With finals just around the corner, there was plenty of determination, teamwork and great sportsmanship on display at Rotary Park on Saturday as Deniliquin District Soccer Club players took to the field for another fantastic morning of junior soccer.
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From big wins to nail-biting one-goal thrillers, the kids gave it everything.
And with just one final round remaining before finals, the excitement is certainly building!
A-grade
A2 vs A4: 1-7.
It was a tough assignment for A2, who were down on troops and facing the strong Open A4 side.
Despite the scoreline, A2 continued to work hard throughout the match but were ultimately outclassed by a very strong opposition.
A1 vs A3: 1-3.
A competitive match saw plenty of pressure and determination from both sides.
The opening half was tightly contested before the game opened up after the break, with increased pressure and attacking opportunities making for an entertaining finish.
A3 eventually came away with the 3-1 victory.
B-grade
B2 vs B4: 2-2.
What a battle!
Both sides played some terrific soccer, with B4 continuing to improve their positional play and showing how much they have learned throughout the season.
B2 also stepped up their game once again, with the team’s improvement over the past few weeks clear to see.
Neither team could be separated at the final whistle, finishing with a well-earned 2-2 draw.
B1 vs B3: 2-1.
This one went right down to the wire!
B1 showed fantastic team spirit to hold on for a narrow 2–1 victory, while B3 also produced a very strong performance in what was a great match between the two sides.
C-grade
C1 vs C3: 2-3.
An absolute cracker!
The Fury may have gone down 3-2, but they certainly made their opponents work for every inch of the victory.
The teamwork was next level, the effort enormous and every player put their heart and soul into the match.
There were tackles, runs, saves, passes, near misses and probably a few very tired legs by the end!
Ted Pisasale and Teddie Barker found the back of the net with two fantastic goals, while Matilda Bootsman was named Sportsperson of the Match after a brilliant effort.
C3 had to dig deep after trailing 2-0 at half-time.
Rather than panic, they stuck to their game plan and continued creating chances.
Eventually the goals came, with Lenny Morris scoring two excellent goals and Archie Rourke adding another as the side completed a fantastic comeback to win 3-2.
It was a brilliant example of what can happen when a team keeps working and believing until the final whistle.
C2 vs C4: 1-3.
Another evenly matched contest saw both teams working well together and producing some excellent defensive soccer.
The difference proved to be the fantastic goalkeeping efforts of Ocean Allen, who played a major role in C4’s 3-1 victory.
There was also an important team discussion around making good sportsmanship decisions on the field.
It is another reminder that junior sport is about far more than the scoreboard.
D-grade
D1 vs D3: 1-2.
D3’s Yellow team showed plenty of composure and teamwork despite a few distractions throughout the match.
Their throw-ins are really starting to take shape, while their defensive positioning from corner kicks showed just how much the team has developed.
There were also some fabulous saves from the team’s rotating goalkeepers.
Although, according to the team report, the real highlight may have been the half-time fruit and lollies.
This was followed by referee awards and, yes, more lollies!
Sometimes soccer is about the little things!
D2 vs D4: 0-3.
This match was a wonderful example of what DDSC junior soccer is all about.
Green started the morning with only three players, so Purple stepped in and loaned players to make sure everyone could still have a game. Fantastic sportsmanship!
Once play got underway, Gabriel Olabampe proved difficult to stop in attack, finding the back of the net three times.
Riley Raper and Reggie Swainson were solid defensively, while Tom Callanan played the entire game for Green and produced an impressive performance.
Walter Murphy and Mateo Sztejman also worked hard defensively, while Gabriel Olabampe, Hugh Buggee and Hugh Pappin displayed some excellent footwork.
A great game played in fantastic spirit by both teams.
Kangas and Joeys
What a beautiful morning for our youngest soccer stars!
The sun was shining and everyone was ready to get straight into the action.
Drills and games were kept short because everyone was eagerly waiting for the main event — their big game of soccer!
There were plenty of big kicks, attacking runs and defensive efforts as the Kangas and Joeys enjoyed another wonderful Saturday morning together.
This Saturday marks the final regular season round before finals, so there is plenty to play for.
Play times:
9.30am A3 vs A2, B3 vs B2, B1 vs B4, Kangas and Joeys.
10.30am A1 vs A4 (Open), C1 vs C4, C3 vs C2, D1 vs D4, D3 vs D2.
Team photos
A big reminder to all DDSC families that team photos will be taken this Saturday, August 22.
We need every team ready to have their photo taken before their game so we can keep the photos moving smoothly and, most importantly, have all matches kicking off on time.
With plenty of teams to photograph, everyone’s help will be needed to keep the morning running to schedule.
Players are asked, please do not arrive at your normal game time.
Instead, please allow an extra 15-20 minutes before your game so your team can be organised and ready for its photo.
One last regular season Saturday, team photos, plenty of soccer and then finals.