Match of the Week Rd 1 (17/18 April) 2015
QCSA Senior Women’s Div.1 Wrap-Up
Week 2 of the 2015 Season – Sat. 18th April 2015
There were some interesting results, or surprises, for the QCSA Ladies Div.1 this week.
Three sides from the west were left undefeated after the opening two rounds. Whilst Westminster Warriors won their game 2-1 against a very determined and unlucky Brisbane Valley, the other two teams are surprise packets.
The recently promoted Div.2 champions/premiers, Blackstone United have left off from their triumphant season in Div.2 last season and emerged with a narrow 2-1 result versus a strong North Pine Baptist team, to move into 2nd place.
Rosewood United moved to the top of the ladder, on goal difference, after accounting for the highly skilled Logan Metro team 4-0 away from home.
It was raining goals in the final two games with Logan Uniting winning 5-2 over the youthful Salisbury Baptist team and West End accounting for Raceview 3-2 at home.
The action continues next weekend with many intriguing match ups. I’m sure that all the game will be played with great skill and passion, with many of the girls up early for the Anzac Day parades to commemorate those young men and women who gave up their lives for others.
Senior Women's Match of the Week Rd.1 (18 APRIL) 2015
Westminster Warriors 2 vs Brisbane Valley 1 (H/T: 2-1)
Referee: Alan Jones
Asst. Refs: Anson McLennan & Ethan Doran
Coaches: Paul Janson (Westminster Warriors) & Gary Winter (Brisbane Valley)
Brisbane Valley certainly brought their A game this week against Westminster. The match started off fairly evenly and with a lot of enthusiasm from both sides. At the 10min mark, #18 from Westminster, Lauren Herring passed to fellow player Emily Smith who took it in and scored.
#10 from Brisbane Valley, Shannon Haggett kept their team in the game throughout with her great clearances from the back line.
In the 20th min, Westminster had a great shot on target and the Brisbane Valley keeper, Shannen Lowe tapped it over the bar for a great save.
At the 30min mark, Brisbane Valley received the ball just after the half way mark, they worked very hard and beat 2 defenders and shot into the left hand side of the goal to make the score even.
A breakthrough in the 37th minute by Westminster when Nyomi Paczkowski weaved her way from the defence line, through 6 Brisbane Valley players and landed a goal to the left of the keeper to make the score 2-1 to Westminster.
Brisbane Valley kept themselves in the game right on the 45th minute with an amazing save by the keeper, Shannen Lowe, as Westminster player Lena Sorensen kicked a cracker of a ball from outside the 18yard line, which was saved by Shannen.
The second half commenced with #8 from Brisbane Valley, Brooke Spina having an amazing run down the right wing, having a shot on goal in which the Westminster keeper, Maddison Fitzgerald saved. Westminster had an immediate comeback with Lauren Herring making a brilliant turn to get the ball from the feet of Brisbane Valley, passing the ball off to Chol Leth who succumbed to the great defence of Brisbane Valley. One last attempt from Brisbane Valley Tahlya Gower who weaved through the defence to have a shot on goal, again saved by the Westminster keeper.
As the game progressed, Westminster’s running style of play developed and there were some great attacking plays from players from both sides.
Samara Mahoney from Brisbane Valley was definitely having a great game in defence and effortlessly fended off an attacking Westminster in the second half to keep the final score to 2-1 to Westminster.
Both coaches, Paul and Gary, should be congratulated in developing their players to play as one unit and give their best efforts.
The refereeing was a pleasure to watch and the game was kept flowing from one end to the other. The two linesmen did a wonderful job as well in supporting the ref in the middle.
QCSA Senior Men’s Div.1 Wrap-Up
Week 2 of the 2015 Season – Sat. 18th April 2015
After only two weeks of football action, there is an indication that the competition will be tight with many tipsy-turvy results from week to week.
The biggest surprise came when Logan Metro travelled to Pinkenba and came away with a great 5-3 win over the perennial power in Brisbane Athletic.
Blackstone United had a thrilling 4-3 win away to Mansfield Eagles.
North Pine Baptist turned their fortunes around from last week and defeated Whitehill 8-1.
The Sunnybank Saints drew with the Latin Golden Boys 2-2, who received their first points and scored their opening two goals in the QCSA competition.
The final game was predicted to be a tight affair and it certainly was, with St Paul’s overcoming the home side, Westminster Warriors, and ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in the end.
With this result, St Pauls remain as the only undefeated team and the only team yet to concede a goal.
Senior Men's Div.1 Match of the Round (18 APRIL) 2015
Westminster Warriors 0 vs St Paul's 3 (H/T: 0-0)
Referee: David McMaster
Asst. Refs: Anson McLennan & Ethan Doran
Coaches: Nick Coker (Westminster Warriors) & Dale O’Connell (St Pauls)
Home team, Westminster Warriors, bounced out of the blocks from the outset. It started off with a cross from player #10 Stefano Hamsi to player #11 Emmanuel Kpayah, but the awesome shot was saved by the St Paul's keeper, Nick Chin. This was followed by Westminster player (and coach) Nick Coker shooting from the 18yard box but just going over the crossbar.
Emmanuel Kpayah had a fantastic run up the field, took on St Pauls player #3 David Ward, only to have his shot blocked by Claudio Rebocho from St Pauls. St Pauls then had a run against play and put up a shot which was beautifully blocked by Jean Minani from Westminster.
It was a very fast paced first half of football, end to end with a lot of skill shown by both sides. Both sides were creating opportunities resulting in some great shots. Westminster troubled the St Paul's keeper on three occasions in quick succession, but the experienced g/k, Nick Chin, pulled off some amazing saves. Whilst creating chances, the St Paul's strikers shot high or wide and so the Westminster keeper got off lightly in the first half.
The 2nd half saw St Pauls #14 Ringo Chang beating the Westminster keeper, putting up a shot but agonisingly wide. But, with sustained pressure, St Pauls finally open the scoring with a pass to player #41 Chun Tung Yeung, who snuck a shot in past the keeper and into the net. From the ensuing kick-off, Westminster almost level the scores with #16 James Pegg chipping the ball only to have a St Paul's player head the goal-bound ball back to their keeper to save. There are a number of these moments in games lasting 90 minutes that prove to be defining. A result in the beautiful world game sometimes comes down to a matter of centimetres determining a win or a loss.
Westminster continues dominating possession and is very much on the attack having numerous long range shots, one of which was by #16 James Pegg, which just misses the crossbar by centimetres. After soaking up a great deal of defensive pressure, St Paul's #10 Daniel Wang weaves his magic along the right wing before cutting in and shooting strongly to make it 2-0 to St Pauls.
St Paul's take charge for the remainder of the game scoring a decisive 3rd goal and display their physical strength for the whole 90 minutes. But, as the old adage goes, "strong teams are built on strong defences", St Pauls goal-keeper and his defensive unit remain unpassable and keep Westminster scoreless for the match.
As is the case in most QCSA Men's and Women''s Divison 1 games, the refereeing and assistance from the sidelines is impeccable, allowing the players to play the game in a hard, yet sensible manner. Well done David, Anson and Ethan.
Well done to the respective coaches, Nick and Dale, for preparing their teams to showcase their talents, their teamwork and their willingness to play the game in the right spirit.
In 99 per cent of cases, unsavoury incidents are caused by players lacking self-control and if this is tolerated at training, and in games from week to week, it indicates a weakness in a coach (& manager) or the coaching panel at the club.
