Win one, draw one and lose one, seems to be the way it goes for the teams this year!

After the drubbing at the hands of the Joma Jaguars, the Phantoms played ISE away at Endeavour Hills. In this encounter the boys were too good and won 6-2. The Phantoms and the Hornets played out their Home / Away games at Cheltenham, with the Phantoms coming out on top in both matches. Next up, the boys had the tough Geelong Cats to play and so it proved to be a close thing. Goal for goal right throughout the match, it was only in the last minute did they manage to get the winning goal and keep their noses in front, winning 5-4. Young Dylan Trevethick scored four goals in this game, just by being at the back post. Not a bad effort, considering he is the No 2 Goalkeeper! Next up was a Home match against the fast improving Dragons. Spurned on in the knowledge that the Hornets beat them the previous week, the boys thought they had this one in the bag before the ball was even kicked! Wrong! Despite warnings from the Coach about their danger player, Keely Lockhart, and the overall improvement of the Dragons, the advice went unheeded. They soon found themselves on the back foot within 30 seconds of kick off. Losing possession in front of goal by dribbling is a no no. Bang! 1-0 down; then 2-0.  They fought hard to get back on an even keel, but that just spurred the Dragons on. The visitors took a two goal lead, but finally, the Phantoms got on level terms. The Dragons were starting to run out of puff! In the dying seconds of the game the Phantoms applied the pressure and scored the winner….only for the referee to blow his whistle for a foul against our Pivot. The goal was disallowed! Final score: 6-6. Two points lost, but in reality, a point earned. The Phantoms remain second on the Ladder.

After the Hornets played the Phantoms they had an Away game against the Dragons. The Dragons were very good with their passing, but could not get past Elizabeth Sarcevic in goal. Time after time she thwarted the Dragons attack. With Jordyn Phipps-Nelson also on fire in attack, with some sublime toe-poke shots, the girls held the upper hand. During the second half, the Dragons needed some quick goals to stay in the match. So, they changed their tactics. Long throws to their Pivot, Keely Lockhart (one of the smallest players on the pitch) scored two quick goals….with her head! The Hornets were rattled. But some quick substitutions and the goals started coming again for the girls in blue. They ran out eventual winners 11-4.

Next up was a Home match against their nemesis: the Cobras. After these games, the Coach always losers his voice! Being cross town rivals, these games have so much pre match hype and expectations of a great match. And so it was, with the pendulum swinging both ways during the match. Tough tackles, good passing, good shooting, great goalkeeping, lots of noise: a great atmosphere. Just what futsal is all about! The Hornets played really well, with Paige Edwards, Elizabeth Bradbury and Rebecca Niclasen outstanding in defence. Both Elizabeth Sarcevic and Maddie Knobbs had fine games between the sticks. The turning point was a great shot by Finnie Knobbs that went in off the left hand post and ricocheted around the back of the net. The Cobras Goalkeeper had no chance. The Home crowd in the packed gallery were off their feet cheering for the girls in blue. The final score was 4-2 to the Hornets.

The Falcons keep on trying in a tough competitive league. They always start off well, but just can’t keep their concentration for the entire 50 minutes.

After coming off two wins, their next game was against the St Albans Strikers at home. The Pirates raced out of the block with a quick fire 3-0 lead within 10 minutes. Captain Anthony Elmer was too quick and powerful for the Strikers defence. But this is a club who have a habit of coming back. And so they did, to level it 3-3 at half time. Some silly mistakes by the Pirates allowed the Strikers back into the match and they added four more goals without reply in the second half. The boys in blue just could not match the physicality of the Strikers and in the end St Albans won the match 7-3.

Next up was the well drilled Vipers, who are top of the Ladder. Again, Anthony Elmer was on fire with good support from Vice Captain Alan Lamshed, flank players Matthew Bucello and Wisam Moolawi. All the team played well, with George Collios scoring at the far post and William Baldwin and Luke Rodaway putting in good shifts. Daniel Ventura was getting a good work out in goal and he made some fine saves. But the Vipers are a very good team and proved too much for the Pirates, winning comfortably 10-4.

Four more rounds to play before the Joma Sala League starts and the State Club Championships in Bendigo.