Football Report

Saturday 3 May 2025

Welcome back to all Shore Football Players, and we start off with a review of the Senior Squad who started back on the 25 March, preparing for their first trial vs Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview (Riverview), but as luck would have it, heavy rain meant the games were washed out. The next week we came up against Waverley College for our first two games using a new formation and lost 2-5 with the First XI and 0-3 with the Second XI.

During the first week of the School Holidays, the Football Senior Squad comprising players from Years 10 to 12 played in the St Andrew’s Cathedral School (St Andrew’s)/Sydney FC First XI Cup at Sydney FC’s headquarters at Sky Park, which included all GPS Schools, CAS, ISA and other associated schools in the 16-team tournament. We were placed with St Joseph’s College (Joeys), Cranbrook and Moriah College (Moriah) in our group and had victories over Joeys and Cranbrook, with a draw against Moriah in a final game to top the group and progress to the Cup Quarter Finals vs Newington College. In a highly contested encounter, we were beaten 3-0, which ended our run in the tournament. A lot of positives to come out, including early signs of effective team play and composure with the ball.

We continued in the second week of the holidays with a training session and game vs St Aloysius’ College, which has become an annual pre-season encounter with our close neighbours. In a high-scoring game, Shore was victorious 6-4.

Back to the start of Term 2, and we had games vs The Scots College (Scots), St Aloysius’ College and Knox Grammar School with victories for the Fifth XI, Sixth XI, 15C, 15D, 15E, 15F, 14D, 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13F teams and a draw for 10A’s.

First XI vs Scots 0-3 loss

After weeks of downpour, the clouds parted, and on Saturday, we took on Scots at one of the best grounds the GPS has to offer at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre. The game started, and both sides looked like firing one into the back of the net. Scots taking a few chances, and Shore creating a few more down the other end. Some good link up plays down the left side between Ollie Parrish and Hamish Walls saw us in Scots own box, but the shot flew just high. With no more time left to play, the ref blew the whistle, and the first half ended 0-0. Coming back out for the second half, both teams were still in the game and fighting for the three points; however, against the run of play, Scots put one into the back of the net. Shore then conceded a penalty and saw the Scots striker put the second into the net. A dazzling run from Will Procter, nutmegging the Scots centre back on the goal line and playing a great ball across the box, saw us narrowly miss our second close chance of the game. The Scots boys won a free kick in the corner and took it quickly, which caught the Shore defence off guard, and the Scots striker put his third into the back of the net. Ending the game 3-0 to Scots. Not the result we were looking for to start off the GPS Plate season, but we turn to The King’s School this Saturday, with our first game at home protecting the bridge.

Mr Elvis DeMarchi
Head of Football