Well, the circus has finally left town with the completion of the soccer season here in Guyra for 2014. The Ring Master, Mr Adam Brennan has overseen his last junior soccer commitment having officiated at the junior presentation afternoon last Sunday. Co-owner and front of house, Mr Colin Stanley has closed the box office for the season with our other Co-owner, Mrs Brooke Brennan recently seen counting up final box office receipts.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Performers are now having a welcomed rest post a hard season, being on show for the masses for so long, and the Clown has left town and was last seen writing this report from the balcony of the seventh floor of the Seascape apartment building in Tweed Heads.
Three Grand Finals: one win two losses, possibly not the result that we would all have liked, however season 2014 must certainly be counted as an extremely successful one. A win in the Grand Final for the under 16 Pumas with their coach, Mr Dasha Lennon stating that without a doubt it was their best performance of the year.
The under 16 Pumas first half performance was outstanding with the only downside being that they could not convert their chances on goal. In a five minute stretch half way through the first period, the Pumas had total ascendancy and yet missed three gilt-edged chances.
Brodie Harman’s header off an incredibly accurate corner unfortunately blasted over the net, not troubling the goalie from North’s who, it must be said, was absolutely sensational last Saturday.
Darcy Jackson had the goal face almost empty of opposition but unfortunately sprayed the ball to the right of the posts, with our youngest player in the team Cody Martin beating the goalie but not the laws of gravity with a ball rocketing over the cross bar. Cody was one of the stand out performers on the field all day playing some very up tempo soccer throughout.
Darcy and Brodie left nothing out on the field, with Darcy playing on with a broken wrist and Brodie playing the last half of the second stanza with a blown out boot and swollen ankle.
The fact that master Logan Stanley’s diminutive frame could effectively outlast both Brodie and Darcy as well as the metal legs of a BBQ, just goes to prove once again that this reporter is a poor judge as to the fragility or perhaps what is more factually truthful, the strength and durability of Logan’s slender frame.
Guyra’s Goalie, Dillon Hammond was most assuredly as good, if not even better than the North’s goalie and certainly does not have any worries about holding his position if the offer from one short-sighted Guyra official is accepted by his North’s counterpart. Dillon was outstanding in goals, saving with great athleticism many red hot chances from the North’s forwards.
Vincente Abayan played his normal Steven Segal ‘take no prisoners’ style of soccer even sporting a questionable hair grooming choice a’la his idol. Vinnie often dispossessed the opposition of the ball with his incredible speed and vision. Kourtnee McFarlane was another of the Puma players to show just how much this win meant to the Pumas and played her heart out for her side throughout.
The Pumas’ backs were good and difficult to crack, the forwards and halves were cohesive with the whole side playing the ball the way they faced; they communicated and shortened their passes and with this came results. Perhaps not their most convincing goal of the season but certainly their most important late in the second half with the ball dribbling into the back of the net off the boot of Daniel Smith. Daniel played particularly well despite the loss of a close family member and should be commended for the way he carried himself and supported his team mates during such a sad time for him and his family; the Pumas most certainly appreciated his efforts.
Only looking vulnerable for a short period in the second half, the Pumas were always in control of this game and were deserved winners on the day, beating minor premiers North’s for the first time in 2014. Congratulations Pumas, well done on such a successful season. I for one never had any doubts on your ability to take out the premiership.
It is once again that time of year when we should thank the committee that has been the driving force behind junior soccer in Guyra this past season. Many thanks to Colin and Kylie Stanley, Brooke and Adam Brennan, Darren and Tania Lennon, Tyrone Clough, Murray and Leah Harman, Scott and Nadine Youman and Craig Lockyer.
Thank you to those people for your tireless efforts in helping to once again enable us to enjoy junior soccer here in Guyra. I know the time and effort that these people have put in over the past season and they certainly should be proud of their accomplishments.
Thanks to Jodie Stewart who ran our junior canteen over this past season and Tania Lennon who ran our senior canteen.
Thanks must also go out to our junior coaches for this season, for their outstanding efforts in galvanising the youth of Guyra.
Under 6: Sharks – Brodie Harman, Hornets – Linley Ryan, Giants – Bec Tibbs, Ghosts – Mick Wilson.
Under 7: Galaxy – Lyn Taylor, Geckos – Jamie Williamson, Strikers – Josh Kennedy.
Under 8: Coyotes – Desmond and Tash Walls, Lil Caspers – Craig Lockyer.
Under 9: Gladiators – Chad Burling.
Under 10: Rockets and Grizzleys – Tyrone Clough with the help of Logan Stanley and Vinny Abayan.
Under 12: Dragons – Colin Stanley, Titans – Adam Brennan.
Under 16: Pumas - Darren ‘Dasha’ Lennon and Scott Youman aided by Tania Lennon.
I must take this opportunity to thank our major sponsor for this past 2014 season: Cookie from the Guyra Hotel. His support has been invaluable to both the junior and senior sections of the Guyra United Soccer Club. I think, of course, that the Thirsty Thirds were by far his favourite of all sections of the club, except perhaps for several of those late, raucous nights that he may have had to endure.
The under 12 Titans were not as fortunate as their older club mates, going down in their Grand Final 2–0. Playing against their arch rivals, the TAS 12A’s with whom they have had some very close encounters over the season, the Titans may have let nerves get the better of them with probably not their best performance.
TAS played with a very tight mid field and the Titans could just not match their intensity. Having a plethora of chances on goal, the Titans were up against a quality goal keeper and the bounce of the ball most certainly did not go their way. A missed dot shot after a TAS hand ball was an example of this with supporters on the day saying that things just did not gel for the Titans.
Coach Adam Brennan was extremely impressed with his little and not so little Titans and their development as a team over the past season. Gaining the Minor Premiership is no easy feat and that in itself should be a source of great pride for these kids. Coach Brennan was very confident that each player on his side gave it their all on the day and that this loss will only galvanise this fantastic little side for the future.
Now to those doyens of Guyra Soccer, the Thirsty Thirds. We have always been taught to respect our elders and that is certainly what we as players felt last Saturday despite a loss to Ex Services.
The support that was afforded us was simply outstanding with an incredible number of Guyra spectators surrounding the number two ground at Rologas fields in Armidale. The level of support was certainly noticed by our Ex Services opposition with comments made about just how many people had made an effort to come and watch the Thirsty Thirds turn out for the final time in 2014.
Although going down 2–0, the Thirds battled to the end in what was perhaps not our best performance of the season. We most certainly had our chances on goal but were just not able to convert. The ball was simply not held for long enough by the Guyra side with our passing game not up to our normal standards.
After coming into the half time break locked at nil-all there was a real belief that if we could tidy things up in the middle of the field we were still a very big chance. Fatigue set in unfortunately late in the game and the old adage you just can’t beat speed held true with their very fast younger forwards wreaking havoc.
After a late nomination to the competition and the ravages of age and condition certainly telling on many team members as the year progressed, we can be extremely proud of the season and ultimate Grand Final appearance by the Thirsty Thirds in 2014.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the people of the Guyra Argus for their support and help over the past six months.