Round 8 of the NSW Super League and it wasn’t just the Taipans heading towards Bondi on a scorching hot day. Even the referees had trouble negotiating the beach bound traffic. Maccabi were unable to field a 12 Girls team today, so this fixture has been deferred to a later date yet to be confirmed.

12 Boys were first up, starting with only one ref and some of the boys missing the warm up, this was a game in which the South Coast lads never really achieved the type of Futsal we all know they can play. It was always going to be close with Maccabi sitting just one place above us, and so it transpired as the Taipans finally succumbed 5-3. Our goal scorers were Mitchell Ferraro, Filip Velev and Kayne Kotevski.

Next up the 14 Boys. The young Taipans raced to a commanding 0-3 lead at halftime and looked set to record comfortable victory, but as with their season overall, consistency eludes them. A couple of lapses in concentration in futsal can quickly be you’re undoing, as Maccabi got right back into the game. Frustration was also getting to our teams, but they will have to learn that the referee is always right and there is no point in arguing. The final score of 4-4 was hard on the boys, but they will learn from it. Goal scorers, Dion Sterjovski, James Brodnik, Mat Mazevski and Oliver Carrasco.

Although the 12 Girls did not play today, we obviously needed a couple of them to help out the 14’s and 16’s. Maccabi have only won one game in the 14’s Girls division, unfortunately that’s one more than us. The shortage of numbers and the inability to train regularly as a team has taken its toll on these girls but to their credit they turn up each week and give it their all. Great character is needed when you lose week in week out and this team has just that. 7-1 down at halftime, most teams would have just folded, but a fine second half performance saw Maccabi score only one goal. Final score 8-1, the Taipan goal scorer was 12’s player Katelyn Leadbetter.

With things not going our way, we looked to the 16 Boys to bring us some much needed points. With only one win more than Maccabi, having played an extra game; another tight encounter was on the cards. The Taipans are playing some very attractive futsal at the moment, and the halftime score of 3-4 was just reward. More of the same for the second half, and the South Coast lads, ably assisted by three 14’s, went on to take a fine victory 6-10. Taipan goal scorers were Scott Curran, Josh Bingham (5), Nathan Sutcliffe (2) and Mat Mazevski. There was also an own goal.

Following on from last week’s victory, the 16 Girls were once again forced to call upon the ever willing 12 Girls to bolster their numbers. Once again there was not a lot to choose between the two in league positions, but it was the Taipan girls that took the early initiative and a 0-2 lead at halftime. The girls had to dig deep in the second half and despite Maccabi scoring, they held on to take all three points 1-2. A great effort from all the girls. Our scores were, Ainslie Lyon and Katelyn Leadbetter.

Time for the two unbeaten youth teams to face each other in what should be the match of the day. It was the Taipans that struck first, with their fast paced counter attacking style based on a solid defence, it turned out to be a lead that they would not surrender. 1-5 up at halftime, only a couple of late goals from Maccabi threatened our lads as they eased to 3-10 win. Goals from Sam Davies, Brad Ferraro (2), Mitch Del Turco (3), Tim Pedersen, Klime Sekutkoski (2) and Lee Gilroy. The only down side to this victory was a broken nose sustained by Lee Gilroy in an accidental clash of heads.

The Taipans Women faced a Maccabi side stuck to the bottom of the table, so this was a chance for our girls to pick up some valuable points. The 3-5 lead at halftime was probably a bit closer than the performance deserved, but a halftime team talk seemed to do the job and the girls, ably assisted by the 16’s goalkeeper, Ivana, playing out on court; they comfortably took the game 3-10. Taipan goal scorers were Melisa Cox (3), Lynie Herbert (2), Elise Battin (2), Tamara Nash (2) and Olivia Mann.

The Men’s task was always going to be a big one. Up against the Australian coach, Steven Knight, and a squad littered with international players, Maccabi are deserved favourites to take this league championship. The Taipans started well and kept the score even for a good portion of the first half. Unfortunately they couldn’t maintain the intensity required to match a team with this much quality. 6-1 down by the time halftime came around; the second half became a training exercise for the Maccabi men. But the Taipans continued to defend stoutly and kept the opposition down to only two second half goals. The Taipans did win the broken nose count though, as another player, Russel Crighton, was forced to endure the long wait of hospital emergency on a Saturday night.

And so with the 12 Girls still to play, four wins and one draw was not too bad on the day. Next week away to Liverpool who are currently second in the club championships. It promises to be a tough day for all our teams.