Finals playoff week 1 - 4/8/07

Game 10 28/7/07 (postponed from 16/6/07)

Game 9 21/7/09 (postponed from 9/6/07)

Game 14 14/7/07
Toby - 2, Doz and Kurt.
Probably the most physical team in AA 1’s by far was our opponent today. They had two sent off and numerous yellow cards. Shaun picked up two yellows to send him packing ( second was for falling over a player) but the rest of the lads grinned and beared it, stud marks and all. Welcome to AA football. On the soccer side, some great goals today and numerous other opportunities created. Toby got a fine double and a great assist for Kurt’s first of the season. Doz’s chip capped off another fine game and great misses from Adrian, Kurt (2), Doz, Jimmy (2) and Josh with only the keeper to beat, all goes well for the goal difference required to get us close to the premiership this year.

Greg Smith

Game 13 8/7/07
What can you say. Best game of the year. This is why we wanted to play AA1’s this year. Tough game given the opponent and a late shower which had water laying in both goal mouths. Kyle filled in today and it was his left foot cross that Toby should of scored from, yet it sailed over the bar with the keeper well beaten. A mistake was always going to determine this game and it did when our back header left Adam stranded 0-1 halftime. Our players continued to knock the ball around as if it was a dry pitch. The intensity of the game was fierce, with neither side giving an inch. We started to get on top but a penalty to them took away our steam. Adam saved again, only to deflect the ball back to the taker who didn’t miss the chance 0-2. Adrian responded immediately with a well taken chance 1-2. Doz should have levelled after a great header was get touched by their keeper. We pushed forward in the last ten, bringing on Scott, Kris and an extra striker to get the equaliser, but to no avail. Adam kept us in the game with some fine saves. Last 2 mins they took advantage of us pushing way up the pitch and picked up a soft third goal 1-3. Overall, they were thrilled, we were left empty, except for the respect we gained from an older and wiser opposing team.

Greg Smith

Game 3 1/7/07 (postponed from 11/6/07 postponed from 28/4/07)

Game 12 30/6/07

Game 11 23/6/07

Game 8 2/6/07
Tough game, tough opponent, a game we needed to win and did. Ugly second half saw us hang on after Doz did his knee in the back of the net just on halftime. Brilliant goal from Doz after seeing the keeper off his line. On half way, Doz hit a sweet shot sailing just under the bar to open the scoring. 1-0. Gav then capitalised on a penalty to make it 2-0 at halftime. Ugly second half saw us pick up several yellow cards. On the good side, we beat the best team in the comp today, so we have a real chance to finish in the top two.
Great game from Toby up front, Doz until he was forced off, and Cangi cleaned up well again at the back.

Greg Smith

Game 7 26/5/07
We were up against a team today which comprised 5 lads from the U21’s 2006 grand final team desperate to get even with the old PHD 21’s 2006 champions. An extremely physical game brought about four yellow cards and a red for the opposition. To our lads credit, no cards were issued, as we continued on our task of putting the ball in the back of the net. Kris lent a hand from the AA15’s to cover our regular two defenders who were not fit for this match. Toby had a great chance denied early, but he soon became the provider for Adrian’s smart volley near post 1-0 half time. We came out determined not to give away easy balls, and with the mounting possession, soon Adrian had his second, off the underside of the bar and in off the keeper 2-0. Doz got clear and chipped the keeper 3-0 and soon Toby was worrying their keeper with menacing runs to eventually to earn a penalty from their keeper’s indiscretion. He calmly slotted it for hard won 4-0. Special mention to Gav at the back for his best game yet. The coach appreciates the effort shown in defence to keep a clear sheet for our third game straight. Well done you guys.

Greg Smith

Game 6 20/5/07
A difficult assignment today which would confirm our season aspirations. The lads started with a lazy defending pattern, often giving their physically commanding opponents too much room in our back third area. We were fortunate not to pay the price a few times, having to scramble on more than one occasion. We were starting to dominate though, with some good runs on the right from Joel, Paul making a nuisance of himself up front and Gavin and Josh trying a few speculators from a long way out. Kurt came on the left and soon cut inside a defender and let fly with a left foot shot, hitting the underside of the bar and Jimmy failing to head in the deflected shot. But on the stroke of halftime, Carl did some good lead up work onto Doz who laid a beauty in for Toby to clean up the ball and keeper. 1-0. A half time razz up got the lads attention with three or so offside calls from our defenders moving up well, more determined marking up, and soon it began to show. Doz and Josh were having a tough time in the centre getting on top, Shaun, Cangi and Adam holding firm at the rear, and soon the pressure started to crack them. First Paul went just wide after a great run, then Toby latched onto a Doz pass to make it 2-0. We then probably played out best football of the year with some superb one touch leaving our opponents chasing shadows and frustrated. Overall, a performance which should see us finish close to the top this year.

Greg Smith

Game 5 12/5/07
Up against the AA1 premiers from last year, this game would sort out where we could expect to finish this year. Jimmy had been under done so far this year, but with a bit of indoor one touch and clear instructions to play and go, he seemed ready to have his big game. It didn’t take long for him to get clear and run straight at goals and let rip with a fierce bullet which left the keeper wondering 1-0. Kris came on to help out for the day due to Feeb’s blisters and made an immediate impact, stripping their last defender only to have a late challenge in the box deny him. Gav stepped up and had the keeper trying to avoid a pile driver penalty that almost took his head off. 2-0 halftime. We had hoped they would start to tire, but with their U21’s playing before hand, they used 5 or 6 fresh players to try to start a comeback. Our back four held again, just.. and the pressure continued to build on their defence with gaps opening all over the place. Ad helped himself to a beauty, 3-0, Kris went over, Toby wide, Doz went close and that was it. Good result, great game Jimmy, thanks Kris.. That’s all folks…

Greg Smith

Game 4 5/05/07
Frustrating day at the office. Hawks were unbeaten on the table and fancied their chances against us. After a promising start, Toby put us one up with a superb strike low to leave the keeper with no chance. Hawks silenced any celebration almost immediately 1-1. A set free kick from the right was knocked away by Paul soon after to again set us on top 2-1. A mistake at the rear left a one on one with Adam and they made us pay again. 2-2 Halftime. Some stern words and greater commitment was required if we were to regain some respect. The lads responded with at least four clear chances in a half we clearly dominated. We were almost made to pay for our lack of finishing though, but our back four held firm and we ended frustrated, disappointed, and having to wait for Round 2 to settle a few scores.

Greg Smith

Game 3 - 28/4/07