Valentine Phoenix FC U23s

[Ted]

Hi all,
I am at Valentine Phoenix Football Club this year coaching the U23s in the NBN State League.
Thought I'd let those interested, know how we are travelling throughout the year.

Trial game results so far are:
Valentine 6 def Adamstown 1
Valentine 4 def Broadmeadow Magic 2
Valentine 3 def Hamilton Olympic 1

(I am still with Killarney and the WPL team)

 

[Mumbles]

Good start for the year.

 

[Ted]

We played Belmont Swansea in a trial game tonight and won 7-0.

 

[Ted]

Knew this game would be a little bit harder than last trial game against Broadmeadow Magic as we were borrowing several players from the 19s to make up numbers. It was one of those games that either team could have won, we missed several easy goals by blasting it wide or over the top and our keeper had a blinder stopping several certain goals. Both teams played well and resulted in a 2 all draw. The heat was a killer and the 2m offside goal to the Magic was a bit rough. Great game none the less!

Phoenix 2 - Magic 2

 

[Mumbles]

Everyone has one of those days. Only a trial.

 

[Ted]

So true bro, so true. I just hope we can carry our preseason form into the comp.

 

[Ted]

We had a 2 all draw with Weston Workers FC today. Not our best performance.

 

[Ted]

Nil all draw with Charlestown City Blues in our last trial game. They dominated the first half and we did the same in the 2nd. Neither team could find the back of the net. They are a a physical team with minimal passing game. Long ball and bash the player was a common sight. A few of my boys are feeling the rake of studs on flesh. We settled in the 2nd half and played a quick and calm passing game which negated the brutish style they preferred to play.
Hopefully we can keep our preseason form into the pointy end of the season...

 

[Ted]

Round 1

We had high expectations and hoped to maintain our undefeated preseason form into round one of the NBN State league against the Jets. But, this was not to be and the Jets had us on the back foot from the kick off. Our defence was soon caught short with a goal at the 10th minute and a second just 5 minutes later. A goal finally came our way 21 minutes into the game but the Jets slotting in two more before half time at the 24th and 29th minute had us shell shocked. We dug in for the remainder of the first half to keep it at 4-1 down but the damage had been done.

The half time chat seemed to work as the boys came out much more determined and driven. This was soon to pay off with a goal at the 47th minute and then again at the 49th minute. We were looking much stronger in the 2nd half and we were playing some great football. Unfortunately the Jets were to slot in one more at 55 minutes to finish the game at 5-3. While we lost the 1st half we certainly won the 2nd

Jets 5 - Phoenix 3

Round 2 - Valentine Phoenix v Lambton Jaffas (Saturday 13th)

 

[FFC Mariner]

Anyone half decent in the scum youth?

 

[Ted]

Only saw 15 minutes of the 1st grade game mate, but yes there are some decent players in there.

 

[Ted]

Round 2

Coming off the loss from last week, we wanted to dominate from the outset and this is exactly what we did. We had several goal scoring opportunities but just couldn't capitalize. Fifteen minutes had expired when we were fouled inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot. The penalty was slotted home and we were up 1-0 and stayed this way until half time

In the second half we moved the ball around with purpose and had the better of the Jaffas, but just couldn’t find that elusive 2nd goal. A midfield shot slammed off the cross bar and then the opposition had a couple of chances, which were sprayed wide. Sixty minutes in saw a penalty awarded against us when our goalie took out a player when sliding for the ball. However he read the shot direction and made the save look easy. Constant pressure in the oppositions third resulted in an own goal in the 70th minute to ensure the win was ours.

Phoenix 2 - Jaffas 0

Round 3 South Cardiff v Valentine Phoenix (Sunday 21st)

 

[Ted]

Round 3

We ventured to Ulinga Oval to take on South Cardiff feeling fairly confident that we
could continue our winning form. This was confirmed just before the 3 minute mark
when we buried the ball into the back of net. This came from some nice
passing play from the backs and finally a well timed assist. We continued to dominate the
first half and should have scored several times, but failed to do so.

We continued our dominance into the second half, but the longer the game went though the more
physical it became. A penalty came our way, but unfortunately the keeper read it
right and stopped us going 2 up. Southy had a few chances late in the game, but our
back line held strong to finish the game 1-0 and another 3 points to our table tally.

South Cardiff 0 - Phoenix 1

Round 4 Valentine FC v Hamilton Olympic (Sat 27th)

 

[Ted]

With Hamilton Olympic on top of the table we were expecting a tough game. From the kick off we set about our game plan which almost paid of several times in the first half. Missing an open goal not once but twice in the first half was a coach killer. Olympic also had a few opportunities to take the lead, but some awesome goalkeeping thwarted both attempts, with the half time score remaining nil all.

Second half saw us remain on top of our game and again another missed goal that went wide after getting past the keeper had me wondering if some magic force field was in front of the goals. We continued to pressure and finally found the net in the 58th minute and again 17 minutes later to end the game 2-0.

Valentine 2 - Hamilton 0

Round 5 Edgeworth FC v Valentine FC

 

[Ted]

We ventured Edgeworth Eagles home ground for round five and the game was pretty
much an even match between both teams. Two poor defensive errors saw us go 2-0 down
before half time. We had our chances to score, but unfortunately our shots went over the
cross bar or wide of the posts.

The second half kicked off with us dominating the opposition and we eventually found
the net at the 65th minute with Luke Barnier slotting one home. The Eagles keeper made
two quality saves to keep the score at 2-1 until a third goal found our net with a well
taken long range shot outside our 18 yard area. A poor first half performance saw us drop
to third on the table

Edgeworth 3 – Valentine 1

Round 6 Valentine FC v Broadmeadow Magic FC

 

[Ted]

R6
Having defeated Magic in preseason trials we were optimistic that we could again
overcome them to take the 3 points. From the outset we dominated the game and had
numerous chances to score with shots rebounding off the cross bar and goal posts but just
not finding the back of the net. Magic only needed the one opportunity and a lapse in our
defence gifted them a goal against the run of play early in the game. We continued to
dominated for the remainder of the game, however as has been the common trait in the
past few games, we just were not able to score.

Valentine 0 - Broadmeadow 1

R7
Unfortunately I was away for round seven but, from what I was told we once again were
the dominant team on the day. However, staying with our current trend, we were not able
to find the back of the net, but our defence was solid throughout the game and we kept
them scoreless to the full time whistle.

Charlestown 0 – Valentine 0

Round 8 Valentine v Lake Macquarie

 

[Einstein]

Valentine is becoming Central Coast B

 

[Ted]

R8

We finally returned to the winners circle (despite the final score) with a confident display of football. The first half was great to watch and with goals in the 9th, 12th and 39th minutes it was proof the hard work done at training on our finishing was paying off. We went into the break 3-0 up and feeling positive.

We started the 2nd half with rushed passes forcing our GK to make some impressive saves. The repeated loss of possession however was to eventually hurt us and a turn over in the middle of the pitch allowed the Macquaire to snare one back just 15 minutes in. The lack of cohesion was also evident from the referees, which was also to cost us, when the opposition was flagged offside. The ref hesitated making a decision and due to this, all players from both teams thought it was a free kick. Our keeper casually rolled the ball out so play could be restarted, when the ref motioned play on and the offside player taps it in. There's a lesson in playing to the whistle, no matter what the official’s body language says. I must admit I was getting nervous that we may throw the game away. It was comforting to hear the full time whistle blow and to secure the 3 points

Valentine 3 - Lake Macquarie 2

Round 9 Weston Workers V Valentine Phoenix

 

[Ted]

Valentine is becoming Central Coast B

There's so many Coast players (quality ones too) travelling to a NNSW team to play.

 

[possum x]

Are you talking about Lake Macqurie City?