own half for the majority of the first half with the league leaders to be fair doing most of the attacking. The boys defended stoutly and went into the break at 0-0.

Sutherland showed why they were top of the league with a relentless attack but credit to the boys for hanging in for the best part of the match. The visitors eventually broke us down and managed to score three times before Nick Hailstone grabbed what turned out to be a consolation in the dying minutes.

Player of the week – Jacob Carney showed great consistency in his performance across numerous weeks. He has also showed a good understanding of the movements necessary from midfield and in our own defensive third.

ASSOCIATION YOUTH LEAGUE | Under 15 Boys | Football South Coast 4-3 Sutherland
This was a game of two halves really. Our boys got off to a flying start and scored as early as the third minute. We gained control and the chances were flowing as we scored four goals in the opening 25 minutes of the match.

Just as it looked like it was all over, the visitors pulled a goal back and the momentum swung back in their favour. Sutherland were now in the ascendancy and were peppering our goal. When they scored a second, alarm bells were starting to ring and they got a third inside the last 10 minutes and a fourth seemed imminent. Some desperate defending kept Sutherland out and we were able to hold on for the points in what was a game of momentum swings.

Player of the week – Aiden Chard stepped up big at training and put in a strong defensive effort in the game.

ASSOCIATION YOUTH LEAGUE | Under 16 Boys | Football South Coast 1-2 Sutherland
The 16’s were coming off three wins and a draw over the last four matches and their match up with Sutherland is usually a well contested game. This was no different.

The boys started the game taking it to their more fancied opponents creating a number of chances from out wide in the opening exchanges. After a dominant opening 10 minutes, we hit the lead through Kyle Capocchiano who was on hand to tap in on the far post after some good lead up play from the boys.

Sutherland managed to square it up with a great strike from outside the box to level the scores at half time.

Unfortunately, we could not maintain our efficiency in the second half and cheap turnovers forced us back into our own half and defending. Surtherland were good enough to capitialise on this and after picking up a loose ball, they managed to get themselves in front midway through the half.

Whilst we went searching for an equaliser, we forced a number of corners which we just couldn’t capitalise on. In the end, it wasn’t to be our day as we fell 2-1.

Player of the week – Ned Glasgow lifted his work rate during the week and it flowed through om match day where he worked tirelessly in several positions.

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GIRLS CONFERENCE LEAGUE | Under 14 Girls | Football South Coast 3-0 Mt Druitt Rangers
Flame looked to continue their good run of form as they faced Mt Druitt Rangers at home.

The girls started strong, pressing high up the field, combining well in wide areas and winning the ball in positive parts of the pitch, but the finishing touch was lacking. Mt Druitt were finding ways to play through the Flame's press and were using the long ball to their pacey forwards well, although the Flame keeper was never tested.

As the half drew to a close, Holly Penning won the ball on the edge of the Mt Druitt penalty area, took on a defender and took aim for the far corner, her shot bounced off the post and into the net to give our girls a deserved 1 nil half time lead.

Flame came out to the second half with a new sense of urgency and enthusiasm. Just two minutes into the half, a long cross after a corner found Lily Roodenrys on the back post who took a touch and volleyed the ball home from 6 yards out.

Flame continued their relentless pressure as Mt Druitt struggled to get out of their half and were being forced back into their own penalty area for most of the second half. Flame were unlucky not to be more ahead as Helena Halios-Lewis saw her shot go millimetres wide and moments later Jelena Radic weaved her way past four defenders in the Mt Druitt penalty area before a fantastic save from the Rangers goalkeeper.

Flame did find their third goal on 50 minutes as Lauren Brooks picked up the ball outside the area, held off her defender and finished well at the near post. Flame controlled the tempo for the rest of the game and saw out a convincing win that takes them 9 points clear at the top of the table.

Flame - 3 (H. Penning 29', L. Roodenrys 32', L. Brooks 50')
Mt Druitt - 0

Player of the week – Lily Roodenrys adapted well to the training objective this week and has shown noticeable improvements in her link-up play and positioning on the field. Against Mt Druitt, Lily's passing and movement in attack and anticipation when defending saw her take control of midfield for the majority of the game. She also scored her second goal of the season in a very well-rounded performance.

GIRLS CONFERENCE LEAGUE | Under 15 Girls | Football South Coast 4-2 Mt Druitt Rangers
The top of the table clash was always going to be eventful.

Our girls started strong and dominated possession for the first period of the game. Early on, Flame were awarded a penalty. Angelica Barraza stepped up with full confidence and put it away to make it 1-0.

Creative combination play led to a second Flame goal. Mt Druitt persisted with the direct long ball and got one back on the counter to make it 2-1.

Mt Druitt tried in vain to stay in the game, but the girls held their nerve and countered the long ball well. The build-up play after each wave of opposition attack was relentless as we managed to score another 2 goals.

Mt Druitt pulled one back late to make it 4-2 but it was too little too late as Flame cruised to victory.

Player of the week – Caitlyn Zamuner Consistently trains and plays well. She controls the game from the middle of the park, dominating possession and completing the majority of her passes.

GIRLS CONFERENCE LEAGUE | Under 17 Girls | Football South Coast 2-0 Mt Druitt Rangers

It was a dominant display from the girls in what was largely a one-sided game.

The game started well for Flame and the girls put immediate pressure on the visitors winning a string of corners. Eventually this pressure paid off midway through the first half as the hard working Brinley Smart was on her toes to react quickest to a loose ball in the box to put Flame up 1-0.

The girls didn’t have to wait too long for their second as Maddie Elmir was brought down in the box. Sariah Wilson converted from the spot to put Flame 2-0 up and in control.

The second half saw Flame take a much more patient approach as they looked to keep hold of possession as often as possible. The game finishing 2-0 in what was a pleasing performance by the Flame girls.

Player of the week – Nicola Butkovic showed terrific application of football topic on game day. She put in high amounts of effort and creativity to be the standout supplier for Flame's attacking moves against Mt Druitt.

1 June 2019