Mount Gambier's community soccer project The Round Ball has continued to raise eyebrows as they shone this weekend playing away in Geelong. The friendly fixture saw the local under 21 squad take on a composite side from North Geelong Warriors and despite going behind by two goals late in the second half recovered for a memorable win. "This is the first time we have put a competitive side together to play 11 v 11" said Head Coach Scott Dickson. "We did very well in the South West Games winning our group however 11 v 11 is a different prospect and I am delighted with their development."
The Round Ball U/21 squad has developed out of The Round Ball's involvement in the Reality Television Series Football Superstar and its links with the Skoko family and North Geelong Warriors Soccer Club, who recently achieved promotion into the Victorian Premier League 1st Division.
The Round Ball U/21 squad has developed out of The Round Ball's involvement in the Reality Television Series Football Superstar and its links with the Skoko family and North Geelong Warriors Soccer Club, who recently achieved promotion into the Victorian Premier League 1st Division.
"For the past three years we have worked with junior players between the ages of 6 and 14 and moved up with them each year" said Dickson, "however after the success of our boys in Football Superstar and then the signing of Cameron Hart to North, we were approached to work with older players to bridge the gaps in development and support players between the ages of 16 and 21. This is very difficult time and for many it is hard to keep committed to school and sport when there are so many distractions."
Sundays away game saw The Round Ball squad comprising under 17 players and four over age players take on North Geelongs premiership winning under 16 squad with three over age players. "Football is not a level playing field" Dickson added, "our players do not have the opportunities that their city counterparts have and we have to work hard to bridge the gaps before our juniors head off to the city for University and the like. Opportunities like this prove the potential our juniors do have to succeed."
The game started at a very quick tempo with the Limestone Coast side creating the majority of early chances. Good work in the middle of the park by North Geelong target Callum Ferguson enabled by Ryan Tobin and Matty Weistra to have several early chances however each was denied by the well drilled Geelong defence. It was Geelong first attack in the 15 minute mark against the run of play that stunned the visitors when good work down the right was rewarded by a first time volley outside of the box to beat Brodey Koop at the near post.
The Round Ball continued to creat chances up front and follow North target Thomas Renzi went close, however it was Mark Judd who found the equalizer at the back post when he was fastest to react to a loose Renzi cross.
In a matter of minutes The Round Ball was on the back foot again when a looping effort beat Koop and then a defensive error allowed North to go into the 45 minute mark 3 goals to one up.
Several changes were made during the break with Aaron Mutebi, Jack Primer and youngsters Matty Pilvern and 14 year old Alex Sims given their chance. Mutebi's hard running began to worry the locals defence and Ferguson began to find some space. For the second time in two minutes Primer was left unguarded and after a fine finish from Ferguson, Primer proved his worth slamming home the equalizer to tie it up at 3 all.
The Round Ball defence settled down towards the end of the game and good work from Chris Bytheway and Dan Hough enabled Kyle Reiner and Alex Bissell to create more chances. Weistra found a tiring North defence to his liking as he lined up to shoot from outside the box he was tackled hard resulting in the balling rocketing into the underside of the cross bar and into the net from outside the eighteen yard box to give The Round Ball a deserved lead.
Weistra again found space and made amends for his earlier misses to round of a great come from behind victory 5 goals to 3.
After the match planning began for the visit of North Geelong early next year and the opportunities that will bring to the region.
North Geelong representative Anton Didiluca was full of praise for The Round Ball squad "They are improving every time we see them. We have visited The Mount 4 times this year and this is the second time Scott has brought over this squad. When we worked with them the first time one or two boys stood out and Cameron Hart was the standout. During our last visit there are now five or six players with real potential to make the grade and the juniors coming through are also really well drilled. They are exciting and we look forward to working with them when we visit the region next year."
"We are very excited about the prospect of a return match however we are very aware of the difficulty of the prospect it will bring. This win was against their junior side, when they return it will a be as part of a preseason training camp for their Under 21 VPL side. We currently have an average age of 17 in our squad with 3 boys who are currently under 15 and 2 under 14. They keep telling us we are doing an outstanding job, when our players get to train and play with their under 21 side we will see. This is a fantastic opportunity for our squad and one they are looking forward to" Dickson stated.
Sundays away game saw The Round Ball squad comprising under 17 players and four over age players take on North Geelongs premiership winning under 16 squad with three over age players. "Football is not a level playing field" Dickson added, "our players do not have the opportunities that their city counterparts have and we have to work hard to bridge the gaps before our juniors head off to the city for University and the like. Opportunities like this prove the potential our juniors do have to succeed."
The game started at a very quick tempo with the Limestone Coast side creating the majority of early chances. Good work in the middle of the park by North Geelong target Callum Ferguson enabled by Ryan Tobin and Matty Weistra to have several early chances however each was denied by the well drilled Geelong defence. It was Geelong first attack in the 15 minute mark against the run of play that stunned the visitors when good work down the right was rewarded by a first time volley outside of the box to beat Brodey Koop at the near post.
The Round Ball continued to creat chances up front and follow North target Thomas Renzi went close, however it was Mark Judd who found the equalizer at the back post when he was fastest to react to a loose Renzi cross.
In a matter of minutes The Round Ball was on the back foot again when a looping effort beat Koop and then a defensive error allowed North to go into the 45 minute mark 3 goals to one up.
Several changes were made during the break with Aaron Mutebi, Jack Primer and youngsters Matty Pilvern and 14 year old Alex Sims given their chance. Mutebi's hard running began to worry the locals defence and Ferguson began to find some space. For the second time in two minutes Primer was left unguarded and after a fine finish from Ferguson, Primer proved his worth slamming home the equalizer to tie it up at 3 all.
The Round Ball defence settled down towards the end of the game and good work from Chris Bytheway and Dan Hough enabled Kyle Reiner and Alex Bissell to create more chances. Weistra found a tiring North defence to his liking as he lined up to shoot from outside the box he was tackled hard resulting in the balling rocketing into the underside of the cross bar and into the net from outside the eighteen yard box to give The Round Ball a deserved lead.
Weistra again found space and made amends for his earlier misses to round of a great come from behind victory 5 goals to 3.
After the match planning began for the visit of North Geelong early next year and the opportunities that will bring to the region.
North Geelong representative Anton Didiluca was full of praise for The Round Ball squad "They are improving every time we see them. We have visited The Mount 4 times this year and this is the second time Scott has brought over this squad. When we worked with them the first time one or two boys stood out and Cameron Hart was the standout. During our last visit there are now five or six players with real potential to make the grade and the juniors coming through are also really well drilled. They are exciting and we look forward to working with them when we visit the region next year."
"We are very excited about the prospect of a return match however we are very aware of the difficulty of the prospect it will bring. This win was against their junior side, when they return it will a be as part of a preseason training camp for their Under 21 VPL side. We currently have an average age of 17 in our squad with 3 boys who are currently under 15 and 2 under 14. They keep telling us we are doing an outstanding job, when our players get to train and play with their under 21 side we will see. This is a fantastic opportunity for our squad and one they are looking forward to" Dickson stated.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.