U9 Skye

The first time we played Skye we had a narrow victory.  We started the game well and mid way through Xavier had a trademark run with the ball that the keeper was just able to save, but Damiano was there to pounce on the loose ball.  The goal did the team no good though, the intensity dropped and it looked more like a tea party for the rest of the first half!  Chatting too each other and standing in groups watching the game and not marking a player.  Skye was onto it and scored two goals to go deservedly ahead into the break.  The second half was much better although it showed that it was the first time we played on artificial turf whilst Skye used the bounce and skid of the turf well. Campbell and Charlie controlled the deference with Oliver and Marley working hard in the midfield.  Joel had a number of good runs and Will was industrious upfront. Damiano scored a deserving the equalizer to great delight of the players (and parents), but Skye went ahead once again quickly after. Oliver DR did a great job for the first time in goal and with great effort and a couple of changes we were close to the equalizer, but it was not meant to be.

Congratulations to Xavier on his "Most Valuable Player" award for last week’s game. Xavier has great balance and is able to run at high speed with the ball under control. He also scored a great header last week

GO STINGRAYS!

The score ended up 3-2 for Skye

Scorers: Damiano (x2)

U8 Sandringham Storm SC

The rain held off to see the U8's walk away with another well earned win. Who would have thought 3 months ago that they could pass and score. Hell, our goalie even picks up the ball. The game was evenly matched but for some reason the boys had a real hunger to win with Alexander remarking how poor their goalie looked. The moment of the day was when coach Tony Robbins shouted, "Martin Martin, get back in defense", Martin stared at coach Tony and parents heads turn and Coach replies "O, you are in defense" - Great day and team photo's coming soon.

Congratulations to Arun on his "Most Valuable Player" award for last weeks game giving it his all.

Coaches' Corner: Another good display of team work with some good passes and moving into space to create opportunities which gave us some goals , we worked the ball well all the way from the keepers up to the opposition box many times.

GO STINGRAYS! 

The score ended up 5-2
Scorers: Liam, James, Charlie, Flynn and Josh

U9 - Hampton JSC

It was a game of firsts.  First time we kept the nil, first time one of our players scored a hat-trick and the first time we scored with a header.  It is great to see the improvement of the team - after a loss and a draw in previous encounters against Hampton we dominated the first half.  Our attack proved a handful and the midfield and defence were sturdy with Will keeping the nil again in goal!  Damiano scored a good goal after refusing to give up.  The combination of fruit and lollies during the break must have had a magic potion as we blitzed Hampton in the second half. Our running game with passing out wide and back to the middle was text book.  Damiano scored twice more to get a well-deserved hat-trick, Oliver DR scored a running goal and Xavier scored a couple including a great header. Marley and Campbell were picking off the loose balls when Hampton were trying to get out of defence whilst Charlie and Oliver H ensured that Joel had a quiet time in goal.  Hampton did get a late chance, but Joel made a great save to ensure we kept our first nil of the season.

Congratulations to Campbell on his "Most Valuable Player" award for last week’s game. Campbell has improved a lot over the last couple of months and is getting more and more involved in the game and often finds a way to get a foot in and disrupt the opponents play.

GO STINGRAYS!

The score ended up 6-0 for the Stingrays

Scorers: Damiano (x3), Xavier (x2) and Oliver DR

U8 - Brighton Panthers

It was off to Dendy street in East Brighton this morning only to find out our field was about 2km from the parking area. It was cold but the boys were up for it. With a last minute goalie change we were off to a shaky start but thankfully the Panthers could not seem to find the back of the net. Then a breakthrough with Alex hitting one from the half way line that trickled past the goalkeeper. Soon after it was an own goal and we knew then we had them...............

Congratulations to Josh on his "Most Valuable Player" award for last weeks game by slotting in a great equalizer.

Coaches' Corner: A very pleasing game where we could all see that the boys were really starting to work as a team ,making space and taking shots at goal which we did very well and at the other end we also defended very well with no goals conceded.

GO STINGRAYS! 

The score ended up 4-0 to East Stingers
Scorers: Alex, Karl and Liam

U9 Sandringham

The first game since a couple of weeks and it took a while for the players to find their position on the field. Sandringham brought a stronger team than the first time we played them and they had most of the attack.  It was thanks to some good last line of defence from Charlie and great goalkeeping from Will that we went into the break 0-0.  The second half was much better with more passing and running into free space (instead of towards the ball).  Damiano was strong as a controlling midfielder and Campbell and Oliver H showed great grit in the midfield with second and third efforts. Oliver DR and Xavier provided plenty of run upfront and were unlucky not to find the back of the net. Joel used his dash to cover the whole pitch and Lucas had some great saves. Although we conceded a couple of goals, it was a much better second half.

For training we'll focus on 'control the ball and pass' (instead of running with the ball) as well as putting pressure on the opponent player with the ball.  

Congratulations to Will on his "Most Valuable Player" award for the game a couple of weeks ago.  Will has grown into a strong goallie and I have lost count on how many times he has kept the nil.  On the field is also shaping up as a dangerous attacking midfielder with great chases.  

GO STINGRAYS!

The score ended up 2-0 for Sandringham
Scorers: -
 

U8 Bayside Argonauts FC

It was back from the holiday break to see the U8's forget how to play the game but once again coach Tony steadies the ship with some quick changes. The visiting team played the game with great spirit and seemed to enjoy Browns with the canteen in full swing. Parents, don't forget  to stand behind the white line ;-)

Congratulations to Karl on his "Most Valuable Player" award for last weeks game for two great goals.

Coaches' Corner: A good fighting team effort after a 2 week break, after losing the early goal we came back with a goal from Josh seconds before half time , in the second half we had chances but could not find the back of the net but the boys really stepped up the pressure and played very well as a team and held their positions. We are now looking forward to visiting Brighton next week.

GO STINGRAYS! 

The score ended up 1-1
Scorers: Josh

U8 Bentleigh East Stingers

Another Saturday and another game! We were up in Bentleigh East again to play the strikers.  It was the first time the better team lost but the boys really looked good as a team and had fun on and off the field. Now and again we have the odd issue with an overzealous parents and this week was no exception…..one even calling the ball out to the wrong team, repeatedly, and the same plonker even ended up in goal. Their coach/referee however was great and the game was played with great spirit on the smallest pitch in Melbourne.

Congratulations to Martin on his "Most Valuable Player" award for last weeks game for giving it his all and his first goal this season.

Coaches' Corner: It was a tough game in the cold and we were against the strong wind in the first half but we never really got going with any momentum and lost a couple of goals to East Bentleigh -I think the early start was a shock to the system of the boys. In the second half with the wind in our sails we got our act together although losing another goal.In the last 10 minutes it was all Stingrays with Karl scoring 2 quick goals but with only 2 minutes left on the clock at the last restart we ran out of time with the ref blowing the whistle maybe a few seconds early- another 5 minutes and Karl would have got his hat trick for sure. We left our run too late, in the end it was a great team effort to get two goals back but for the next game we have to start with more passion to get the ball and not be left to make up goals like we did today. A big thanks as well to Liam and Arun for doing the goalkeeping today, it is good that so many of the boys are keen to give it a go.

I hope everybody has a good break with no game next week.

GO STINGRAYS! 

The score ended up 2-3 to East Bentleigh Stingers
Scorers: Karl x2