By Sarah Morton
Healesville U9 White Knights 1-1 Glen Waverley.
Healesville mostly defended well and good fun was had all round.
Healesville U10 Whites 2-6 Berwick United
The Healesville Whites arrived on time and ready for action.
The players being familiar with where they were supposed to be made all the difference to the pre-game preparation.
Three players down and no subs available did not deter the Whites from bringing their enthusiastic best.
Berwick came out strong with three unanswered goals in quick succession.
The Whites attacking players responded through Ardi C, who again proved to be a handful for the opposing defenders.
Some great defence and a super save from Arthur C saw a break away counter attack that fell to Ardi again… he dribbled past three or four players with some stand out flare and skill to bring the Whites to within 1 goal of Berwick at the half time huddle.
The team still had plenty to be upbeat about and looked to have the ascendancy for the majority of the match.
However, no available rotations wore the Whites down as Ardi C suffered a head knock leaving the team one down on the field. Berwick surged forward with another two quick goals on top of an earlier one in the half.
The score did not reflect the heart and courage shown by the Whites.
If Robbie K’s blinding strike from a well outside the box, Zak’s toe poke left of the post and Jon’s solo effort and run at goal, had all been on target… a different result may have been achieved. That is sport!
Berwick played to their strengths and won the match.
If however, fun and enthusiasm are the primary goals, then philosophically perhaps it was the Whites who won the day!
Healesville U12s 0 – 0 Berwick U12s
Healesville hosted a high flying Berwick for the second time this season.
From the get go Healesville were up for the fight against a much bigger and quicker opposition.
Chances were few and far between for both teams in an even contest with Healesville edging the territory and possession but Berwick having the better of the chances.
Manny W was outstanding in goals as were the whole defensive unit.
Overall a draw was a fair result in a goal-less clash.
Healesville U14 Boys 7-0 U14 Knox
Healesville showed they were again up for the challenge with another strong start scoring early.
Bolstered by the encouragement of two injured players Gordon and Kieran on the sidelines and some of the U14s girls, they went to the break 4-0 up determined to keep going.
Knox changed their tactics and forced Healesville to defend on the goal line, however a change in the formation and Healesville got the ascendancy back and finished with a penalty well put in by Connor M adding to the six goal haul by Will W.
Finishing with a 7-0 win, the game took Healesville to their first back to back wins and top of the division B ladder ahead of a top of the table clash next weekend.
Healesville Reserves 1 – 4 Waverley City 4ths
Healesville made the trip to Milperra Reserve to face Waverley.
With confidence high after a win last week but down on troops Healesville started well and took the lead with a well taken goal by Tom Eaton.
As the first half wore on Waverley’s possession game started to take its toll on Healesville’s fitness and a wonderful goal just before the break had the game all tied up at 1 each.
The second half started as the first finished with a tiring Healesville struggling to keep up with a more youthful home side.
Stuart Proud, playing in goal for the first time in his short outdoor career, made some tremendous saves but it wasn’t enough as Waverley would score 3 unanswered second half goals to win the game 4 goals to 1.
Dandy Casuals 3 – 3 Healesville Seniors
A contest played by two teams missing some key players ended up being an extremely close game.
Healesville took the lead through Daniel Tadesse, scoring his second goal in as many weeks, but were pegged back minutes later.
Lawrence Latin then had two goals disallowed for off-side but just before half time Brian Winrow scored – as one of his team mates described – a “Worldie”, hitting a half volley with his left foot from the edge of the box into the top corner of the net to lead 2-1 at half time.
The home team caught Healesville cold as they scored in the first 10 seconds of the second half and thought they had won the game when scoring another with just over five minutes remaining.
A piece of tactical brilliance, by coaches Tony and Bubs, saw 13 year old Will W come on and score a brilliant goal with what was virtually the last kick of the game to earn a well deserved point in what was a fair result overall.
