Samford Rangers Football Club

Semifinal after extra time

I love it when a plan comes together.....

For those too young to remember Hannibal Smith, this is not an original quote, but the reference to the A-Team is appropriate.

For our final game of the season we had the interesting scenario of playing the team we met in the very first game of the season:  a great way to assess how our season has gone. In that first game we fronted up with five players from the previous year’s Newcastle U7s – who were all first timers then – plus four new players who were debutantes and Joe who had played one season at another club. Basically a pretty green team compared to many who had played together since U6 or even earlier. We showed good promise in that first game – Jacob opening the scoring and enthusiasm across the park – but we were outplayed by a better team.

Roll forward 17 rounds and the story was very different. In this game, we dominated the opening period scoring two deserved and unanswered goals in the opening ten minutes only to then let our guard down and let a couple through within a minute – including a very unlucky goal that hit our post then bounced off the ‘keepers back and stopped at the base of the same post where a Mitchie player was ready to tap it in.

We went to the break on a high after playing the better football and working really well as a team.

The second half continued the same way with Newcastle playing very effectively as a team. The style we practised in training – with the ‘keepers picking out the open player and the back three feeding balls through to the front – working brilliantly.

There were several highlights with Connor making some incredible reflex saves in goals, Emily and Jacob breaking away with Emily passing through to Jacob to score and Hannah (My daughter) finally scoring her first goal of the season in the second last minute of the last half of the last game!

Also Toby’s goal kicks in the first half were dynamite; Sebastian’s ability and bravery to fight through a pack of players and come out the other side with the ball; Mason was taken out with a really late kick across the shins that nearly had him come off – but he played on; Nick as always had great positioning and Messi like turns (might have been a Cruyff turn in there also);  Joe showed his reading of the game and usual style on the ball and Corban was fearless in defence, being a wall in the centre.

We had several other near goals, including both Jacob and Hannah arriving on the ball just as the ‘keeper got their gloves on the ball.

I’m not sure what the final score was, but there couldn’t have been more than a goal in it either way, but the biggest highlight of the whole season was the way every player had improved over the 18 rounds and that as a team we had improved dramatically, outplaying the team that outplayed us in the first game. I couldn’t have asked or hoped for more – what a brilliant season! Great job everyone.

In the final piece of synchronicity for the season, Emily took out the final Player of the Week for her assist with Jacob’s third goal and her uncanny positioning and effort, bookending her PotW award in the very first week!

And if you haven’t already, please vote for us in the OPTUS SSF awards at: https://optusfootball.com.au/ossf/view/182/

The boys arrived keen to finish off the season on a winning note. It was great to see Michael there for the game after suffering from flu earlier in the week.

Arsenal got off to an early lead and were never headed despite some good attacking raids from Blackburn.

Goal scorers:

Harvey Goldsmith 5

Seb Woods 2

Harvey Mercer 1

Player of the week was Morgan Pond for a very solid game in the midfield.

The win meant that Arsenal remained undefeated for the season, a record the boys are very proud of and a tribute to some great coaching from Mark. The improvement in individual skills and in teamwork was obvious over the course of the season.

A big thanks to the parents for their help and enthusiasm during the year.

Scorers: Darren, Paul, Jesse

Last fixture of the season.  Well done boys, led the league from start to finish!  Bring-on the finals!

Waiting on the results of a postponed fixture to be played on Monday to find-out if we will be crowned champions...

Congratulations to the Over 35's Mountain Men for finishing their season in second place and good luck in the finals!

The one that got away....

Our second and last trip to Westside to take on the Mariners was one of those games where we played well, did all the right things, had the run of play and managed to not score a goal!

As I said to the team at the end of the game, I blamed the howling wind, fresh from the snow down south, for the strange happenings.

In the first few minutes of the game we should have scored at least three times. The ball hardly left the oppositions half, we had several shots hitting post, keeper and narrowly scraping past the goal on both sides.  I remember turning to Jacob’s dad and saying “I hope it’s not going to be one of those days”. Fateful words as it turned out, because after total dominance of the opening of the game, the first time they got near our goal an unfortunate fumble from our ‘keeper had the ball just roll out of the penalty box before he could reclaim it. The ref duly awarded a free kick, but then strangely awarded a goal when the indirect free was thundered into the top of the goal without another touch!  After such a great start we had been scored against.

At the break, with no more goals having been scored, we were confident of making at least three in the second term to restore the correct balance of the game.

However it wasn’t to be. In my mind we played the better football, the team defending well and playing to the plan. But every through ball was just toe-tipped by the opposition, every shot went just wide and crosses went unanswered. It was one of those days.

But we went away happy with a game well played.

Connor’s work down the wings was impressive with several fantastic crosses going across the goal without either team getting a touch on.

Jacob, Hannah and Joe never stopped trying to push forward. Jacob with an insatiable appetite for the ball, and Joe showing the great poise he has recently developed.

Nick managed to put in a couple of his trademark Messi runs, with turns totally wrong-footing several defenders.

Mason was rock solid at the back as usual.

Emily, Sebastian and Corban provided great cover and through balls to the forward players. Sebastian did really well up front also, having a couple of great chances on goal.

Toby had a strong game on the ball in the first half and in goals in the second. His goal kicks again a highlight with his boot flying off twice from the effort he put into them. He earned himself the Player of the Week. Well done.

Another great team effort, great play and smiles all-round. If only the wind hadn’t been so strong .....

And if you haven’t already, please vote for us in the OPTUS SSF awards at: https://optusfootball.com.au/ossf/view/182/

Narangba had the run of play early and restricted our attack with some strong defence. After numerous attacking raids were repelled by our defenders Narangba scored the first goal mid-way through the first half. Arsenal struck back just before half time with Harvey Mercer scoring off a great corner by Harvey Goldsmith.

In the second half both sides attacked and defended well and Narangba got their second goal with only a few minutes remaining. With less than a minute to go Sid took a great corner and Seb Woods managed to score the equaliser. A draw was a fair result between these two enthusiaistic and skilful teams.

Player of the week was Seb Woods.

This week we played Dayboro at home and lost 2-1. Overall we played very well and had a couple of near misses at the goal. The goal we scored was a home goal mistake by their player. POW was Josephine who played a great game, lots of passion, persistence and energy.

Well done Josie!

 Thanks to Jack's Dad Kerrod who complied this match report in my absence.

After a really good run of skill, strategy, performance and luck all working together for us over the past few weeks, we finally had a week where things didn’t come together: the classic “tough match”.

Winter colds and flu, tiredness and other factors had us down three players to the minimum to field a team. And one of those, Joe, wasn’t well either but showed up to maybe play, or maybe play just a while – but he got the news that he was on for the whole match. So we faced the possibility of playing with a team if six and a half.

The opposition, Mitchie Strike Force, were also in great form and played a great match and had the run of the game.

But Newcastle never gave an inch, even though just about every bounce, 50-50 decision and deflection seemed to go against us. The team put in 100% and I was very proud of the way they handled themselves. Everyone played to our strategy, even when we changed the strategy a couple of times in order to change the flow, the team executed the change really well.

It was not our day, but everyone still had a great time, ending the match with smiles on their faces and no juice left in the tank.

Mason’s fantastic efforts in goals in the first half plus great defence in the second earned him the Player of the Week, but as the team all improve individually and as a cohesive unit the selection of the PotW becomes harder and harder.

Hannah and Connor showed impressive positioning while up front, finding space for potential forward plunders.

Joe again showcased his style and reading of the game both in attack and defence with some classy moves.

Nick was the cornerstone of the backline in the first half and stopped the result being much worse. In the second half he worked hard in attack but also came back to help out regularly.

Corban played both up and back in each half and adjusted to the strategy changes really well. He loves being in the centre of play and made Mitchie work the wings to get around him.

Jacob was a tiger as always, working himself into a seriously reddened face by game’s end with his massive effort as he played both attack and defence for a lot of the game. Unlucky to score from his few chances, but never stopped trying.

A great team effort – really good teams work just as hard regardless of the outcome, and that’s what happened.

With that one out of the way I’m sure normal service will resume again next week when we are away to Westside.

And if you haven’t already, please vote for us in the OPTUS SSF awards at: https://optusfootball.com.au/ossf/view/182/

This week Spurs came up against the always well drilled Samford Under 10 Arsenal team.  Some exceptional first half goalkeeping and defence kept us in the game.  Some wise words at half time from Steve led to a much improved second half from Spurs who more than held their own.  The game was played at an exceptional pace and in Great Spirit.

Jonte was named player of the match and had a very strong game in goal.  Well done Jonte!

Our first away trip to Westside proved to be an exciting adventure for Newcastle U8s.

Apart from having to navigate uncharted waters to find a new ground, the perfect Qld winter weather tricked us all being icy cold upon arrival at 8am – with some folks wearing boots, jeans, scarves and beanies – to being so warm by the end of the match that polo shirts were the appropriate attire.

And the game?  Well, this game saw two closely matched teams both fielding the same 1-3-3 formation play out a game with only a couple of goals in it where either side could have prevailed: a truly epic battle.

Toby took on the ‘keeping responsibilities for the first half and did a great job. Of particular note were his well considered and executed goal kicks, finding free players on the wings or putting the ball over/through the pack to find our forwards.

Sebastian was pushing forward again and had a couple of good opportunities when he received the ball in good position.

Corban’s skills in stealing possession from the opposition were evident again and he too displayed good positioning.

Emily was as solid as ever, providing great defence as well as using her super kicking skills to land some neat passes.

Jacob, as hungry as ever, had several great shots on goal, scoring one but could easily have had at least another two.

Connor once again displayed sensational skills in defence, forming the foundation of our back line. He work going forward was also very slick.

Hannah had a great game with some superb throw-ins, super-dooper effort running from attack to defence and an unlucky shot that hit the post.

Joe impressed again with his style on the ball, using his vision to pick the best move and executing it with fantastic form. He is really coming along well with his individual skills.

Mason read the game really well and got himself into the right position early making for easy defensive tackles. His ‘keeping in the second half was once again excellent and his goal kicks of special note.

Toby, once freed from his first half ‘keeping role show great outfield skills, venturing forward from the back line to score a cracking goal in the second half. Fabulous work Toby.

Player of the Week was one of the hardest this season with so many great performances – every player is improving week-on-week, but Connor got the trophy for his extremely solid work in the back line.

We ended the day off with our team photo where our tenth player, Nick, who was rested from exhaustion of a big few weeks, got out of his "sick" bed to join us once again demonstrating the great team spirit in Newcastle U8’s.

Great job team.

The flu season has taken it's toll on Manchester United but thanks to the help of Matthew from Liverpool, it was not getting the better of this side.

Pine Hills attacked well in the first half and only some great defence, particularly from Connor, Morgan and Oscar, kept the score to nil all at half time. In the second half Pine Hills got an early goal but Arsenal fought back well to end up winning.

Goal scorers:

Michael 1

Sid 1

Harvey G 1

Player of the week was Sid Adams.

This week we played Pine Hills Rangers at home.  Locked at 1-1 at half time following a well taken goal by Jack, Spurs scored two unanswered goals in the second half for a 3-1 victory.

The entire team played very well, running into space and passing to other team members in a better position.

Emilio scored the two second half goals and Jonte had a great game in goal repelling many Ranger's shots.

Jonte was our player of the match.  Well done Jonte!