Football Report

Match Results – Saturday 4 May 2024

First XI vs St. Joseph’s 0-1 loss

Wet conditions greeted the First XI at St. Joseph’s (Joeys) on Saturday morning. It was a very tough encounter where both teams were challenged physically by the contest. Shore was unlucky to lose 1-0, but plenty of positives to take away from the game. Managing the key moments in games will be a focus moving forward. Very proud of the effort and desire shown by all of the players. Our playing style is definitely coming to life. A positive start against the reigning GPS winners. Shore has a lot to look forward to in 2024. #worktowin

Second XI vs St. Joseph’s 2-0 win

On a perfect playing pitch at Lower Park, considering all the rain, the ball was moved around with aplomb, and tackles were made with ferocity. Unfortunately for Rory Tucker, he succumbed to a badly sprained ankle in a heavy one vs one tackle, ending his time on the pitch. With two swift counterattacks, Liam MacFarlane was played through facing the opposing Goalkeeper and calmly slotted both opportunities to give him 2 goals for the match. Congrats to all involved in the 2-0 victory.

Third XI vs St. Joseph’s 4-1 win

The Shore Third XI were invited to Joeys to start the season off after a rainy week closed the Northbridge playing fields. The first-half started at a frantic pace, with the ball pinging from box to box and the game being exclusively played on the near sideline. In their all-blue strip, Shore showed good intent in attack, cooking up half chances and skimming shots wide of the St Joseph’s goal. 

The midfield, along with the flanking fullbacks, looked to gain control of the game with intricate 1-2s and first time passing, creating havoc for the opposition’s defence. Nicholas Chan was causing havoc with the quality of his delivery, and it was only a matter of time before Shore took the lead with a precision 20-yard thunderbolt from Jonathan Brovedani-MacLean, opening the floodgates and with first-half goals from Chris Griffiths, Tom Maslen, and then Josh Moles which saw Shore go in at half-time 4-0. In the second-half, it was all one-way traffic and with Shore searching for more goals, they were caught with a sucker punch, and Joeys got a goal back. The massive positives from the game were a phenomenal work effort from the entire team and a brilliant attitude to start the season off. 

Sixth XI vs St. Patrick’s 0-19 loss

The Sixths came up against a strong Fifths side from St. Patrick’s College. With limited players, the team had to adapt and play with only seven players for the first-half. This was always going to be a tricky task, with the Year 11 boys conceding several goals before half-time against a predominantly Year 12 opposition team. Kindly, St. Patrick’s offered three of their players to make the game more competitive and enjoyable for the boys, allowing them to try to keep the ball more and attack. Although the team got three new players, St. Patrick’s was too strong and continued to score several more goals and took a convincing win. Man of the Match went to Sam Walker for his tireless defensive efforts despite being down significantly.

Seventh XI vs St. Patrick’s 4-0 win

The Seventh XI had a great opening game against a solid opposing team, St. Patrick’s. The boys were very strong in both defence, midfield and attack, defeating St. Patrick’s 4-0. Sean Mount and Zac Little both scored two goals, assisted by outstanding performances by Tom George and Hugh Gluskie. Nick Gong and Jamie D’arcy were exceptional as our Goalies, fiercely preventing several attempts at goal from our opposition team. Jamie D’arcy, Isaac Lanham and Jack O’Shea showed great skill in swiftly moving the ball down the field, placing our strikers in potential scoring positions. The defensive tactics used by Charlie Michel and Matthew George left the opposition with no answers. A great game showing sportsmanship and strong, cohesive tactics. Well done boys, bring on Saturday!

16A’s vs St. Joseph’s 3-0 win

In a thrilling clash, Shore dominated Joeys with a resounding 3-0 victory. Jonty Lusk, Hamish Richards, and Daniel Harvey showcased their scoring prowess, while Daniel Harvey’s impactful assists added flair to Shore’s attacking display. Goalkeeper Jono Loy emerged as a stalwart, denying Joeys with crucial saves to keep a clean sheet for his team. Shore’s cohesive teamwork and relentless determination proved unmatched, securing a well-deserved triumph.

15B’s vs St. Joseph’s 1-2 loss

On a crisp but clear Saturday morning in Hunters Hill, the 15B’s took on the challenge presented by the Joeys 15A’s and provided anything but a boring game for those watching on. The match started off quickly, with both teams trading blows as they attempted to penetrate the opposition’s goal. Unfortunately, it was Joeys who won the opening exchange, capitalising on our mistakes to take a 2-0 lead. However, to their credit, the 15B’s fought back and responded with a goal of their own just before the half, thanks to Harry Whitney.

The second-half was a much different story, with the 15B’s dominating field position, keeping Joeys camped in their own half. They created chance after chance but, unfortunately, were unable to find the back of the net. The final result was 2-1 to Joeys. A tough defeat to take, but a lot of positives to work with looking ahead to next week.

14A’s vs St. Joseph’s 6-0 win

In a strong victory, the 14A’s showed their early potential for this upcoming soccer season with a commanding 6-0 win. Under the leadership of Captain Luca Caruana, who also stepped up to calmly put away a penalty to bring the game to 2-0, the team displayed strong early signs of what was to come. Archer Prowse opened the scoring with an emphatic finish after a cut-back from Marcus Helleman, who broke through the opposition’s defence to pick out Archer Prowse running into the back post.

The first-half showed signs of the new formation the team are learning to apply, with the second-half then showing their overall dominance in the game. There was a shaky moment at the back toward the end of the second-half, but the composure under pressure from Goalkeeper Hamish Parry-Okeden ensured he cleaned up and maintained a clean sheet to seal a complete performance. The team has set the tone for the season ahead, with more challenges to come down the line against stronger opposition, and they’ve taken a strong step forward to be one of the teams to beat. 

13A’s vs St. Joseph’s 3-4 loss

The 13A’s first full trial match of the 2024 season ended in a 4-3 loss to Joeys after a classic 7-goal thriller at Hunters Hill. Shore led 2-1 at the break after 2 cracking goals from Charlie O’Brien gave the visitors a well-deserved lead. Four half-time substitutions were made to allow all positions to be tested as we head into final selections. Man of the Match Connor Taubman – who defended with great gusto for the entire match – found himself in a forward role midway through the second-half. Miraculously, with only one boot in play (another story!), the defender clipped in a wonderful 20 metre strike past the Joeys keeper to give Shore a 3-2 lead. As the match progressed, Joeys scored twice, and the contest was over. Lessons learnt – move on for the next encounter.

13F’s vs Knox 0-11 loss

Despite a valiant effort from the undermanned 13F’s football team, they fell short in a lopsided 11-0 defeat. Facing the formidable challenge with only eight players, goalkeeper duo Nico Oddone-Bransgrove and Henry Smith showcased commendable resilience between the posts. Striker Sam Golding demonstrated glimpses of brilliance with his promising runs, striving to break through the opposing defence despite the odds stacked against his team. Despite the scoreline, the team’s determination and spirit remained unwavering throughout the match. With their heads held high, the 13F’s can take pride in their effort and look ahead with optimism, knowing that their perseverance will eventually yield positive results on the pitch.

NSW CIS Cup Update Report

Early in Term 1, Shore Football Senior Squad entered and played their first game in the NSW CIS Cup, an Independent Schools knockout tournament with over 100 teams entering across the state.

1st Round 23rd February vs Thomas Hassall 2-6 loss

Our 1st round opponent was Thomas Hassall from Middleton Grange, played on the 23 February at Blackman Park, where temperatures reached close to 40 degrees, which was considerably higher playing on an artificial surface. With limited time in preparation due to Summer Sport commitments, Shore started strongly and scored the opening goal of the game, but fatigue and lack of fitness quickly set in, and at the break, Shore was 1-4 down. With numbers quickly dwindling in the second-half, the players put in an extremely better half, only conceding another goal and scoring the last goal of the game. A lot of positives were taken from the game against a squad of National Youth Premier League players.

1st Round Plate 20th March vs Amity College 6-0 win

After losing the first-round game, Shore was placed in the Plate tournament with a game vs Amity College from Prestons. Shore put in an encouraging performance vs Amity College. In possession, the players looked to play forward quickly and utilise their speed in attack. Out of possession their collective effort and pressure to regain the ball was a highlight of the game. This hard work and effort will no doubt define the team moving forward. It was great to see so many boys play minutes. Congrats to all involved in the 6-0 victory.

2nd Round Plate vs Bishop Tyrell Forfeit win

Due to the timing of the game, Bishop Tyrell from Fletcher could not commit to a time and day to be played by 26 April, hence putting Shore into the Quarter-Finals to be played at Northbridge by 17 May vs either Northern Beaches Christian from Terrey Hills or St Columba from Port Macquarie.

Mr E DeMarchi
MIC Football