31 March 2008 Newsletter Number 2 　

Dear Hotspurites,

Great start to the new season with ALL our teams posting victories-Well done to all players!
REPORTS – If you can get them in by 10pm Monday it would be appreciated. Send one for Panthers as well if you missed here.

DRAW FOR THIS WEEK

DRAW for SUNDAY 6th APRIL

HOTSPURS 　V BENALLA 　　at Churchill Reserve -Benalla

All teams play at normal time except the TENS who have a BYE.

U12 Girls will NOT be at Benalla- They will be notified of there venue during this week

Allow 70 minutes to travel to Benalla from Albury. Churchill Reserve is located past the Benalla main shopping centre- turn left at Shell Service Station then turn right two blocks down.

**** Finally the award for our best report using the word of the week “drought” judged by the newsletter editor (me) goes to the report Craig Day of the U11’s. You can pick up your drink prize at the canteen when we have a home game. The word for next report is “sasquatch”.

MATCH REPORTS
Under 10’s Bye

U10s V United (friendly)

Daring breaks down the wings and through the middle

Robust defense in the face of goal thirsty opposition.

On the attack for most of the match.

Up and over when the path to goal was blocked.

Great short passing in midfield and attack.

Honest, hard work from the entire group.

There was never a drought for this team!!!!

Hotspurs won 10-0.　 Tom 5, Setter 4 and Alex Roberto 1.

Under 11’s V Wodonga Panthers Won 8 – 0

Embroiled in autumn fog, our super Elevens team set out on their quest to defend last season's League and Cup double. This season we welcome Jacob Pargeter and Euan Macleod to our team and with 3 experienced players absent for Round 1, we stepped up to the challenge of Wodonga Panthers. Kicking to the Nullarbor Plain end we spent the first ten minutes impersonating a rusty windmill on a drought-stricken farm - clank, clank, clunk. Lewie Couper was untroubled in goals, ably protected by Dan Kipp and his merry men - Will, Brandon and Chris, with Joe dropping back to help out when needed.. After an error from the Panthers goalie we put a first on the board via a sweetly placed free kick from Jack that dipped neatly under the crossbar. A rain dance from Gus Staples, Dom Baker, Blake Robbie and Garth Lewin saw a deluge of goals soak the arid landscape of Lambert Park, with two more goals finished by our water diviner Jack. 3-0 at the break with "finger in the dyke" stuff from Panthers as they tried valiantly to repel the dambusters of Hotspurs as we resumed to the Atacama Desert end of the pitch.. Via the flanking tributaries of Lewie, Dom and Gus, jack sent two more down the aquaduct before Gus himself visited the well. Jack continued his fluvial deluge bagging a 6th, courtesy of great supply from Jacob, Garth, Lewie and Dom, before sublime passing skills between 5 or 6 players culminated　in a great team goal for Blake.

Goals: Jack Day 6, Gus Staples, Blake Robbie.　

At 8-0 we certainly ended a 5 and a half month (off season)　goal drought and we will be much better for the run. Thanks to the Dads who helped set up the fields and to 4year old Sarah Boyall who set up the corner flags for us.

This weekly we eagerly anticipate our first trip south seeking to explore the meaning of the new initiative from the 'Benalla Business Network' which boldly states: 'IF YOU CAN'T GET TO PARIS, TRY BENALLA' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Under 12’s V Wodonga Panthers Won 5 – 1
Under 12’s Girls V Wodonga Panthers Won 5 – 1

Our first game in a brand new league saw the under 12 girls primed and ready to get on with the game at hand, and show off their skills.

Emily Minal kicked off and the rest of our forward line (Reuby and Paige) passing the ball forward to each other showing some great soccer skills early on in the game.

The midfield (Emma S, Georgia and Melinda) soon decided that they wanted the ball as well and pushed forward to start applying some extra pressure to the Panthers defence, with a long pass from Melinda to Emily M who then controlled and dribbled passed two defenders and finished off for our first goal within the first 5 minutes of the game.

A long drought on the goal front ensued for Panthers as the Hotspurs 12’s dominated across the entire park. Lauren and Tahlia were solid in defence. Bethany made a couple of great pick ups in the goals, yet for the most part the girls remained in attack.

In the second half Emma T, Milla and Emily Mc marked up their opponents extremely well. Overall, the girls made their first game look like they had been playing together for a full season. A fantastic effort.

Goals to Emily M, Emma S, Melinda 2, and Paige. Two goals saved by Bethany playing in goals in the first half and a brilliant save by Lucy in the second half.

Thanks to Greg Wright for umpiring his second match for the day.

Under 13’s V Wodonga Panthers Won 3 -0
“I love a sunburnt country, a land of drought and flooding rains, a land where rep weekend takes away a lot of our team”

And so begins the season for the U13’s where we had to call Jack from U11’s and Josh and Ryan from U12’s to make our team. The opposition with the help of the wind and a fresh season put a lot of pressure on us from the start and with inaccurate passing we had few chances in the first fifteen minutes. Then a throw in from Jamie made it to Michael who calmly chipped the keeper for the first goal of the season. Our next started from our own half with a pass to Jack Day who then sent it wide to Sam to take down the wing where he centered for Jack to put away. Half time oranges kept the dry away and we came out in the second half to dominate with better passing and use of the ball. Jack got a second with a screamer from the edge of the box to score our third. Up front Sam, Jack and Thomas played well while Tom C, Nida, Michael, Chris and Jamie got control of the midfield. Ben P, Ben H and Ezra were solid in defence and it was great to start the season so well.

Under 14’s V Wodonga Panthers Won 7 - 0

A great team effort for our first game of the season. Lets hope the enthusiasm keeps up for the whole season.

Thanks to Ethan for being goalie for part of the game so Sam could have a run on the field.

Goals scored by Johnny(3), Elijah(1), Julian(1) (great effort for his first game) and Nick(1) and an own goal.

Under 14’s Girls V Wodonga Panthers Bye
Under 16’s V Wodonga Panthers Won 9 - 0

Under 17’s Girls V Wodonga Panthers Bye
Thirds V Wodonga Panthers Bye
Reserves 　V Wodonga Panthers Won 13 – 0

The scores shows we dominated this game. Harro played very well and notched four goals. The Doctor was also very good scoring five goals. Kelvin and Powelly were excellent in midfield- while youngsters Paddy and Aras played good games.

Ladies V Wodonga Panthers Won 2 - 0

The ladies had a good start to the year and played quite well. Jelena scored both goals which were both the result of good teamwork. Our defence was excellent with Lauren, Danielle, Lisa,Tara, Sarah and Kat playing very well in keeping our opponents scoreless.

Senior Men 　 V Wodonga Panthers Won 7 – 0

The seniors had a convincing win. Although it took until the 35 minute to score the first goal the team showed good patience and control from the start. Ryan Giles and Robert Tuksar both got a hatrick and Mick Corkett scored the 7th goal. Ryan's second goal was as good a goal ever seen at Aloysius Park- the shot travelled at least thirty five metres and the opposing goalkeeper still has not seen it. We would like to see another against United!