http://thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog Goulburn U18 Girls football: News Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:59:55 -0500 http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=88e2de93ec63e9306e109a09539b37b3_4c4c0acc Sun, 25 Jul 2010 04:58:36 -0500 Taking on Woden for the second time in five days, things were not looking too bright for the Witches. They were only able to field ten players and a number of those were carrying injuries into the game. Conversely, Woden had a complement of fourteen players to call on. The Witches were instructed to play a defensive game, relying on quick counter attacks when possible. The first half was fairly predictably dominated by Woden both territorially and possession wise. Despite this the Witches defended brilliantly with only a minimum of errors and the score at half time was 0-0. The numerical advantage, combined with the injuries was taking it's toll on the Witches but they never baulked at the job ahead. Every player contributed to their maximum capacity and they repelled wave after wave of attack from an increasingly frustrated Woden.Although they were showing signs of severe fatigue the Witches took every opportunity to launch a counter attack, causing Woden no end of problems. It was from one of these swift raids that the Witches broke Woden's back, Rach sending through a long pass which was seized on by Cass. She took one touch then sent a low shot across the goal and into the far side netting. The Witches barely had the strength to celebrate the goal they were that exhausted. Nevertheless they did muster enough energy to snuff out Woden's last feeble attempts over the final seven minutes to signal the end of an incredible effort by the most wonderful, courageous group of Witches in Goulburn.(or anywhere else for that matter) http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=83295ab4e1be70d94f9824f96afd2ca5_4c497708 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 06:03:36 -0500 Following the disappointing forfeit by CGGS the Witches were pumped for their deferred game against Woden on Tuesday night. Played on the synthetic surface at the AIS in Canberra on a very cold evening, the Witches continued the attractive style of football they had displayed in the Kanga Cup. With Danni absent,Maddie, played the full game in goal and put in an impeccable performance despite a bad back and a corked thigh. The rest of the Witches were also in fine form and were the better team on the night. Although only the one goal (scored by birthday witch Laura off a Rachael corner) in the second half separated the teams, the score could easily have been 3-0, with only some brave goalkeeping from the Woden custodian stopping the score from blowing out. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=e9cacd67dd96363e96188255c3840ec6_4c393e12 Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:44:18 -0500 Well, another successful Kanga Cup. We didn't win the cup but everyone enjoyed their week of football despite some very late changes to the times and locations. The Witches played 4 excellent games starting with a magnificent 0 - 0 draw with Belsouth. This was a quality game and had everything except goals with both sides putting everything they had into the game. Excellent refereeing added to the games watchability. On Tuesday , under grey and gloomy skies the Witches took on Monaro Utd and despite playing well, found Monaro a little better on the day, losing a hard fought affair 3-1. That meant Wednesday's game was a must win game for both teams when the Witches clashed with Maroubra. The Witches were in charge from the opening whistle but didn't convert their dominance into goals until midway through the second half. The 2-0 win left the Witches looking to the other game in their group for a favourable result. It didn't quite happen with Belsouth beating Monaro 2-0. The Witches needed a three nil result to Belsouth to advance, so instead they had a consolation game against Gungahlin who ran thrid in their pool. The Witches put in yet another quality effort, running out victors 2-1. Although disappointed at not making the semi-finals the Witches were elated to be voted as the Fair Play Award winners for 2010 in their age group. All in all a great effort by a great team. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=9cbbb56111988106e8fae02eac9a8cbc_4c2952d4 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:56:36 -0500 After another 2 week enforced break the Witches were straining at the leash and the unfortunate Woden Hammers fell victim to the fired up coven. Although the lay off showed early with a few passes off target, the Witches soon settled in and it took only 5 mins before they scored. Laura reacted first to a loose ball in the Woden penalty area and fired home from 8m. Five minutes later it was 2-0 when Rach Ross gained posssession near halfway and set sail for goal, beating three attempted tackles on her way before her neat left foot finish beat the keeper. There was to be no let up for Woden as the Witches pressed home their advantage and Jess made it 3-0, showing good close control as she evaded two defenders inside the keepers' area and poked the ball home from close range. Cassie chimed in with her trademark long shot from 20m when she was given too much time and space on the right flank. The score blew out to 5- 0 before half time when Witch sisters Jess and Rach played a delightful 1-2 for Rach to score her second of the day. The second half was just as good with the Witches pushing the ball around patiently and accurately with Jess now calling the shots from the sweeper position while Nikki had a run at the front. It was soon 6-0 with a spectacular effort by none other than Sara who had ventured into midfield. She picked up a desperate clearance from Woden and from outside the penalty area she hit a ferocious drive that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and into the net. Woden didn't give in though and shortly after they gained a free kick about 20m out and to the right. The free kick was accurate although not particularly dangerous but Maddie misjudged its flight and as she went down to save, the ball squirmed under her body and trickled into the empty net. The Witches fired back within 3 minutes though when Nikki sped on to a perfect through ball and rifled the ball low into the net from 10m. That was the end of the scoring as the Witches continued to spray the ball around but although they created a host of chances, the finishing was wayward and the Woden keeper played very well. The final ten minutes became a bit scrappy as everyone tried to go forward but overall an excellent performance. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=0f6c86ad9acabffd0077b26482bb634e_4c12139b Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:44:43 -0500 The Witches are again facing the prospect of two weeks without a game after Radford forfeited their fixture set down for 20 June. This on top of a "no play" Queen's Birthday long weekend 12 - 14 June. It makes it difficult for the Witches to maintain consistency when their season is continually being disrupted. Meanwhile negotiations are underway to secure a date and location for the Woden Utd fixture rained out from the 6 June. Woden are not being helpful in this regard and are obviously determined not to travel to Goulburn. They are also trying hard to dictate terms for when the fixture takes place, having already rebuffed several alternatives offered by the Witches. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=b76f994dd9fdd98a768130e3c718dc59_4c121185 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:35:50 -0500 The Witches were keen to play following the washout of the previous week. Even the cold misty weather and the ridiculously small field did little to dampen their enthusiasm. As it turned out though, the small field played a big role in the outcome as the Witches struggled to find space on the cramped pitch. The first half was a scrappy effort with a number of passes going astray or being overhit. Even so, the Witches dominated play and Nikki scored her first goal for the Witches after 8 minutes when she outpaced Tuggeranong defenders after some good build up play. Unfortunately that was one of the few bright spots in the first half until Cassie doubled the lead in the 35th minute with a cheeky lob from 20m out. The second half was much better with the Witches playing a much more intelligent game, pushing the ball wider to stretch Tuggeranong's defence. It still took a long time to add to the scoreline as the Witches missed numerous opportunities but then Meg scored from a goalmouth scramble and three minutes later Jess scored a fine solo goal. With only a minute to go young Ashlea brought the crowd to its feet with her first ever goal and it was without doubt the goal of the game. Moving up for a corner she latched on to a desperate clearance from Tuggeranong and vollyed into the far top corner of the net from a good 25m. Tuggeranong only had time to kick off before the final whistle brought an end to what was an entertaining game. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=6fde4131f71f69cf55e684a321335c1d_4bf8e338 Sun, 23 May 2010 03:11:36 -0500 The Witches won comfortably enough on the scoreboard but the performance was one of the worst in memory. Although never in danger of defeat against the lowly placed Monaro, the Witches struggled throughout for rhythm. Jess broke the deadlock after 16mins with a typical opportunist goal after the Witches had fluffed numerous opportunities and two minutes later Meg scored her first of the season from close range. That was it for the first half, the Witches fumbled away with no further result. A half time blast from the Grand Wiz livened things up early in the second half. Cassie scored a fine goal with a shot on the turn from the edge of the box after only 3 mins but then it all became very pedestrian again. Poor passing, lack of communication and general apathy dogged the rest of the game brightened briefly by another Cassie strike in the 58th minute. There was no further score before the Ref took mercy and blew full-time. With that performance behind them it is to be hoped the Witches can move on ready for next weeks challenge against the top side Woden Utd. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=46bc5bf4bbb2efa0de84841f3f67bd66_4bef97db Sun, 16 May 2010 01:59:39 -0500 Following two successive defeats the Witches faced the daunting prospect of resurrecting their season against the undefeated Belsouth outfit. Trialling a new formation to overcome some shortcomings in defence the Witches had a welcome return to form on Sunday with an emphatic 4-1 victory against the visitors from Canberra. Despite the scoreline it was not a one-sided affair with the Belsouth girls making the Witches work hard for the points. An early Strike by Cassie (3rd Min) was disallowed for offside but she made amends two mins later following in on Jess' low cross. It was an evenly fought first half and Belsouth equalised mid-term with a well worked move. This time though, the Witches didn't collapse and although they had to endure some tight moments they remained locked at 1-1 at half time. The second half was only 3 mins in when Jess and Cass combined for a carbon copy of their first goal, for the Witches to go 2-1 up. Belsouth again fought hard but the Witches were determined not to capitulate as they had done in their previous two games and they matched Belsouth across the park. Jess then scored a well earned goal from a narrow angle following a jinking run down the right wing in the 62nd min. At 3-1 down, Belsouth did not give up but the longer the game went the better the Witches got and when Rachie Ross went on a solo run from inside her own half and finished with a brilliant shot from 15m the game was over for Belsouth who could do little more than prevent any further goals from the rampaging Witches. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=9663f672432821722d38ee1ecc60f882_4bee7479 Sat, 15 May 2010 05:16:25 -0500 Showing how generous they can be, the Witches gave up the lead for the second successive week. Leading 1-0 at the break from a Cassie special, running on to a great through ball from Rachie Ross, the girls proceeeded to self implode in the second half. Simple mistakes again cost them dearly and Monaro were quick to take advantage, eventually running out 3-1 victors in a game that was basically an even contest. http://www.thewitchesofeastgrove.zoomshare.com/:blog?id=3aa319327efd85938afbe730fe3170bc_4bcbd632 Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:04:02 -0500 With a full squad of 16 and a good away win the week before, the Witches were a confident squad leading in to kick off. They were also displaying for the first time, their Sponsor's name(Coles)on their shirts. Gungahlin, unfortunately were not playing to script and took the game to the Witches from the opening whistle. The Witches were caught by surprise and were fortunate to survive the opening 20 minutes without conceding. Eventually they began to display some of the team play from the previous week and forced their way back into the game. Rach R. gave her team the lead after 25 mins with a great effort from the edge of the box when she regathered a poor clearance and chipped over the keeper. Five minutes later, sister Jess made it 2-0 with a solo run from right to left across the top of the penalty area before slotting the ball inside the left upright. Then it all unravelled. The Witches missed a number of opportunities to increase their lead and just before the break they went to sleep and gungahlin took their opportunity, gleefully reducing the deficit with a nice shot on the turn from 8m. The second half started similar to the first with the Witches off on their broomsticks. It only took Gungahlin 3 mins to make the most of some woeful defending to equalise with a soft goal. Three minutes later Gungahlin were in again with yet another very preventable effort eluding the shellshocked locals. The Witches were not aided by the regular substitutions which did little for the team's rhythm and teamwork as Gungahlin laid siege to the Witches goal. Then, with 15 mins left,as if someone had flipped a switch, the Witches came to life and began playing as a cohesive unit. Unfortunately they had left their run too late and despite a number of chances going agonisingly close they just could not find an equaliser. Final score, a deserved 3-2 victory to Gungahlin.