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U6 ? Vs U6 Ermington  B

Our third game of the season saw a vast improvement from all of the players. Bridie played an excellent defensive roll and made some phenomenal kicks that the smaller SSG field could barely contain. At times Will looked like he had the ball glued to his feet as he ran the ball past the opposition on numerous occasions. Lachlan glowered at the ball and showed it who was boss as he finally scored a goal. Thomas showed some class on the field, mixing it up in the pack. The player of the match this week was undoubtedly Kelsey who, after a shaky start in previous matches, decided to play hard this week and made some excellent offensive and defensive contributions. She showed that she has a real talent for the game which will only improve as she plays more. Well done, guys.

On the 18th of May Ermington United hosted an U7/8 Gala Day at George Kendall Reserve. We were scheduled to play 5 games that day with the game time reduced to 10 minutes a side with a 2 minute half time. After playing a full game on Saturday, playing 5 more was a real challenge. Fortunately we had plenty of support in the form of Bridie, Lachlan and Fraser for a total rotation of 11 players. It is a credit to the atmosphere of the team that we can regularly attract this cache of talent from the U6s. They certainly helped us out on the day.

Rather than go into the specifics of each game and the talents of each player, as I normally do, I will instead give some general observations. We were defeated in every game and we didn’t score a single goal. We did try, though, and we kept trying for the whole 5 games. We played against some very good teams and there was some excellent soccer to be seen. By the end of the day the guys were exhausted, but every one of them had enough energy left to radiate pride in their accomplishments when they received their Gala day medals. Everyone had a half in goal and everyone had more than their fair share of game-play. The U6 players played as hard as any of the under 7s, even little Lachlan who had only played two SSG games previously and was the smallest player there on the day.

 I was very proud of my team and their amazing spirit. After the last game when the players were shaking hands, Jack, who was our keeper for that game, shook the hand of one of the goal scorers and said to him “You scored some really excellent goals today”. That comment really hit home with me and I recalled a conversation I had had with a friend of mine about fencing. He is a sports fencer and he was telling me in glorious terms about training with a maestro that was at least an order of magnitude better at the sport than he was. He told me how much he had learned and how revitalised his training had become.

Our little team are deriving the same lessons and the same joy playing against teams that are better than they are. We improve with every match and the only reason we are doing that is because we are constantly being challenged. I hope we never have a time when we don’t struggle and the winning is easy.

U7 Greystanes 4 Vs U7 Ermington Black 1

[This week’s match report was written by Trevor Haydon, Seb’s grandfather. Thanks Trevor.]

A well-constructed opener by the Jonathon during the first half had all the Ermington bystanders thinking this could be the day but alas, it proved not to be. However there were many exciting moments as the team produced some very entertaining football.
Geordie put his body on the line to stop a very solid kick from an opposition player with his stomach. The kick took the wind out of a number of spectators so it was to Geordie’s credit he went straight back into his vigorous defending.
Joel, worthy player of the match, defended grimly both on his feet and off them on one gallant occasion. Joel also managed to turn some defensive work into attack getting a number of successive kicks on the ball.
Jonathon continues to regularly break the opposition line to find that sometimes it’s lonely at the front. Jack’s defensive and attacking skills were again evident with a number of super kicks from the back keeping us out of danger together with a number of enterprising runs bringing the ball back. Mac engaged with the opposition continuously getting the ball from them with great energy. Seb and Lachlan covered a lot of ground harassing the opposition.
Possibly the star turn was a corner by Lexie who has obviously been getting some private coaching from David Beckham as she took a corner which came as close as a layer of varnish to bending back into the opposition goal. Lexie also did some good saving kicks from the back of the field.
One of the Greystanes players rifled a kick from outside the goal square with such power to suggest he was the same player who tried to get past Geordie by going through him. Facing such determined kicks, goalie Isaac made a number of good saves in the second half when pressure was mounting.
Well done all ! The intensity of the game could be seen in the number of times when the ball got trapped between two rival sets of feet being unable to go forward or back. Just like the Rabbitohs I’m sure another win is just around the corner. 

U7 St Johns Park 3 Vs U7 Ermington Black 0

[Once again the under 7s match clashed with the U6s. This week I had to ask Coach Chris Lummis to step in and direct the action on the field. The match report is written this week by Peter Aylward, father of Johnno, who is our on-call referee. He was briefed that the report had to include at least one reference to ancient Greece. Thank you to Chris and Peter.]

Like hoping Tantalus our under 7’s seem forever to be denied the fruit of their labours, and once again the marvellous skills our lads have acquired over the previous weeks have not been sufficient to secure a win.

It certainly wasn’t due to a failure of effort; anyone fortunate to witness Mac( a worthy Player Of The Match) and new recruit Isaac tearing tirelessly around the field wherever the action was fiercest would have seen that. Other standout performances weren’t lacking. In defence Lexie sent some screamers back up the field, as did Jack, who balanced solid defence with a cameo in attack which saw our closest chance: a thumping shot which cannoned off the post.

Geordie is becoming a real nightmare for the opposition with his fearless ability to stop any attacker regardless of size. He was ably backed up by Joel, who blocked and cleared with a skill that grows week by week. Lachlan and Fraser also created plenty of headaches for St John’s by turning the opposition forwards into human pinball machines with their quick returns.

The boys love taking turns in goal, but Seb remains a huge asset for us here as he continues to set the standard for this position.

At the other end of the field, Jonno tried without luck to sneak one past the rather intimidating St Johns goalie
In the end our lack of passing and support for the man with the ball let us down.

The boys played their hearts out, and had a heap of fun (which is surely the main object) but the opposition, outnumbered 10:6 deserved their win.

One senses Ermington U7’s are but a whisker away from putting it all together. (Nil desperandum Coach Dave)

U7 Castle Hill 6 Vs U7 Ermington Black 2

[Coaching committments with the U6 team kept me away from all but the last 5 minutes of this game. Coach Dugald Spenceley kindly stepped in and took the team on the field. Here is his match report. Thanks Dugald]

After taking a few minutes to warm up the U7’s found it hard to get into attack with Castle Hill maintaining control of the ball and keeping constant pressure on the defence. Numerous attacking raids were held at bay by the swarming defence of Jack, Geordie and Isaac and some valiant saves by Jonathan in goals.

The second half saw the team turn it around. Jack sent some great clearing kicks from goal. Seb and Joel competed hard and combined well with Lachlan to deliver the ball to Mac and Jonathan. Lexie pounced on the loose ball in defence, sending some soaring kicks up the field. With the ball moving forward Jonathan and Mac were able to make some great breaks up the field to score a couple of goals. Player of the match went to Geordie for his consistent defence, and persistent steals that shut down the late attacking raids by Castle Hill.

U6 Parramatta City Vs U6 Ermington  B 

We finally had our second game (in 6 weeks) and what a game it was. For a new team of young, fresh talent these guys showed that they can kick off better (and more often) than any other team. 

This week’s game saw the team enhanced by the presence of Lachlan who showed us, and Parramatta City, just what he is made of. He powered through the opposition on numerous occasions and should have scored, only narrowly missing each time. With a little bit more practice he should be hitting the net more often than a blind tennis player.

Will, or should I say Will O’the Wisp, dazzled the opposition with his lovely footwork. He weaved and dodged like a seasoned boxer, in and out, putting the ball through holes, playing forward and back. Will scored a lovely goal off of a Bridie kick off and was awarded perfect scores from the sideline judges for his dazzling smile.

Bridie’s kicking is getting better with each training session; the field is barely big enough to cope with her powerful boot. She mucked in when mucking in was required and enjoyed the game in the crisp morning air. Tom tried hard during the game and drew numerous cheers from blood relations and associated team acquaintances on the side line while Kelsey made a brave effort to step onto the field and have a bit of a kick around.

The player of the match went to Lachlan for his powerful and assertive efforts. Well done!

In five weeks we have only had one match. Between rain and the school holidays, we have been forced to keep our little monkeys on the sideline. This week would have seen the debut of our newest recruit Lachlan. Unfortunately the other team has now dropped out of the competition completely. This is the same club that caused all of the draws to be changed because they desperately wanted into our competition. Now they have dropped out and we are left without a game. Thanks for nothing. End rant.

Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain. Rain.

Match cancelled due to

rain nourishing the green earth.

We will play someday.

U7 Ermington White 1 Vs U7 Ermington Black 0

We deserved far more than we got on Saturday. We did nothing wrong, played a good, clean match, and yet we couldn’t get the ball through the posts. Time and time again we attacked the goals but the ball simply wouldn’t find the net. I don’t know what the collective noun for a group of Sisyphus’ is, but whatever it is, that’s what we were like. Take the ball to the goal, have it knocked back, run back and get it again, take it back up to the goal. It was the essence of frustration.

That being said, the team played very, very well. They improve every week. All of the work they have been doing in training was being displayed on the field. The guys are starting to learn their strengths and are playing to them. Johnno personally led the troops against the beachhead, repeatedly smashing through the enemy lines. He ran the field until he was exhausted and was never happy without the ball between his feet. Fortunately he had some brilliant forward support by new recruit Isaac. Having only trained with us this week, we didn’t know how he would play - it looks like we have a natural attacker in our side. Isaac shadowed Johnno and made some gorgeous runs himself. These guys were even crossing the ball to each other and creating overlaps - very advanced skills and some great tactical thinking. Geordie, our usual sideways assassin, added a new weapon to his arsenal. The extra weet-bix this week gave him awesome kicking power and he was delivering the type of canon balls that Jack and Lexie usually deliver. Joel spent the first half in goal and the second half running the wing and getting into the action. He combined with Seb to move the ball around the field and give us the advantage from the crush. Seb proved valuable in the field with his superior play reading. He made sure he was exactly where he needed to be, especially in defence in the second half when Jack was in the goal. Lexie and Jack provided the core defence for the game. Jack’s power kicks turned the play around every time while Lexie could barely restrain herself on the field, she really wanted to get a good run at the goal. She had to settle for delivering her long range kicks which are getting more accurate with every match.

Player of the match was Macca who was somehow everywhere on the field at the same time. I am sure there is some sort of weird time altering quantum effect happening at this Rooball field. As a scientist I can tell you that Macca’s field movements were completely impossible - but they were very welcome. It was truly an all-round effort deserving of the award this week. Thank you, Macca.

All of the elements of the game are coming together. The guys are hungry. When the whistle blew on Saturday, more than one of them looked at me and asked “Is that it?”. They wanted to keep playing. “What about the make-up match tomorrow?”, I was asked. “Sorry, that got cancelled. You’ll have to wait until next week”. These guys just want to get out on the field and play. The Germans have a word for it (but then, the Germans have a word for everything): funktionslust. It refers to the pleasure you receive from doing what you do best. Gutes spiel.