U14A Doncaster Rovers vs Caulfield North 29th June
This was the game where the boys were looking for some consistency and some respect on the ladder from a team above them on points but whom we missed playing the first time around.
The day was cool and overcast with a bit of wind favouring the south end on the main ground.
With Rovers kicking into the wind the game opened up with most of the play in Rovers forward half, with good runs by Jansen and crosses into the box a feature with the odd save by their keeper. Every time the ball was lofted into the Rovers half Nick D, Michael Piccoli , Joel and Chris had little trouble mopping up and passing the ball back to the centres where Phil, Alex and Matt were passing forward to keep the pressure on. All the play was in the Caulfield half with Steve putting in a good cross to Alex who headed the ball just over the bar. Drew was also under notice with good play beating three defenders in the right corner but his cross was pushed back out by the defenders.
All the forward pressure resulted in corners with Chris lobbing the ball nicely into the box where Alex tapped across to Steve whose turn and volley found the back of the net for our first goal. It was a relief to be on the board after a lot of build ups and set the boys into motion. Soon after Jansen put in another good run down the right and crossed to Phil who flicked the ball to Alex for a simple tap in as the goalie was motionless. Shortly after Phil put in another good pass to Jansen and with a good run he cracked the ball wide to the relief of the keeper.
Half-time score: Rovers 2 : Nth Caulfield 0
The second half started with loose play by both sides and the opposition were lacking in skills and attitude, could Rovers lift again and show the same application as last week?
This was soon answered emphatically when good forward play saw Drew beat his man and lay off a good pass to Michael Palomares whose excellent cross found Steve unmarked at the far post for his second and Rovers third. Dion and Elliot were introduced to give Chris and Phil a rest, and were immediately in the action. Elliot took the corners, one to Nick whose header just went over the top. The keeper managed a couple of saves, while at the other end Luke was not called into duty often but when required did the job with good timing and without fuss.
A feature of the game was the good passing by the boys usually to the feet of their team mates and really kept Nth Caulfield under the pump all day. Nick V to Michael to Jansen was excellent play but unfortunately Rovers had a few off sides that reduced the pressure on the defence.
Chris and Matt were back on and controlled the centre as Chris passed to Michael Palomares who passed to Steve for a good left foot goal (hat – trick for Steve). The boys continued to press and several chances went begging before a good corner from Chris set up Steve again for his fourth goal, a header that left the goalie stranded.
This game left no doubt that the boy’s new found belief in themselves is no one week wonder. The question in most minds was how could Nth Caulfield be above us on the ladder and look so weak in skills and application. You can have a bad day but unless they had five or six away on holidays they really were pretenders.
Scores at full-time: Rovers 5 : Nth Caulfield 0
GO ROVERS !! – Well done boys, you kept on going for the full game.
