The home and away season has finished for 2024, with 6 teams continuing on to play in the Semi-Finals.
Congratulations and well done to all our teams for their efforts during the year.
Under 12
Newtown Spirit vs Newtown Strikers 1-2
This semi final was always going to be close with both teams at full strength. Spirit started the stronger with an early short corner missing by a couple of inches. Strikers got into the game and had multiple short corners but excellent defence had the game scoreless by half time.
The second half Spirit had a short corner. Alex, Chelsea, Lucas, Georgia and back to Lucas for a nice team goal. Strikers kept playing the ball long and got a goal back from a short corner. Five minutes left and another Spirit short corner with nice short passes between Ved and Lucas and Lucas had a brilliant tomahawk finish. Spirit resolute in defence held on to book their place into the grand final.
Under 14
Newtown Strikers vs Torquay 2-3
Strikers started their finals campaign strong, with some attempts at goal in the first few minutes and great saves up the other end from goalie Kayden. Soon we had a short corner, and all of the practice the team had been doing for these paid off – Newtown had the first goal!
Torquay responded quickly with a goal of their own to level the scores. Our defence for the remainder of the half meant no more opposition goals, thanks in part to some great defensive work from Ruby and Lily.
Strikers nearly got ahead before the end of half when Sofia almost had a goal from the post, but scores remained level at halftime, 1-1.
With the wind doing it’s best to blow us all over, the second half got underway. Torquay were quick to score a goal, whilst attempts on goal from Oliver – with great assists from Jess, Parker and Audrey, went begging.
Midway through the half Lucas Y showed some great tackling skills – taking the ball off a Torquay player and then taking it into our D to score a goal! (Lucas’ third for the morning, after two in the earlier U12s game!!)
With scores level, Strikers tried to capitalise on the momentum but it just wasn’t our day. Despite another attempt at goal from Cormac and more great tackling from Binuli, it was Torquay who found the back on the net one more time, winning the game 2-3.
Congratulations to all the U14 Strikers players for an excellent season! Regardless of the score, each week you’ve shown a lot of improvement, and the way you have come together as a team, supporting each other and working together, has been a joy to watch. Good luck for the upcoming summer season and the future!
Under 17
Newtown Strikers vs Kardinia White 2-4
Division 1 Women
Newtown Falcons vs Saints Black 0-5
Division 2 Women
Newtown Strikers vs Geelong Jaguars 2-0
This game was played with resolute defence, preventing all of Geelong’s many attempts to score with both high and low shots and a variety of strategies. Our midfield defence turned back many of Geelong’s forward moves, and was well backed up by Kirsty and Alex, and some fairly good goalkeeping too.
Great co-operation between the midfield and the forwards allowed Strikers to find space in attack and put pressure on the Geelong defence and keeper. It was good to see the flexibility which the team had with players slotting into positional changes with ease. Claudia, Sofia and Serena showed great speed and ball control to move quickly into attack. Georgie scored our first goal and Tash was on fire again finishing with a nice goal high into the left corner.
Great effort team!
