With season’s end fast approaching it has become increasingly difficult to obtain reports from junior coaches; it has been a very long season indeed. Only a couple more reports to go before I start my summer gig with the South East Queensland Synchronized Swimming Association. 

You may recall the furore back in autumn of 2010 when I indicated that in my opinion most summer sports were mamby pamby. Well since that time, I have been writing a blog for the association over the summer period due to a certain level of emotional blackmail levelled my way because of those ill-conceived comments. I will have to go from boots, strapping and shin pads to nose clips, show style hairdos and wedgies. I do, however, enjoy the change of demographic. 

A very important and exciting event has for the past several years occurred as the season winds down and that is, of course, our home ground celebration for all those who have made a contribution to soccer over the season, particularly those of the feminine persuasion. 

With our last home game of the season we are taking this opportunity to raise funds for two local families from our soccer fraternity who have children that are experiencing some rather significant health challenges. Money raised over this home ground game will be donated equally to these families to hopefully lighten their load a little. 

There will be 100 clubs available on the day, raffles for wood and realignment or massage if required from Mrs Karen Wildman. We also will have cupcakes for sale and champagne, or as we are supposed to call it here sparkling Australian wine, for a nominal fee for our ladies to celebrate season’s end. Carly Harman is making her celebrated chocolate covered strawberries; apparently Webby is banned from those. 

So please feel free to make a day of it and come down to support our senior sides for their final home game of the season and of course a very charitable and worthy cause. 

All of our sides that are eligible look as though they will play semi-final football for the 2015 season. The under 14 Tigons and the under 16 Pumas look as though they are through, with the under 12 Rockets needing a win this week to progress, fingers crossed.

Our under 8 Galaxy were up against the North Armidale Crystals last Saturday which turned out to be a very tough but ultimately closely fought encounter. The Galaxy are perhaps keeping their best performances until the closing stages of the year.

The under 9 Lil Caspers played an extremely entertaining game against DK Camelots. An outstanding team-based goal from the Lil Caspers in the last 30 seconds of the game saw the game close out in a draw. 

Will Friend defended his heart out all day allowing the attack of Jack Lockyer 3 and Cooper Brennan with 2 to shine through. Alice Bourne played her best game of the season with the resulting jumping of excitement and joy from Mrs Nic Bourne an interesting adjunct to the game. 

Now this little part of last Saturday did not make it to me by way of the coach Mr Craig Lockyer or even that of his wife, Kellie. I had several people approach me with great feeling about the actions of young Jack Lockyer, Craig and Kellie’s son, during the game. 

Jack, after kicking the ball accidentally into the goalie’s face, immediately I am told raced to the afflicted girl’s side and all but lay down next to her making sure that she was okay until somebody from DK was able to reach her. After being informed that the game may need to be called due to their depleted numbers, Jack grabbed the goalie’s gloves and went straight into goals for the DK side. 

Now that young man certainly seems to have been brought up proper; congratulations Jack, it is wonderful to see such sportsmanship for such a young player. 

Playing against TAS last week were the under 12 Rockets. Needing to actually play TAS twice more for the season as a result of an earlier missed match due to a school holiday scheduling issue, this game was actually played for double points. 

The Rockets were strong from the beginning and closed out this game with a nice 3–0 win. Defence was a feature of their play particularly from Sam Atkin. Robert and Matt Sisson combined well in the halves, along with Tommy Tibbs. Jake Wilson and Fletcher Richardson were a handful up front, with Robert Sisson scoring first for Guyra after beating several defenders. 

With the score at 1–0 at half time the Rockets pressed their advantage home in the second half with further goals to Jake Wilson and Matty Sisson. Guyra’s goalie Sam Graham was dynamic in goals coming out on numerous occasions to take on their attacking players and saving many one on one chances. 

This Guyra under 12 side were until only very recently in 9th position on the ladder and have certainly stormed home over the past several games with some nice team-based soccer evident. I believe that side’s one and two are safe for the semi-finals but that the rest of the teams have to play off for the remaining two spots this weekend. Good luck Rockets. 

A 1-all draw for the under 14 Tigons leaves their coaching and support staff hardly enamoured with their recent form and desire for the ultimate prize. Craybob Hope scored Guyra’s lone goal in the first half before East Armidale equalised in the second. Points this week were awarded to Craybob Hope 3, Kasey Gaukroger 2, Kade Stanley and Madison Morgan 1. 

This side certainly have the ability to take things all the way, however they will need to be at their very best to push past the premier teams in their competition. 

After watching much of this game last Saturday and telling you that the score against the under 16 Pumas was a 3–1 loss, you would perhaps be thinking that I am about to unload once again on this inept, uncommitted and lackadaisical team of young adults. 

I have however been cautioned, counselled and upbraided by both coaches; Dasha and Scott along with she who must be obeyed, not talking my good wife here, but Mrs Nadine Youman, that I need to talk with nothing other than glowing terms of these young go-getters. You know, Dasha recently has to me seemed more and more like the Mike Myers character Guru Maurice Pitka from the movie The Love Guru, always so positive and upbeat in the face of adversity. 

Actually I must say that the Pumas played very well last Saturday with their scrambling in defence a particularly good feature of their play. Two cracking penalty shots from TAS both from outside the box was the difference between a loss and a draw for the Pumas. Guyra were certainly frustrating their more fancied rivals with TAS’ third goal not coming until very late in the game. 

Tangles Harman was able to stay on his feet long enough to score Guyra’s lone goal in the first half. Brodie has improved his soccer this year in leaps and bounds, or perhaps we could say stumbles and staggers (that’s probably as positive as I can get Nadine). 

The Pumas’ passing game was certainly sound and provided TAS with some tricky moments in defence. Logan Stanley, particularly in the second stanza of play, was fantastic for the Pumas with Laiton Hume once again strong for Guyra in goals. 

Points this week went to Logan Stanley 3, Laiton Hume and unknown (by both Logan and Brodie) 2 and Sophie Gaukroger 1. 

This side has certainly grown, improved and gelled together as a team as the year has progressed and will cause some concern for the top end teams in this late stage of the season. 

The draw for next Saturday, 29 August:

Under 6:  Guyra Lazers V DK Knights – Guyra 2 at 09:00am, Guyra Cobras V DK Squires – Guyra 3 at 09:00am, Guyra Guppies V Nth Armidale Rockets – Guyra 3 at 10:00am. 

Under 7:  Guyra Hornets V DK Chivalry – Guyra 2 at 10:00am, Guyra Giants V DK Daggers – Guyra 2 at 10:50am. 

Under 8:  Guyra Geckos V Nth Armidale Pearls – Guyra 5 at 09:00am, Guyra Galaxy V Nth Armidale Pirates – Guyra 5 at 10;00am. 

Under 9:  Guyra Coyotes V TAS 9s – Guyra 4 at 10:00am, Guyra Lil Caspers BYE. 

Under 10:  Guyra Gladiators V Nth Armidale Wizards – Guyra 7 at 09:30am. 

Under 12:  Guyra Rockets V DK Axes – Guyra 1 at 11:15am. 

Under 14:  Guyra Tigons V Ex Servies Pumas – Guyra 1 at 10:00am. 

Under 16:  Guyra Pumas V Sth Armidale Sea Eagles – Guyra 1 at 08:30am. 

Murray Harman