Under 15/16 Division 3 – Mansfield v Blackstone – Round 1
The season commenced for us in an unusual way. We had lost over a third of our squad from last year and were heading into Round 1 with only ten registered players. I thought we would still go ok as we had a fit and mobile team. We should be in Division 2 however, it would be incredibly tough taking on teams with plenty of subs on the bench. We have welcomed back Jeremiah this year and his mate Will from Westminster and Mitch has joined us after a long layoff from football.
We headed off to Mansfield to take on the Eagles at home. We are trying out a new formation this year playing a 3-1-4-2 which for this game turned quickly into a 3-1-3-2 given we only had ten on the pitch. We didn’t have to wait long to see how we would gel with Tim slotting home his first goal of the season at the 6’ mark. It was a scrappy scramble in the six yard box but a goal non-the less. The game was quite tight but our backline was able to cut off each attacking raid from Mansfield. Blair was the next onto the scoresheet picking up a goal in the 17th minute to go up 2 nil. Mansfield struck back just before half time when we gave away a foul in the 18 yard box and they slotted home the dot shot. This meant a close score of 2-1 at half-time.
Message to the team was simple. Let the ball do the work and play our passing game. When we took the field in the second half, the Dragons quickly started to dominate possession and this was rewarded when JJ made a penetrating run down the left flank. As he angled towards the near post, he unleashed with a rocket and beat the keeper at his near post. Score now to 3-1. We were pressing again at the 53’ mark when Mansfield fouled one of our players inside the 18yard box. Jonas quickly grabbed the ball and headed to the spot. Cool as ice, he smashed the shot home to take our lead to 4-1. The play was still end to end and Buster had to make a few good saves but wasn’t overly troubled. Our last goal of the match came with JJ unleashing from outside the 18 yard box and into the crossbar. The ball ricocheted down and bounced on the line. JJ was sure it was a goal (as did their keeper) and started to celebrate but Mitch was awake to the ref as he hadn’t awarded the goal. He quickly nipped in to tap the ball home and bring up our fifth goal. Fantastic effort playing a player short to bring our first win of the season.
Full time result Blackstone 5 defeated Mansfield 1.
