WA Over 40's - 2015 Match Reports
WA vs QLD - Thursday, September 24, 2015
We came out hard and played to our strengths, surprising the opposition with intensity and team work.
First blood was shed by Sads who copped a hit to an eye - but she came out fighting again after a quick patch up.
Went one nil down toward the end of the first half with a sneaky intercept and break away into goal.
Missed a couple of our own short corners by the slimmest of margins, with one hitting the post and another rolling over the backline after trying a variation to the left.
Holding structure we continued to apply pressure in the second half, but took another hit with the goalie out of her box, saving three flick attempts before it finally got past and into the net with ten minutes to go.
Hard, well fought first game!
Result: WA 0 - QLD 2
WA vs NSW - Friday, September 25, 2015
After an in depth de-brief last night at The Retreat, the team was focused on splitting the pitch and playing a perfected press against NSW.
Although we got off to a slower start in today's game, we were technically better and using our hockey brains to deny the opposition possession of the ball.
Still scoreless at half time, coach Nashi pulled us up on staying positive and trusting ourselves to do the job.
The second half had more flow and intensity with patches of precision passing and momentum going forward.
Our goal came from the fallout of a short corner with a beautiful cross pass from Scotty to Smash who deflected it in off the right post.
A dramatic finish saw the team withstand 3 short corners in the final seconds and after the siren to keep NSW scoreless.
Phew! First win feels good.
Result: WA 1 - NSW 0
WA vs ACT - Saturday, September 26, 2015
Going into this game with confidence on the back of our last win, we hit the ground running, with our best start for the tournament so far.
We were into the attacking circle within minutes hungry to strike early.
Our first goal off a short corner, went to Sads who deflected a beautiful hit from Scotty at the left post after executing the push out as well – noooice!
Though unable to match our work rate, ACT still challenged our defenders to get into position from time to time, with some break aways, and strong hitting and trapping.
Our second goal, also came in the first half, after some great passing and build up from the back, through the midfield and to the front with Rocket in perfect position to slot it in.
Several more passages of play like this continued in the second half, with more chances, but with no result.
But we were more than happy with our process and a 2-0 win.
One more match in the round robin to go against the VICS after a well-earned rest day tomorrow.
Result: WA 2 - ACT 0
WA vs VIC - Monday, September 28, 2015
It was a glorious Queensland sunny afternoon with no sign of the promised “light storm” to break the searing 27 degree heat. Coming off the back of a delightful rest day in Byron Bay the team took to the field knowing that a win would put them in a good position at the end of the first round of the competition. Unfortunately the relaxation appeared to continue for the first 20 minutes of the game and we found ourselves 1 nil down to a Victorian short corner, 8 minutes into the first half.
After being drawn into Victoria’s pattern of play, we finally started to play our own game, with some great patterns of play developing and with much more of the short sharp hockey we’d been playing in previous games.
Making better opportunities in the second half, we spent more time on the offensive and Zappa capitalised deflecting a good ball into the D, past the Victorian keeper at 50 minutes. It was difficult to determine who would come out on top. Just as everyone appeared to be thinking the game would end at 1-1, we won a short corner. Jodie George struck at goal whistling the ball through the keeper’s legs with 2 seconds to go. A happy 40s team came off the field knowing that the win now sets up a real opportunity for the gold medal.
Result: WA 2 - VIC 1
WA vs QLD - Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Go to brissy they said, it'll be sunny they said. A 1.5 hr delay due to lightning and hail quickly proved that theory wrong!!! We would like a refund.
Great out of the blocks this game, fired up to beat the only team that had taken points off us thus far (and we were better).
A broken knuckle by brave striker Julie-Ann at the 3min mark saw us a man down but with a PCA early (thanks for taking it for the team Jewels).
We kept our structure and game plan, but unfortunately turned the ball over numerous times to put the defenders under pressure, eventually resulting in a PCA goal for QLD mid way through the first half.
The second half was quite evenly matched and there were some nice passages of play, but QLD pounced on a defensive fumble that saw them 2 nil up.
Desperate to catch up, we put the pressure on resulting in striker Ally Thunder diving hard for a lovely deflection goal off the right post (and later another green card) to finish the game 2-1 down.
All in all, we came home feeling as dark as the storm, hoping our mood passes by just as quickly.
Result: WA 1 - QLD 2
WA vs NSW - Wednesday, September 30, 2015
With the game delayed to 4.45pm, following yesterday’s late finish after storms, we relished our sleep in and morning preparation with a twist (blind folded trust walk), in the lead up to another big match against NSW.
Passing the half way mark of the tournament, now is the time when injuries, soreness, tiredness and home sickness all start to take their toll, in conjunction with each match becoming more results focused.
We took to the pitch with fire in our bellies after yesterday’s loss and were on a mission to make amends against New South and to stay in contention for Gold.
We pressured the NSW defence with a great forward press and held structure at the back to make their forwards work hard to win the ball.
At the 16 minute mark, New South slotted a field goal from a deep play to the baseline and pass back to centre and into the net.
Holding composure we fought back hard and maintained our dominance – then scored just before the half time whistle with Karen Richards slipping a sweet jink pass to Nyree Brown, who turned on her heels cutting up the defence, to get a shot away and into the back of the net.
1-1 at half time we knew we could get the desired result if we kept up our work rate and attempted to do everything that was asked of us.
Although we didn’t take the win today, we did win our battles and once again, fought to the very end to finish with a draw.
Result: WA 1 - NSW 1
Goal scorers: Nyree Brown
WA vs ACT - Thursday, October 1, 2015
Despite playing in the hottest part of the day – we took our A game into this match and used opportunity to get on top of ACT early – capitalizing with well executed goals, which came from focusing on the process to build up several opportunities and pinging each one into the back of the net like seasoned pros.
We were superb and 5-0 up at half time.
With more text book hockey, ACT flagging in the heat, and most of our opportunities coming together at last, we continued our domination, showing no mercy with another 4 goals in the second half.
A true team effort was acknowledged with six different goal scorers for the match and Rocco shouted the bar after a hat trick of field goals.
Result: WA 9 - ACT 0
WA vs VIC - Saturday, October 3, 2015
With NSW on equal points and goal difference at the end of the last round – we needed a final win against the Vics and then for QLD to remain undefeated in the following match against New South – so that we could bring home the silver medal.
With a must win mentality, the game started with massive intensity and a tonne of nervous energy. After the first 15 minutes we began to settle and suddenly we built up the play to keep it in our attacking half – and scored a few short corners that brought results, including a lovely straight hit off a short corner from Jodie George and a deflection from Tarsh (Trash) – her first goal for the tournament.
The Vics goalie was in shock as we walked off the pitch at half time with a comfortable 3-0 lead.
Though we were aware that the Vickers would not stop – we were often caught flat footed in the second half and started to force the ball more, in desperation, knowing how important the outcome of this game was. The Vics put one past the keeper off a short corner at the 39 minute mark and again with just 4 mins to go until the final whistle.
Digging deep we held on and bagged the win with a 3-2 final score line.
Thankfully QLD also defeated NSW in the final 40s round robin match – so we then secured the SILVER outright.
Result: WA 3 - VIC 2