Match Day 4 – Saturday 15th October, Dural Warriors.

By round 4 we would have hoped that our days of missing players were long behind us and we could finally get some desperately needed points. Dural have had some indifferent results and this had to be an opportunity for us to kick start our season. But much to the clubs despair, round 4 was to be one of our worst so far for payer numbers. Outdoor presentations, weekends away, futsal trips abroad and a whole host of other reasons saw many of our sides seriously depleted.

One side that does turn up each week and give it their all is the Development side, and they again turned up in numbers to give us some thrilling games against Dural, Phoenix and All Stars. The boys are getting better with each game and this is showing in the results.

The 12 Boys kicked off at 1:15 against a Dural side boasting a 100% record. The game was pretty even throughout the first half despite going in at halftime 0-2 down. The second half saw the well drilled Warriors extend their lead further despite what turned out to be a consolation goal from the returning Harrison Taranto.

For the second week in a row the 12 Girls were to take on another side with a 100% record, but improving performances meant they could go into this game with confidence. Unfortunately he trip out to Dural seemed to have taken its toll on the girls as they appeared lethargic both in attack and defence. Aiming to turn around a 0-2 deficit at halftime, a scruffy early goal from Dural put paid to their ambition as the girls seemed to resign to another defeat. Who would have known that the 0-5 final score would turn out to be the best result of all our girl teams on the day!

Time for the 14’s Boys, and despite last week’s defeat, these lads have consistently been the jewel in the Taipan crown this season. Once again with stand-in coach Sam Davies at the helm, they went into this game looking for the form that had tem up to 3rd in the table after round 2. However, Dural were going to be no easy opposition and a feisty game on and off the court bubbled close to boiling point throughout. Fouls, cards, play acting and some questionable decisions, plus some great futsal kept everyone fully entertained as the Taipans found themselves going in at halftime 0-2 down. But the 14’s Boys are the one side showing a never say never attitude at the moment, and just like the game at Mascot, the rallied to snatch a thrilling 3-3 draw despite going down to four men following Mat Mazevski’s dismissal for a second yellow. The Taipan scorers were: M Mazevski and Kyle Del (2).

The Taipan 14’s Girls were also a team in with a chance as the Dural record was won one and lost two, but due to aforementioned absent players the were unable to capitilise. A 0-4 scoreline at halftime was doubled by the Warriors in the second half to 0-8.

The 16’s Boys went into this game against Dural with both side pointless after three rounds, but again the South Coast side couldn’t seem to get going, and what should have been a close encounter became a one sided affair as the Taipans chased the game. 1-4 at halftime became 2-7 at fulltime with the Taipan scorers being J Zeballon and J Gorgievski.

Taipan’s 16 Girls were also hit by missing players, and although not an excuse, it’s very difficult against the well drilled Premiere League sides to go into a game with half a squad and expect the younger girls that have already played to do a job for you. And so it transpired as a 0-4 score line at halftime became 0-8 at fulltime.

Due to long term injuries, Coach April Van Woerkom has drafted in two new players to the youth squad, and both Peter Simonoski and David Stojic were thrown in at the deep end with yet another depleted side. The boys did a great job in the first half containing the much more experienced Dural to a 0-1 lead. Inexperience at this level cost dear when new boy Simonoski walked for a second yellow, leaving the Taipans with the bare minimum 5 players. Fatigue then took its toll as the Warriors ran out comfortable 0-5 winners.

The Women’s side are yet to score a goal, so going in against top of the table Dural with only four payers was not ideal to say the least. Stand-in coach Tony Davies drafted in four of the 16’s girls and asked them to do their best. A fantastic effort by all the girls was epitomised by 16’s goalkeeper, Ivana Zaric’s performance out on the court. 3-0 at halftime was not what the girls deserved given the circumstances, but again it would be a matter of time before fatigue, inexperience and a very good Dural side would get the better of our girls. The final score of 8-1 was not reflected in the celebrations of the girls’ first goal this season by Jaimi Van Woerkom.

Again, as with the Women, coach April only had four of her mens side at her disposal, and again, at this level, it’s very difficult to make up the numbers with players that have already given their all in a previous match. That aside, noone would have predicted that the Taipans would be three goalsdown in 2 minutes as the Warriors took complete control. The South Coastmen found themselves chasing shadows and the game as they went in at halftime 0-6 down. More of the same in the second half from the relentless Warriors had the final score of 12-1. Pete Gaffney scoring the Taipan consolation goal.

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