WA Over 45's - 2011 Match Reports

WA vs NT - Friday, September 30, 2011

The 45s got their championships off to a great start with a win over NT. 
Supersub Nicki (Dutchy) tapped in a great reflex goal off a short corner after a well placed square ball from Sandy to open the account. 
NT squared the score with a goal just before half time against the flow of play. 

The second half saw the majority of the play in the WA attacking half with 2 more goals to Nicki. 
The first she put past the goalie after a well guided missile-like pass across the circle from Shazam and the second when she finished of a perfectly weighted pass from Henny. 

Significant milestones – Bob coached his first WA Womens Masters win. Laura filled in her first card (with limited errors). 

Hint of the Day: Take your stick with you when you sub onto the field - well done Eddie (Kate) 

Result: WA 3 - NT 1 

Goal scorers: Nicki Gambrell (3) 

WA vs NSW - Saturday, October 1, 2011 8:00am

Well if you have to be up at that time of the day you had better make it worth your while! 
Both sides attacked well with WA having its share of shots on goal (including a shot rebounding off the post by Ritzy) before NSW scored off a short corner in the second half. 

WA came back strongly, moving the ball around the back to create run through the halfbacks and wings. 
WA scored the equaliser off a short corner shot by Henny which may or may not have possibly been (in an unconfirmed event) deflected ever so slightly (if at all) by Nicki - allegedly. 

Hint of the Day: Managers need to give players about to go on to the field the other player’s number – not their own! 

Result: WA 1 - NSW 1 

Goal scorers: Helen Guinness 

WA vs QLD - Sunday, October 2, 2011

A game we would rather forget. 
The ball spent most of the game in the Queensland attack. 
The WA defenders did well to absorb the constant pressure and keep Queensland from scoring. 
WeeFee had a great game in goals – even deflecting one shot on goal with her head! 
WA were very lucky to escape with the draw. 

Hint of the Day: When the umpire says move away from the free hit do it or you’ll get a green card Henny. (Fortunately Marjo’s parents turned up to watch this game. Henny’s planned to come on Monday.) 

PS. The twins’ father got his daughters mixed up on the field. Laura feels much better because he’s known them a lot longer than she has. 
Result: WA 0 - QLD 0 

WA vs VIC - Monday, October 3, 2011

Tuesday was designated Kick-a-Vic day with all other WA teams playing Victoria on that day. 
The 45s needed to be the trend setters and take them on the day before. 
This was a hard fought game with the ball spending a lot of time between the two 25m lines. The Vics favoured a long hitting game while WA tried to build and pass more. Nil all at half time. 

The Vics scored a scrambled goal 10 minutes into the second half but the WA girls fought back with Shazam firing a ball over the goalie and clipping the top of the backboard off a short corner with 4 minutes left to play. 

Hint of the Day: Even 2 minutes in the naughty chair is enough for Eddie (Kate) to feel cold. 

Milestones: Lynn / Lois / Spook (the goalie- just one goalie not three different people) played her first game today after recovering from a hamstring tear – and didn’t touch the ball!! 

WA have stared down the Big 3 and can now let their tired bodies recover on their rest day Tuesday before taking on ACT on Wednesday. 

Result: WA 1 - VIC 1 
Goal scorers: Suzanne Stoate 

WA vs ACT - Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Another slow start by WA. So much for coach Bob’s plan to go out hard early, get a short corner and score.  
The first goal didn’t happen until just before half time when Shazam one timed a bobbling ball into the goal. 
Great words of wisdom at half time lead to a lift in the players in the second half. 
Jocko scored the ultimate Claytons goal (the goal you get when you don’t get a goal). Jocko was trying to sneak off the field by moving around behind the defence when she found the ball on the end of her stick. She then played it into the goalie who went down and reached for the ball which had glanced off her and unfortunately / fortunately (depending on your point of view) hooked it with her stick into her own goal. 

Goal three was a team goal with everyone barring the goalie touching it as it moved from defence, down the left hand side, crossed to the right and then raffled by the entire forward line – you take it - no you take it - no you take it – so Shazam finally took it and scored her second goal. 

Shazam then completed her own hat-trick with a great strike on a short corner to do her bit for our goal difference. 
Great to come away with a win but WA now need the stars to align to make it into the 1 v 2 final. 

Result: WA 4 - ACT 0 
Goal scorers: Suzanne Stoate (3), Jocelyn Henly / ACT goalie 

WA vs TAS - Friday, October 7, 2011

They scored, WA scored, they scored, WA scored, they scored, WA scored, WA scored. 
That would seem like an even game but only on the scoreboard. WA had the majority of the play but Tasmania made more of their opportunities. Kate Main took on the goalie one on one to win a stroke after the ball deflected off the fullback’s foot on the line. Duckie then put the ball past the goalie to even the score at one all which is how the teams went in at half time. The Tasmanian second goal came after Marjo broke during a defensive short corner and left the backline one short but she made up for it by hitting a great ball into the circle that Ritzy played onto the goalie’s pads and Patsy then swooped on it to score. Tasmania scored off a penalty stroke after Puff saved a goal with her head. Kate then created the equaliser by chasing down the Tas fullback, stealing the ball and getting it to Shazam who dummied around the goalie and pushed the ball into the goal. Time started to be a factor but WA kept calm (a lot calmer than the coach) and the stadium erupted when Marjo at left half, crossed a ball to Snuffy who blasted a ball from right half into the spot where Ritzy (perfectly placed) deflected the ball past the fullback glued to her and past the goalie WITH 42 SECONDS LEFT ON THE CLOCK!! 

WA managed to complete the tournament as the only undefeated 45s team but the Universe conspired against us to leave us in 4th place on 12 points with NSW, Vic and Qld all ending on 13 points. SO UNFAIR!!! Damn those draws!!! 

Milestones – Patsy scored her first goal in a masters tournament 

Result: WA 4 - TAS 3 

Goal scorers: Anita Duckworth, Suzanne Stoate, Katherine Lewis, Judith Ritz 

Bronze Medal Playoff WA (4th) vs QLD (3rd) - Saturday, October 8, 2011

Before the game even started WA knew one player would have to miss out. 
You can only play 16 players in a game and the 45s had a squad of 17. 
Jacinta Schneider made a selfless decision to nominate herself as that player to assist team harmony. 
She then turned up, looking sensational, in a hired bumblebee outfit to entertain the crowds and to cheer on the WA teams. 

WA was the only 45s team to remain undefeated in the round robin games (even though they finished 4th) and were hoping to keep their lossless record. 
Unfortunately things didn’t go to plan. 
Queensland scored off a short corner in the first half and despite WA fighting hard they were unable to convert forward opportunities or short corners. 
A disappointing way to end the tournament with their only loss. 

Milestones – Kate Main got the only yellow card for the team this tournament. 

Result: WA 0 - QLD 1