WA Over 55's - 2009 Match Reports

WA vs NSW - Friday, October 2, 2009

WA started well with much of the attack. It was about 15 minutes in, when Kymberley intercepted a NSW 16m hit, dribbled into the the D and passed to Karen on the spot. She had to reverse stick trap but put it in for the first goal. WA had a number of shots and 2 short corners in the half but couldn't find the net. 

NSW had a chance to equalise just before half time when their centre striker received a long pass and had only the goalie to beat. 
WA goalie Lidia came at her, forced her wide for her shot and Jane had sprinted back to clear the ball virtually off the line. 

WA seemed to lose momentum in the second half. Lidia again saved a virtual one-on-one but in the end NSW put in an equaliser about 20 minutes in. 
Neither side was able to score again so the result was a draw. 

Result: WA 1 - NSW 1 
Goal scorers: Karen  
Best player as nominated by WA: Dale  
Best player as nominated by NSW: 

WA vs ACT - Saturday, October 3, 2009

A disappointing result as we probably had more of the play. 
A couple of short corners in the first half and a number of other shots or chances for shots but just couldn't find the net. 

ACT's goal in the first half was off a ball that came into the circle rather high but was allowed, although all of our similar shots were penalised. 

Result: WA 0 - ACT 1 

Goal scorers:  
Best player as nominated by WA: Karen Allen 

WA vs QLD - Tuesday, October 6, 2009

After two days off, we were ready to play hockey again. Our goalie, who is a psychologist had given us some guided imagery sessions that are common for elite athletes, to help us focus. 

We had most of the play the whole game and golie Lidia did not have to touch the ball all day. 

Our team goal was five short corners and we had four in each half, with the first goal from Macca coming off the second of these some 20 minutes in. 

Dale scored the second goal, after Karen dribbled into the D and layed off to her. It looked like a perfect training drill. Everybody did their bit for a well deserved win. 

Result: WA 2 - QLD 0 

Goal scorers: Macca, Dale

WA vs SA - Wednesday, October 7, 2009

We are playing better and better each game but unfortunately this does not always get reflected in the score. 
We had most of the play all day and again the goalie didn't touch the ball but we just couldn't finish off. 
There were a number of chances for field goals and 5 short corners, all to no avail. 
We have finished 3rd with the potential to still win the gold if we win the next 3 finals. 

Result: WA 0 - SA 0

WA vs NSW Finals Game 1 - Thursday, October 8, 2009

In what seems to be typical of this tournament, we arrived at the ground to find the fixtures had been changed since yesterday. 
We were expecting to be playing Queensland who finished 4th but instead had to play NSW who were 2nd. 
This impacted on both our mental preparation and strategy and although we played well, unfortunately they played better. 
Macca saved a shot on the line that we thought was going in for a goal. 
NSW eventually scored in the first half on a 3rd or 4th effort. 
Our defenders had already blocked several shots before they finally got it in. 
Since NSW finihsed higher than WA we needed to win to go into the gold medal match, since there is no extra time or strokes to decide these finals. 
When NSW put another in in the second half it was all over. 

We play SA tomorrow with the loser out and the winner playing for Bronze on Saturday. 

Result: WA 0 - NSW 2

WA vs SA Finals Game 2 - Friday, October 9, 2009

WA had to win today to avoid finishing last. 
The WA coach, like Baldric in Blackadder, had a "cunning plan" but unlike Baldric hers worked. 
The WA centre striker just marked the dangerous SA full back and played with two centre halves and two inners in a box in the midfield. 
It worked really well and WA seemed to have a lot of space to move the ball around. 

WA's first goal came in less than ten minutes from a short corner. 
As often happens a slightly off line hit in, a mistrap then a recovery had the ball angling across the circle. 
A wing and a miss at the spot let the ball run to the left post where Karen had an open shot, the goalie having been more confused than we were. 

Kymberley scored a second goal in the first half when the ball looped up in the air off a defender and she only needed to prod it over the line. 
Everybody seemed to have a great game today with backs making great tackles and blocks and the midfield moving it around. 
WA had a number of good chances to hit more goals and finally scored off another short with Kymberley being on the post this time to put it in. 

Susie was named as WA's best player by the coach. 

Result: WA 3 - SA 0

WA vs QLD Bronze medal play-off - Friday, October 9, 2009

Our win yesterday earned us the right to play for 3rd spot, which is where we finished after the round robin. It was an early start, getting up at 6 for an 8am game. 

We played Queensland who beat us in the equivalent game last year. 
Our first half wasn't very good, we had more of the play but didn't have the same cohesion as yesterday and there were no scores in the first half. 

The second half was much better with Karen scoring off the right post on a short corner and then Kymberley doing likewise off the left post to give us 2 goals in the first 10 minutes. 
Susie scored our 3rd, again off a short corner. 
Our defence and mid field play was also a lot sharper. 
Qld scored a consolation goal so close to the end that we didn't have time to get back to the centre before the siren went. 

Result: WA 3 - QLD 1 

Goal scorers:  
Best player as nominated by WA: Helen