Coastal Spirit FC Juniors: 9th grade
16 August 2008 | 19 July 2008 | 28 June 2008 | 21 June 2008 | 14 June 2008 | 7 June 2008 | 31 May 2008 | 24 May 2008 | 17 May 2008 | 10 May 2008 | 19 April 2008 | 12 April 2008 | 5 April 2008
Ferrymead Bays Top Dogs 2 CS Thunderbirds 5
16 August 2008
After such a long break everyone was eager for a game when the
Thunderbirds met the Top Dogs at Redcliffs Park and continued their
great season with another resounding win. An early goal was scored by
Matthew C but soon after that the team was made to realise that this was
not going to be a one-sided game, when the Top Dogs responded with two of
their own, despite the best efforts of Henry in goal. Trailing by one,
the Thunderbirds pressed forward, trying hard to link together with some
neat passing, making an effort to pass the way they were facing and
not to give possession of the ball away easily. In doing so chances were
created, but Top Dogs counter-attacked quickly and caught the
Thunderbirds out of position, but Ashleigh was fast and strong getting
back in defence and foiled many of their chances. The equaliser was
neatly converted by Matthew C just before half time to leave an
evenly balanced game, which would be decided by whatever team finished
the stronger in the second half. That was to be the Thunderbirds as they
dominated the rest of the game. Matthew C continued his great goal
scoring form by netting another two, his second 4 goal haul of the
season. Nicholas finished off the scoring by converting his chance
when he was played through by an accurate pass from the midfield.
Thunderbirds had been practicing hard to try to score from corners and
came close when Matthew N met a well chipped corner, but unfortunately
could not direct it in and another corner directly hit the
post. Hopefully, a bit more perseverance will see these chances
converted. Overall, a very well-played game by all and Ashleigh was
rewarded with Player of the Day for her sterling defensive efforts.
SAS Leopards 3 CS Thunderbirds 3
19 July 2008
Another wet day greeted the team for their match against the Leopards at
North Hagley and with steady, heavy rain falling pre-match, a difficult
match - both playing and watching - was anticipated by all. Thankfully, the
rain subsided right at kick-off, making for more pleasant conditions.
After the 2 week break from footy, the Thunderbirds were quickly back in
action against an evenly-matched team. Scores were level 2-all at half-time, with the Thunderbirds equalising both times through Matthew C's
right foot. They were unlucky not to be ahead, as the goalpost was
tested from a corner. Xavier had played very well in goal, making several
great saves and even when he was beaten he had managed to get a slight
hand to the ball. The game was taken to the Leopards in the second half,
with the Thunderbirds dominating and on attack, but some determined
defence kept them scoreless. Leopards again managed to take the lead
with a long-range effort sneaking into the goal, but the Thunderbirds
continued to press forward. The whole team's effort lifted as the full-time whistle beckoned. With only a couple of minutes remaining, they
were rewarded when Matthew C got himself free and smashed the ball high
into the net to tie the game up once more - grabbing his second hat-trick
for the year! This again shows that the Thunderbirds play right to the
last second with a tremendous team spirit that the coach and the
spectators are all proud of. We thoroughly enjoy watching all the
team members' efforts and determination. For his 3 goals, Matthew C was
rewarded by being Player of the Day.
CS Thunderbirds 1 Woolston Technical Pythons 7
28 June 2008
Both teams encountered terrible conditions at Cuthberts with
steady rain and a freezing southerly blowing, but were still
keen to get a game of footy in. It was decided, due to the
conditions, to play only 15 mins each way and have all the
players on with no reserves - so as no one was left standing
about freezing. So a game of 9-a-side was quickly started. The
Pythons quickly showed that they were by far the best team
encountered this year and were playing a style of football
that most senior teams would be proud of: passing the ball
into space; moving into new positions; and leaving the
Thunderbird players a yard behind. Early goals were scored
by them - a brilliant headed corner being a standout - but
the Thunderbird players gained a well-deserved goal back
when Xavier chipped the ball in from a wide angle. They were
unlucky that several other chances weren't converted and
half time was quickly taken with the score being 4-1 to the
Pythons. The second half was a similar story as the first,
again Pythons scoring from a corner and a final score of 7-1
to them showed that they had been well-deserved winners - but
the Thunderbirds' players can all be proud that they had got
out and played in those conditions and never gave up, being
unlucky not to score more than their one goal. Player of the
day went to Nicholas.
Burwood Hotspur 1 CS Thunderbirds 2
21 June 2008
Thunderbirds played a very exciting game against the Hotspur
at Clare Park, with the result going right to the final
whistle. Playing into the sun, a goal was gifted to the
Hotspur early with a misunderstanding between the defence,
and the goalie being unsighted by the conditions. This
setback did not put the Thunderbirds off their game. They
soon carried on their great form and started to string some
accurate passes together with several chances created.
Midway through the half, one was converted by Matthew C and
the scores remained level at the break - although one sharp
shot from the Hotspur rattled the post. With that scare
behind them, the Thunderbirds were determined that they were
to be the better team on the field with their teamwork
lifting for the second half. They began to have the
better of the half. More chances were created, the cross bar
being struck from one corner, but no goal was to show for all
their great play. That was until the last seconds, when a
ball was played through from the defence to Xavier who wrong
footed the last defender, took the ball to the left of the
keeper and then coolly slotted the ball with his left foot
into the net - great from a right footer! The roar from the
players was as large as that from the sideline and goes to
show just how happy the team was for this hard fought win.
Player of the day went to Henry for his strong defensive
tackling, and vision in passing the ball out of defence.
CS Thunderbirds 8 Papanui Legends 2
14 June 2008
What a great turn around from last week, where the
Thunderbirds suffered their worst defeat, to this week, where
they posted their highest ever score! They must have taken
something from that defeat and had come determined to play
the unlucky Legends at Cuthberts. Straight from the kick off
it was very noticeable that this was a changed team, with all
the players passing brilliantly and the 3 rolling subs
changing perfectly into position with hardly any sign of
change. It was great that with 8 goals scored there
were 7 different scorers! First to open the scoring was
Molly, finishing off a determined run through the centre of
the pitch. Soon after, Matthew C added a second for
the half. The Legends were having a hard time penetrating
the Thunderbirds' half and when they did the stout defence of
Henry and Keegan was foiling their attacks but their
persistence paid off and they clawed 1 back to trail by 1 at
the break. The second half resumed with 2 quick goals to
Ethan and again Matthew C to restore a handy lead but again
Legends clawed 1 back to show that they were going to make
the game as close an affair as possible. The Thunderbirds
again responded brilliantly by upping their game. Their
passing improved even more, with Matthew N working tirelessly
about the pitch and the players having the confidence to
inter pass even in their defensive third. Nicholas was
buzzing about the Legends' half and his efforts were rewarded
with a goal, Charlotte finished with a neat tap in from a
sweeping right hand attack and Ashleigh blasted her goal
from the edge of the box after busting through the
defenders. The game's scoring was completed with Xavier
finishing from an acute angle through the goalie's legs and
the final whistle was blown to leave a very handsome and well
deserved victory. A game where all players had played an
important part in securing the win. Player of the Day went to
Charlotte for her great work in all positions of the field.
Ferrymead Sharks 7 CS Thunderbirds 1
7 June 2008
Thunderbirds met a very sharp team in the form of the Sharks
at Barnett Park and, although the margin on the scorecard
was wide, the effort put in by both teams was close.
Thunderbirds scored first through Xavier, who finished off an
intercepted goal kick well. But this was an ingredient to
spur the Sharks on and they converted their chances in front
of goal well to take a 3-1 half time lead. The second half
restarted with an early Sharks goal and the majority of the
play was in the Thunderbirds' half. A lot of effort was put
in to hold the Sharks at bay, but with the amount of chances
created by them and some great saves by the keeper (Keegan) to
foil them, the margin could have been larger. Although the
team was very disappointed with the result, they will have
learnt a lot from the game and they will be eager to turn the
result around next week. Player of the day was well deserved
and went to Matthew N.
CS Thunderbirds 1 Ferrymead Crush 1
31 May 2008
A very even match was played out at Cuthberts by two
determined teams keen to secure a victory. With 3 reserves
for the game, Thunderbirds showed that they have adapted well
to playing with the many changes required and the result was
better than the last time they had to play with those
changes.
Crush started strongly, with much of the play for the first 10 minutes in the Thunderbirds half, but stout defence held them at bay. Thunderbirds then began to start exposing a Crush team starting to bunch on the field and their ability to hold their positions on the pitch paid dividends when passes set Xavier away on a run down the right flank. Beating two defenders, he managed to square back an accurate cross just before the ball crossed the by-line and Charlotte was able to neatly tuck it away on the near post. A series of corners shortly followed. From one of the corners, the Crush goalie appeared to some of the Thunderbird sideline to have taken the ball over the line but, with the referee (me) unsighted and the other on-field coach uncertain, a goal was not given.
At half time the Thunderbirds were confident of continuing their winning run at home and the second half was started in that manner. Crush too had that same belief and a very end-to-end half was played out. Again Thunderbirds forced several corners but didn't convert and the Crush had the better chances. Charlotte, the goalie for the half, produced some great brave saves and in one hectic passage of play, the post was rattled twice by the Crush. Shortly after the equaliser was scored by the team that had finished the strongest.
A fair result for both
teams and the Thunderbirds held their unbeaten home record
for the season with the game giving them something to work
on: to score more consistently from corners.
Player of the
day was well-earned by Molly.
Western Dodgers 4 CS Thunderbirds 4
24 May 2008
Fans of both teams were treated to a great free-flowing,
end-to-end
game when the Thunderbirds played the Dodgers at Elmwood
Park. With ground conditions slightly sticky, the players on
both sides really enjoyed the game and 4-all was a
fair result for both teams with the effort put in. The white
shirts will definitely need an extra wash to come up bright
and shiny for next week! Thunderbirds opened the scoring
when Nicholas squared the ball to Matthew C, who drilled the
ball into the top corner for an early lead. Dodgers
responded well by getting the next 2 goals and were heading
into half-time with a narrow lead until Matthew C capped off
a determined run and scored his second goal. The other
Matthew in the team donned the gloves from Molly for the
second half and he was required to pull off 2 early saves to
keep the score tied - but all this early Dodgers pressure told
and they managed to regain the lead. The game began to go
from end-to-end, with the Thunderbirds desperate for an
equaliser and the Dodgers desperate to get that decisive
break and win the game. There was great defence by both
teams. Ashleigh at one stage blocking a goal bound shot
after the keeper had been beaten. Corners at each end
flashed across the face of goal just failing to get that
final touch. Then Matthew C's efforts in the middle of the
park were rewarded not only once but twice and Thunderbirds
had regained the lead again with only 4 minutes to go!
Dodgers pressed forward hard and forced a late corner. A low
cross near the by line was passed in and took an unfortunate
deflection off a defender and the scores were level again
for the final time. For scoring his 4 goals, a record for a
Thunderbird, player of the day went to Matthew C, but
all members of the Thunderbirds played an important part in
this great game.
9th Grade: CS Thunderbirds 5 SAS Dynamites 0
17 May 2008
Thunderbirds played the Dynamites for the second time this
season at Cuthberts. The Thunderbirds had immediate success, with
Charlotte scoring her first goal of the season within the
first ten seconds. This set the team off for a great result.
Although, the Dynamites responded well to their early setback, by having the better chances of the half and forcing
Xavier, the Thunderbird goalkeeper, into several good saves.
Half-time oranges, spiced with a special treat of Tim tams,
really kicked-in - with the team as hungry for the ball as they
were for their half-time energy boost. Xavier swapped the
gloves with Ethan, and his determined effort in the middle of
the field was rewarded, when a great run through the Dynamite
defence was expertly finished off with a great goal. The
whole team's effort had increased significantly since the
half-time break and Nicholas soon scored with a powerful
shot from the edge of the goal box bursting through the
keeper's hands. Keegan scoring his first for the year when
latching on to a spilled save from the goalie after a
surging run and shot from Xavier and, finally, Xavier getting
his second for the game - leaving the result a handsome 5-nil
victory. Such a great result was going to make player of the
day a difficult decision - with the half time Tim tam supplier
Mike a leading contender - but it was well-deserved by his son
Nicholas. Well done team, a great response by all after last
week's unlucky defeat.
9th Grade: Nomads Magpies 3 CS Thunderbirds 2
10 May 2008
The kids were eager to get back into football after the
holiday and rained off break. So, it was off to Tullet Park
for their match against the Magpies. With the opposition
insisting on playing 7-a-side - when both teams could have
fielded 8 and still had a reserve - it meant the Thunderbirds
had 3 rotating subs which they found difficult on the field
(with the more than usual rotating subs).
That, and with playing into the sun which made the goalkeeper Nicholas' job difficult, Magpies had a golden period where they quickly scored 3 goals late in the half - even though the game had been much closer up until then.
This was pointed out to the Thunderbirds at half time and it was decided, once the goalie was changed with Keegan going between the posts, that the team would play Nicholas as a lone striker - making it easier to rotate subs between the midfield and defenders. This, and a determined team smarting from being 3 behind, made a big difference.
With 15 minutes to go, Nicholas converted a chance and the team got a belief installed that they could get a result from the game. Many chances were created, with one rasping shot cannoning off the post from Xavier and the rebound pounded into the net from Ethan to pull the team within one goal with 5 minutes remaining. Keegan pulled off a couple of great saves, one diving at the feet of an attacker to gather the ball, but unfortunately time was against the Thunderbirds and they suffered their first loss of the season.
Even though it was a loss, the 2nd half performance shows the Thunderbirds are a team with great fight and spirit, just as in the club's name, and all well deserved the crunchies kindly supplied by Carrie at the end of the game. Player of the day was Keegan for his sound defence and goalie work.
19 April 2008
9th Grade: CS Thunderbirds 2 Western Dodgers 1
Thunderbirds got their first taste of winter with a stiff
cold southerly encountered at North Hagley for their game
against the Dodgers. With two players out it was going to
be a true test of their abilities to maintain their unbeaten
record.
The team again galvanized together well and kept to their given positions. They were rewarded early when a low, hard cross from Matthew C was turned into their own net by a Dodgers defender. Ashleigh produced two fine saves in goal when it looked as an equaliser was imminent - but a third chance by the Dodgers was converted neatly in the bottom corner to leave the score level at half time.
Henry, who had a fine game in defence, donned the gloves for the second half and, with players' positions switched, the second half restarted with the Dodgers hard pressed on getting a second goal. A change in team tactics early soon reversed that fact when Ashleigh became the only striker, the midfield was stacked with more players and the flow of the game turned into the Dodgers' half. Midway through, a ball was played forward toward Ashleigh and determinedly she held off desperate defender challenges, rounded the keeper and from an angle placed the ball in off the post. The roar from the Thunderbird supporters was tremendous and that great support spurned the team on to maintain the lead and take a well deserved victory. A great dive at the feet of a striker to gather the ball by Henry and, in the last seconds of the game, Nicolas twice blocking attackers paths to the goal was testament to that great support. For her determined efforts in goal and as a lone striker, player of the day went to Ashleigh - but all Thunderbird players could be well pleased with their great team game and victory.
12 April 2008
9th Grade: CS Thunderbirds 2 SAS Dynamites 1
Thunderbirds continued their great start to the season with a second win down at Cuthberts. Once again the team led at half time 1-nil courtesy of a one-on-one chance converted by Ethan and had dominated the majority of a keenly battled half.
Again the whole team was keeping to their selected positions superbly and this really shows against teams which do not hold their shape on the field. At half time goalies were changed with Charlotte taking the gloves from Matthew C and the second half resumed in much the same manner of the first with another goal agonizingly close when the ball crashed onto the crossbar from Matthew C, then bounced on the line and out.
The best goal so far this year was soon added when Ethan stitched a low left foot volley from far outside the goal box to give the team a comfortable lead which was held even though a late goal was clawed back. Player of the Day was awarded to Ethan for his brace of goals and his effort around the whole pitch.
5 April 2008
9th Grade: CS Thunderbirds 3 CS Dragons 2
5,4,3,2,1, the Costal Spirit 9th grade roared in to the 2008
season with a well deserved victory over fellow Spirit team
the Dragons who themselves played very well, taking into
account that this was both teams' first game on larger fields
with goalies. Thunderbird players held their positions well
and when subbed on stayed in that new position, which enabled
the team to spread out over the pitch and pass the ball
effectively. This was very pleasing to see from the coaching
side and I am sure that we will improve in the way we play
the game as the season progresses. The game's 1st goal was a
nicely chipped corner from Xavier which was coolly finished
by Matthew N and that was how it remained for the half.
Goalies were changed at half time with Molly swapping the gloves with Matthew N and Matthew C changing sides with Nicholas who had kindly offered to play for the Dragons in the first half so that more kids were getting onto the pitch. The second half started strongly for the Dragons, with Matthew hitting the post shortly before a goal was scored to tie the game up. As the half progressed, the Thunderbirds got stronger - evidence being the tackles being made by all the Thunderbird players, and defense was quickly converted into attack. A quick brace of goals by Xavier gave the team a decisive break - which was reduced to 1 when Matthew scored against his own team to leave the final score 3-2.
Player of the day could have gone to several players - but, for his 2 goals and assist, Xavier was awarded it. Well played Thunderbirds the 2008 team of Henry, Molly, Matthew C, Xavier, Keegan, Charlotte, Ashleigh, Matthew N, Nicholas and Ethan will try to continue this great start to season. Thanks to the support from family and friends on the side line, cheers Craig.