SPC Blue soccer report – May 20. 2015

May 20, 2015

SPC Blue 3 D Ballarat Clarendon College– 1

This was the first opportunity for SPC Blue to play together, a mixture of Year 8, 11 and 12 students. Despite the wet and windy conditions the players were enthusiastic with the upcoming encounter with BCC who the previous week had defeated SPC Green (First XI) two goals to one.

A rushed warm up, followed by a delayed start due to a referee no show meant that the players started sluggishly, missing passes and giving up the ball far too easily. Defensively we were also a little disorganised putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure. –

Mid-way through the first half the players settled and began to move the ball around the pitch and put BCC under pressure. Connor McKee and Xavier Curran provided run out wide and Kyle Schorback and Alex Baker controlled the centre of mid field. Alex Baker -“ currently in Year 8 had an outstanding game and was perhaps one of the best debut games I have seen in my 17 years as a senior soccer coach. His ability to deal with the physical demands of senior soccer as well his ability to distribute the ball was exceptional and no doubt we will hear more about Alex in the coming years.

Edwin North and Oliver Richardson were outstanding up front applying pressure to the BCC defenders. Their physical presence and ability to get in behind the defenders provided us with many opportunities in front of goals.-

Riley Stephens, Sam Peters, and Liam O’Shea were all very solid in defence led by Evan Green who was able to absorb the pressure from the BCC strikers. Paddy Collier was very solid in goals throughout the game. Likewise James Parini and Mitchell Smith were also fine contributors playing off the bench.-

A goal came late in the second half with a scrambled header from Connor McKee followed by a goal from Edwin North following a corner. BCC slotted a goal from half way catching Paddy Collier off guard but Edwin North put the game in no doubt with a well struck shot just outside the 18 yard box.

Given this was the first game together and the quality of the opposition it was an exceptional effort from all players involved. It is evident that soccer at SPC has a bright future and I look forward to the coming games this season.

Mr Jon Franzin-

SPC Blue Coach