Match Report Doncaster Rovers U11B v F.C. Bulleen. Sunday 3rd May.
The day was bright and sunny with a little cool edge that was just perfect for football. The venue had been changed to the synthetic pitch at the Darebin Sports Centre so it was a great surface to play on. The game was expected to be tight as F.C Bulleen always field a capable side regardless of age and we were not wrong.
From the start it was pressure from Bulleen who seemed the first to the ball and strong. Our defence were having to work hard with several attacks stopped by timely tackles from Matty Holmes and Jack but they kept coming.
The first real Doncaster attack was around 8 minutes in when Anthony Stefanos passed through to Christian only for the Ref to blow for offside. For the next 6 minutes it was end to end play with Doncaster finally waking up and were giving as good as they were getting.
On 14 minutes we had our first real chance when Christian finally broke passed his defender and crossed; Bulleen cleared out to Matty H whose long high ball into the box was cleared to James. He passed to the left to Anthony S who shot just the wrong side of the left upright. Oooh close.
Bulleen responded with a jinking run from their number 11 closed down by a great tackle from Matty H. Jason Lo got in the act with some good combination work with Aaron and James which resulted in few corners. These were smashed into the box by Matty Vernes trusty right foot but still we couldn’t break the deadlock.
Just before half time James received the ball from a throw in close to the box, turned and his snap shot was saved by the keeper. In training that would be five push ups!
Half time 0 – 0
From the start of the second half Bulleen were quickest again. A break through the centre was ominous but was well defended only to see more pressure over the next few minutes down both flanks.
On 7 minutes one attack saw their number 13 hit a high ball into the goal area and our coach Andy say to me that’s a goal. If we didn’t have tall goalie Kirk in place that may have been right but he stretched high and batted the ball off his goal line then had the presence of mind to follow up and hit the ball away before the Bullen striker could pounce. Great save Kirk!
The next 5 minutes was almost a mirror of the first with all of the boys helping out in midfield and the beleaguered defence. Stefano, Jonathon M and N and Lachlan tackled hard and on 13 minutes the ball went through centre to the right wing with Christian who struck a shot past one defender and through the legs of another which the unsighted keeper had no chance to stop.
1-0
This gave the boys the boost they needed and we had several attacks down both wings with Anthony D showing flashes of strength and speed only to be thwarted by sheer defensive numbers.
On 16 minutes Mathew V punched another corner across and James only had to tap in but somehow managed to push it wide.
Bulleen were not out of it and they pressured hard in the last few minutes with a shot landing on top of the net and a clearance off the line by Aaron which saved the day for Doncaster.
The whistle blew to end the game and Doncaster deserved a well fought victory.
Well done to all of the team, great passing, solid defence from Matty H, Lachlan, James N and the sweeper Jack and great running in midfield and attack.
The coach was pleased with the way the guys supported each other and played to his game plan. Bring on Glen Eira!
