Hawks junior match report Sunday 10 August U13s v Gawler The Adelaide Hills Hawks U13 team made the trek out to Karbeethan Reserve, Gawler, on Sunday 10th August for Round 14 of the Junior Premier League. Their Gawler opponents had been making steady progress throughout the JPL season and the young Hawks did not underestimate the 7th placed Gawler team when they took to the pitch for the kick off. Hawks held possession for the first few minutes, displaying their usual controlled style of play, but Gawler soon showed their worth, turning the ball over and making a run at the Hawks goal. Swamped by the Hawks defence of Jordan King, Eddi Hyder and Finn Bucco, the lone Gawler attacker was forced to shoot from a difficult angle. Hawks ‘keeper, Toby Nichols was able to stop the goal but the ball rolled over the bi-line, awarding Gawler a corner kick. Another shot at goal followed but pressure from Hyder and Nichols denied Gawler. Hard work from defensive mid-field players, Adam Miller and Mitch Foley fed the ball through to the Hawks attacking mid-fielders and forwards time and again. The pace and determination from both sides an indication that it was going to be an evenly contested match. On the 6 minute mark Bucco challenged and won the ball in defence, taking it down the line to pass to Sam Weiss. Play moved forward with Weiss’ run, and as his opponents closed in, Weiss passed back to Bucco who sent a well placed ball forward to Harry Anderson. Anderson dodged a defender before shooting past the ‘keeper, hitting the bottom left corner of goal to record 1-0 to Hawks. Hawks battled to control the game with Cooper Prosser, Jhy Vavayis, Connor McNeillie and Anderson all working hard to convert Hawks chances as Weiss, Foley and Miller sent the ball through to them, but Gawler were quick to read the play, working equally hard to intercept. Hawks created another chance when Prosser passed to Anderson who fired the ball towards goal but it hit the post. Although Hawks had the greater of the goal scoring opportunities, the even competition ensured the score remained on 1-0 up to the half time whistle. With no Hawks substitutes available due to illness and injury, the team used the half time break to rehydrate in the warm conditions and rethink their game play. Coaches Evan Vavayis and Connor Hudson urged the team to stick to accurate passes rather than through balls as a way to conserve energy, and more importantly as a way to break through the Gawler defence. The Hawks players listened and their revised playing style had an instant effect when they returned to the field. Within three minutes of the second half commencing Hawks were close to scoring when Prosser challenged for the ball. As Prosser was pressured into the corner he passed to Weiss who crossed the ball back into the middle finding Foley. Foley struck first time from the edge of the 18 yard box, coming agonisingly close to scoring as the ball hit the cross bar. Already carrying an injury, the ever resourceful Prosser threw his body into a partially executed bicycle kick in front of goal to make contact with the rebounding ball, coming very close again to scoring, the ball just shooting wide of the goal. The ensuing goal kick was taken by the Gawler ‘keeper, but well positioned Vavayis, placed just outside the 18 yard box, reacted quickly and struck the ball perfectly, the ball looping up over the ‘keeper and slipping in under the cross bar to bring about the Hawks second goal, the score now 2-0. Only minutes later it was Hawks ‘keeper, Nichols, who was called into play, pulling off a brilliant save at the other end of the pitch. Hawks continued to press with Weiss putting in hard work down the wing, battling it out in the Gawler defensive half and managing to cross the ball to Vavayis who ran in chipping the ball over the ‘keeper, making it 3-0 to Hawks. With an empty bench, Hawks began to tire, but they tried their hardest to continue creating chances. Anderson and Vavayis battled it out in the middle to conjure up one opportunity, but it was shot just wide of the goal. Another chance came from Miller who dodged and weaved past two opponents before striking towards goal, the ball sailing over the cross bar. On the 19 minute mark of the half, Gawler intercepted a pass in the mid-field before making a run towards the Hawks goal. A pass to an offside Gawler player was then allowed, and the resulting shot was initially cleared by Nichols before it fell into the path of a Gawler player who put it into the back of the net, the match card now reading 3-1. Only a minute later Gawler scored again when they ran through from the centre. Toby again saved the initial shot when he slid into the corner post to block the attempt, but it rebounded off Nichols with Gawler quickly putting it away, the score now 3-2. Hawks lifted to create multiple chances but their shots were saved by the ‘keeper or were just wide of the goal. In the dying minutes of the game Gawler threatened, pushing hard for a draw. There were some close moments but hard work from the Hawks defence and saves by Nichols kept the score at 3-2, securing a win for Hawks under difficult circumstances.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:00:53 +0000
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