All Age Men Report – 13th/14th May 2022 – Round 1 Catch up
A big thank you to the Crookwell Soccer Club for allowing us to play all 3 men’s games out at Crookwell, as well as referee Dave Shepherd for giving up his Saturday to officiate the games on Saturday, as well as Nick, Jason & Sammy for travelling to Crookwell Friday night to officiate too.
Crookwell Red v Workers FC – Friday 13th May 7pm – Crookwell 2
A brisk Friday evening welcomed Workers FC to Crookwell’s home ground for a Friday night fixture under lights. Both teams running the bare 11 on the smaller pitch meant we were going to be in for a tight and tense fixture. Crookwell Red fired out of the blocks and went ahead early through Sam Jackson, driving his shot into the top right hand corner from outside the box to give Crookwell the early 1-0 advantage. The score would remain the same thanks to some expert defence on both ends going into the half time break.
The second half started the same as the first, with it only taking 5 minutes for George Zouch to double Crookwell’s advantage. George again repeated his efforts 7 minutes after and gave Crookwell a 3-0 lead heading into the final half an hour of play. The game seemed to be heading towards a foregone conclusion with Crookwell dominating, until the 75th minute when Workers stalwart Robert Scott Snr flicked his head onto what seemed to be a nothing cross, and the ball ended up in the back of the net. Muted celebrations by Workers as there was still a job to do to claw it back from 3-1, but things started to get louder and more intense 3 minutes later in the 78th, when Robert Scott Snr bagged his second and the possibility of a draw loomed large for Workers. Crookwell were scrambling and the chances started coming thick and fast for Workers. A free kick from 35 yards out by Robert Scott Jnr floated into the box went through everyone untouched and found its way into the net to tie the game 3-3 with only 6 minutes to play.
A back and forth last 5 minutes of play ensued, and end to end football had it potentially being anyone’s game. It started to become clear that this wasn’t going to be a shared result, one of the sides would come away with the 3 points and it was the young Workers striker Lachlan Handley who popped up with the winner, slotting one in the 89th minute to hand Workers a 4-3 win and confine Crookwell Red to their first defeat of the campaign. 4 goals in 15 minutes for the Workers side turned this game on its head and showcased why Workers should be a team to fear for this season.
Wollondilly Soldiers v Stags 97 – Saturday 14th May 1pm – Crookwell 1
Soldiers looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Workers last weekend, and Stags 97 looking to build on their upset win over Stags FC had this match looking to be interestingly poised. Soldiers took to the field with 9 players and faced an uphill battle from the start. Stags started to create a few chances using the numerical difference to their advantage, and eventually had the first goal after a clever flick on by Hamish Campbell was smartly finished by Jacob Mutton. Wasn’t long before Jarrod Twaddell had his first for the season with Mitch Moroney whipping in a dangerous cross, and Jarrod climbing high to nod home Stags’ second to make it 2-0. Mitch Moroney then bagged one of his own with a clever 1 on 1 finish past the Soldiers goalkeeper, giving Stags a 3-0 lead going into half time.
The second half started, and it was all Stags with Jacob Mutton bagging 3 goals in the space of 20 minutes to take his tally to 4 for the day and to bring Stags up to a 6-0 lead. Soldiers went down to 8 players and continued to play hard defence not making it easy for Stags and managed to create a few chances of their own showing that when their numbers turn up, they will be a team that challenges any opposition. The explanation point was sealed with 15 minutes to go when Jason Broadbent popped up at the top of the box to pounce on a clearance off a Stags corner, and drove one through a sea of legs into the net to finish the game 7-0.
Goulburn Strikers v Stags FC – Saturday 14th May 3pm – Crookwell 1
Strikers and Stags FC rounded out the round with a fast, tense, and entertaining fixture. Strikers looking to build on the 2021 undefeated season, as well as their 9-1 victory last weekend, started the stronger of the two sides and quickly went ahead through a smart finish by Lachlan Yeadon. Stags FC, trying to turn it around after a shock defeat to club mates Stags 97 last week, started to gain the ascendency through solid midfield play and winning 50/50s all over the park. Stags began creating chances and after a smart through ball by Josh Finn which put Jose Calle in on goal, Jose took his chance and buried it into the net, clawing Stags back to a 1-1 score line. The intensity of the match lifted another notch and cultivated in a penalty for Stags FC on the stroke of halftime, with a Stags striker being pulled down after a scramble in the box off a corner. Stags captain and stalwart Chad Cosgrove stepped forward and buried the penalty to give Stags FC a 2-1 lead going into the break.
The second half started just as fast and intense as the first, both sides creating chances and committing fouls to slow the pace of the game down. Stags added some cushion to their lead with Jose finally claiming his second after spurning a couple of chances. Not to be deterred, Strikers hit back with less than 5 minutes remaining with a tidy finish at the far post by Jason Dinsmore to give Strikers some hope, a tense final few minutes was finally brought to an end by the referee and Strikers handed their first loss in STFA competitions since the preliminary final back in 2020. Stags FC roaring back to form and making their title intentions clear with a new look squad starting to click.
After 2 rounds and with every team now on the board, Stags 97 and Workers lead the pack tied on points and goal difference, Strikers holding firm in 3rd, Stags FC climbing into 4th spot, Crookwell Red and Crookwell Griffins share 5th and 6th and Wollondilly Soldiers round out the table in 7th spot.
This weekend will see Stags 97 and Soldiers travel to Crookwell to play Crookwell Griffins & Crookwell Red respectively. While 2nd plays 4th at Cookbundoon with Workers hosting Stags FC in what will be a match that further shapes the top half of the table.
