Under 11 Black Match Report
Saturday, May 24, 2008 v Taroona Blue @ Lightwood Park

Match report :

For the 2nd week we found ourselves playing a team that we have already met this term in the U11 (9 a-side) bandicoot division roster. This week we were playing the TAROONA Blue team. We have had some really good previous games against this side and everyone was looking forward to see how the team's development this season has come along, especially up against some quality opposition.

We continued with the same 4 - 4 formation as per our previous games. Nathan, Matthew, Joseph and Michael made up our forward line for the 1st half.
Our defence structure was Kris, Harrison, Joshua, Robert and Jordan, with William taking up the role of goalkeeper for the 1st half. For the 2nd week the team were under clear instructions to defend to the sidelines and with a TAROONA team willing to run the wing spaces and cross the ball to supporting teammates the team's defence held strong and rebounded loose passes back into our attacking end. Matthew, Nathan and Joseph finding space and creating good chances at goal. Michael continues to find width on the wings and used this space to launch attacks towards the TAROONA goal.

Under immense pressure for most of the half the TAROONA team's defence weakened and Joseph scored a goal for KLUSC. KLUSC continued to defend well. A late in-direct freekick was awarded to the TAROONA team outside the goal circle and KLUSC went into defence mode, Joshua creating a defensive wall. Pressure was applied to the shot taker and William stopped a well taken set piece, unfortunately William was unable to take a 2nd grasp at the ball and a TAROONA forward finished off the rebound.

The 2nd half had Matthew, Michael, Nathan, Joseph and William in our attack. William and Michael continued to run the ball down their respective wings, Joseph and Nathan constantly running the ball to the TAROONA team's defensive line and Matthew assisting in some nice 1st touch passing moves with both forwards. The attack play displayed by the team was very exciting and had all the supporters on the sidelines cheering on. TAROONA's game tactic changed, as they found it hard to break down our defence in the 1st half. TAROONA regrouped and used a 4 - 4 structure, using their back line to launch attacking raids down the centre of the ground.

Their better players were now playing on the ball, which resulted in 3 successive goals scored by them. KLUSC got one back after our forwards constantly put pressure on the TAROONA team's defence and Joseph, facing the wrong direction spun around and put a solid strike on the ball for the goal.

Shortly following this an in-direct freekick was awarded to KLUSC near TAROONA's goal, Joshua's set piece cleared the defensive wall and found Joseph near the far post.
Joseph struck the high ball with his head which drove it just left of the goal, a well-orchestrated set piece that went unrewarded.

Our defence held strong during critical times in the match, but we appeared to get tired late in the game which gave TAROONA their opportunities at goal and against a very good team, they took full advantage of this. Another good display of the team's passing skills today.

Thanks to Alastair Cooke for refereeing the whole game. The match ended KLUSC Black 2 TAROONA Blue 4.

Colin Robbins
Coach