Very early on in the season, I learnt that up until the age of 11 you are not allowed, according to the FFA, to be a winner or a loser, which was a completely new concept to me having grown up in the golden olden days of a rough and tough Australian culture. 

Another thing that I have recently learnt is that every one of our junior teams that are eligible have this year made the grade and will play Semi Final football. 

Both our under 12 teams, the Titans and the Dragons, along with the under 16 Pumas will all play in the Finals series beginning this coming weekend September 6. 

The Dragons finished in 4th position and will face the 1st placed team in this week’s Semi Finals, the South Armidale Skeetahs. 

The Titans finished in 1st position and will play the 4th ranked team the South Armidale Spiders, with the Pumas who finished 2nd once again facing the 3rd placed Walcha Dragons after a 3-all draw against them last Saturday. 

A win is a must this weekend to proceed through to the Grand Final on September 13, so we wish all three Guyra junior sides the very best of luck.

Of course, in other exciting news the rag tag renegade group of Guyra soccer, favourites of our club sponsor the Guyra Hotel, otherwise known as the Thirsty Thirds have progressed, with the benefit of a closely fought win last Saturday, straight through to the Grand Final in two weeks’ time. 

Playing against the minor premiers Ex Services, the Thirsties were able to persevere in extra time and take out the match 2–1. With the scores locked at 1-all after regulation time, the Thirsties were able to outlast their more fancied opponents. 

Scoring for Guyra was Christopher Duffy with a lusty left footed strike and in extra time our faultless striker, Mr Adam Mendez put the game beyond doubt after he conjured up a ball steal from just inside the goal line before calmly slotting home the decider ten minutes from time. 

Once again it was the Thirsties backs that stood out in a dominant display with Mathew Kennedy, Brett Sparra Little and David Wilson all outstanding. Geoffrey Richardson was again extremely strong for his team reading the game well and getting to the ball first on many occasions, unless of course the ball got the bounce on him first. 

If the under 16 Pumas go down to Armidale this Saturday with the same attitude as last week they will not even make it into the Grand Final on the 13th. Showing up at the ground with minutes to spare before kick-off, not warming up prior to the game and obviously hitting the field with an extremely blasé attitude towards their soccer, the Pumas were abysmal in the first half and very quickly found themselves 3–1 down on the scoreboard. It seemed as though they had shown up to the ground completely unprepared. 

As was the case for one of their players the previous week who, upon taking off his track suit pants at the game realised that he had not actually put his shorts on. Lucky for him he only had a short distance to run home to Abercrombie street, isn’t that right Logan. 

Scoring in the first half for Guyra was Daniel Smith with Kyle Stewart narrowing the gap in the second half with a great shot from the sideline. 

The Pumas once again were short on talk and seemed to be playing too much one out soccer. They need to reclaim that fantastic brand of team based soccer that they can play so well at times and look for better options with the ball. After sensational lead up work from Logan Stanley, shorts and all, the ball was passed to Brodie Harman who was able to equalize with a fantastic shot on goal. 

Points this week went to: Kourtnee McFarlane 3, Cody Martin 2, Shae Stewart and Kelsie Youman 1. This side can win this competition but will need to be far better than what they have shown recently. 

Finishing in first position after the regulation rounds, the under 12 Titans are playing that wonderful team based soccer that they have produced all year with everyone on the team working well together. Scoring last Saturday in their 1–0 win over North Armidale Spirit was Jackson Clark. 

This team needs to continue to play the style of soccer that has seen them win against every other team in their competition, often in very close encounters. The Titans certainly do not make things easy for their supporter base with nearly every game being decided by only a goal and often not until the last several seconds of the game. 

Points this week went to Maddison Morgan 3, Bronte Stanley and Jackson Clark 2, with Sarah Rosten and Nicholas Graham both receiving 1. 

This coming weekend after finishing 4th, the under 12 Dragons will have to be at their very best when taking on the 1st placed South Armidale Skeetas for a place in the Grand Final. The Dragons are certainly not without hope though and can upset their more fancied rivals on the day. After a timely rest with the bye last Saturday, the Dragons are extremely keen to get back on the pitch for a chance to press their claim.

The under 10 Grizzleys last Saturday ran out on the field with only five players to start the game; it has been a long season. Numbers swelled to seven eventually and despite the limited numbers early on they actually started very well. 

The passing game was great as was the talk amongst the Grizzleys players with Jacob Black, who did not stop moving, great in both attack and defence. Mathew Williams was very solid in goals with Henry Starr our only goal scorer on the day. 

Playing against TAS the under 10 Rockets were playing a very up tempo brand of soccer with Lachlan Morgan and Fletcher Richardson scoring for their side. Hallie Ramage was in everything but was just not able to capitalise on goal with four very close but unlucky attempts. Despite the radar being slightly off kilter, Hallie was still by far the best player of the Rockets roster last Saturday.

Played in true Gladiatorial style this was a game we should not have missed. I have been told both combatants would have certainly received the thumbs up from the assembled multitudes. The under 9 Gladiators probably kept their best performance of the season almost right till the end; they were absolutely sensational with everyone lifting in this encounter. 

I am not allowed to tell you the result, however I can tell you that it was an absolute nail biter right to the end. Scoring for the Gladiators were: Marty Ryan, Amelia Wake and Emily Lockyer. No one player could be singled out in what was a truly sensational team effort. 

Another of our teams to be leaving their best form for the end of the season are the under 8 Lil Caspers who this week were up against a Walcha side that had given them a very tough game earlier in the season. The Lil Caspers were certainly the better of the two sides this time around according to a very proud and excited coach. 

Jack Lockyer was in incredible form for his side saving goals in the first half whilst goal keeper and scoring them in the second whilst up front. 

DK Knights were quick in trying to assert their authority over the under 8 Coyotes with Keeper David Rainger meeting the challenge head on. Play in the first half went from end to end with neither side able to capitalise. After the break with the score locked at nil-all, the Coyotes hunting in a pack went onto score 8 goals in the second stanza. 

Scoring goals in the second half were: Aidan Purvis 3, Piper Starr 2, and Rhett Heagney 1. 

Obviously having the game of his life was David Rainger who, along with his outstanding goal keeping in the first half, added 2 goals in the second. A strong performance by the Coyotes at this late stage of the season. 

A nice little rest for the Geckos last Saturday. With this under 7 side having the bye, they will be certainly looking forward to a game again next week. I know how much they have been enjoying their soccer. 

After a long journey bypassing Armidale for the sleepy little hamlet of Uralla, the under 7 Galaxy took on the might of the Uralla Cobras. A tough day out for this predominately all girl side but at no stage did they throw in the towel, competing well all the way through the game. 

Best for the Galaxy were: Jaymie Donnelly, Anna Grills and Jessica Taylor. 

No news this week from those Strikers, they must still be on the grass. 

With their older teammates back this week for the under 6 Giants it was great to see the younger members of the team, Pacie and Kayden Mulligan along with Summer Tibbs still showcasing their growing confidence. Angus Dullaway, Harry Purvis and Ryan Williams put some great play together and are really showing how much their skills have improved over the course of the season. Another very pleased and proud coach. 

The under 7 Ghosts were this week merely a phantasm or apparition for the rest of our soccer club with the aid of a bye. I, for one, however surely felt their presence. 

There may have been some blood in the water last Saturday with the under 6 Sharks absolutely on a goal feeding frenzy. Darecy Heagney was unstoppable scoring 7 goals with Lachlan Clark 1 and stand-in player Angus Dullaway also putting in a goal for a total of 9. A very good performance from this young team with others to stand out being Jack Campbell, Madisyn Turner and Oliver Cairns. 

Yet again the under 6 Hornets were up against an opposition with a limited number of players, as mentioned before it has been a long season. Archer Starr and Charlie Ward once again helped out by going over to the opposition. An early goal for Tommy Ryan was quickly backed up by goals to Tom savage, George Bradford and again Tommy Ryan with long range shots.  

Play was not all one way, however, with both sides playing some great soccer, often stealing possession from each other. Annie Williamson continues to show her development on the field, with goals to Tom savage and Tommy Ryan rounding out the scoring for the Hornets. 

Many thanks to Darryl Savage for the hasty last minute trip for orange supplies leading into half time; they were certainly needed with energy reserves low after a busy first half. 

The Draw for next Saturday, September 6:

Under 6: Guyra Ghosts V Sth Armidale Seals – Rologas 3 at 09:00am, Guyra Giants V Uralla Scooters – Rologas 6 at 09:00am, Guyra Hornets V Nth Armidale Rockets – Rologas 9 at 09:00am, Guyra Sharks V Walcha Giants – Rologas 3 at 10:00am. 

Under 7: Guyra Strikers V TAS Tigers – Rologas 4 at 09:00am, Guyra Geckos V Nth Armidale Frogs – Rologas 4 at 10:00am, Guyra Galaxy V DK Knights -Rologas 7 at 10:50am. 

Under 8: Guyra Coyotes V DK Blades – Rologas 14 at 10:00am, Guyra Lil Caspers V Sth Armidale Snakes – Rologas 14 at 10:50am. 

Under 9: Guyra Gladiators V Ex Servies Tigers – Rologas 14 at 09:00am. 

Under 10: Guyra Grizzleys V DK Axes – Rologas 13 at 10:20am, Guyra Rockets bye. 

Under 12 Semi Final: Guyra Titans V Sth Armidale Spiders – Rologas 12 at 09:00am, Semi Final - Guyra Dragons V Sth Armidale Skeetas – Rologas 12 at 10:10am. 

Under 16 Semi Final: Guyra Pumas V Walcha Dragons – Jack Vallance 1 at 08:30am.