Round 12 of the 18/19 Football NSW Premier League 2 competition – the third last round of the regular season – was a home round of matches against Sydney’s Southern District (SD) Raiders.
SD Raiders have taken the PL2 competition by storm this season after promotion from the now-defunct FNSW State League. They have strength across all their age groups and are the only club that the Boomerangs failed to outscore for Club Championship points in the first half of the season.
To check out the photos of Saturday’s matches head to the Boomerangs photo site.
For full match and highlight videos, head to the BoomersTV YouTube channel.
Development Squad Matches
SD Raiders kindly brought their development squads down the highway a little earlier so a series of matches could be played across two smaller courts to give all our development age groups a hit our against competitive opposition.
The 9 boys took on SD Raiders 11/12 girls, the 10 boys and 11 boys both played the visiting 11 boys team and the 11/12 girls from each club squared off against each other. There were some terrific games across the first 90 minutes of the day and plenty of great teamwork and goals scored by all teams.
12 BOYS:
Boomerangs 2 – 17 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 1 – 8)
The 12 boys will probably like to wipe this match from their memories fairly quickly. For the second round in a row, the Boomers youngest competitive boys weren’t at all competitive – being given a futsal lesson from teams that sit atop the competition ladder and have handed out thrashing to most teams they face each week. No doubt the coaches will be running the boys through the match video and highlighting all the good things the opposition did – and to aspire to execute as they did. There is no growth without learning.
Goals to Tomer Doron (2)
Ladder Position: 7th ( – )
13 GIRLS:
Boomerangs 3 – 3 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 1 – 2)
The 13 girls have been edging their way into the top four over the past few rounds, and this match against top of the table SD Raiders was to be one of their biggest tests on the run home. In their earlier meeting this season, the Boomers girls were only narrowly defeated 4-3 and were hopeful of being able to compete strongly against this quality side.
The visitors started the game the stronger and went into the break with a single goal lead – no doubt hoping to build on that in the second stanza. However, the Boomers girls came out of the huddle with a sense of determination and were looking good across the second twenty minutes. After going further behind 3-1 early in the half, they fought their way back into the match, getting it back to all square with enough time to score again. The SD Raiders defence held firm though and managed to withstand the momentum that was firmly running with the home side.
A draw against the top team should be satisfying, but the girls know they have it in them to defeat this team, should they meet again in finals.
Goals to Reilly Yuen, Sofia Palywoda, Maya Osmond
Ladder Position: 5th ( -1 )
14 BOYS:
Boomerangs 1 – 8 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 1 – 6)
The 14 boys knew they were going to have a tough match against the SD Raiders – a team sharing top spot with the Taipans in this age group. The boys matched up very well against this team when they met in Fairfield in Round 5, however, the visitors brought their shooting boots with them to the AIS for this round and the Boomers defence felt the brunt of their attack.
The sides were evenly matched in the first period of play – trading blows and goals to be all square ten minutes in. The SD Raiders then breached the Boomers defences repeatedly in the next ten minutes of play to put another five goals on the scoresheet. The match was lost in this period of play.
The second half was more controlled and structured and the Boomers defence started to work as it should. The young Boomers did well to only concede a further two goals, but could not register further goals in the second half to reduce the deficit.
Goal to Tom Barbatano
Ladder Position: 7th ( – )
15 GIRLS:
Boomerangs 2 – 3 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 2 – 2)
The 15 girls have been pace-setters of this competition for most of the season, and as such are a target for all other teams in the competition – especially those that are desperate to secure a top-four finals spot. This was the case for the visiting SD Raiders, a team that sat in sixth spot, just three points outside the top four and one of five clubs looking to lock in positions three and four at the end of the regulr season.
In Round 5, earlier this season, the travelling Boomerangs easily dealt with the SD Raiders, to the tune of a 6-1 victory. This time, however, the SD Raiders were up for the challenge and played well throughout the 40 minutes. Indeed, they scored the opening two goals of the match in the first seven minutes of play, and it took all of the Boomers effort to grab those two goals back by the half-time break.
However much they tried – and whatever plans they executed – the 15s could not grab back the lead after the visitors scored their third soon after the break. A loss for the girls sees them needing to win both their final matches if they hare to have any chance of topping the league – and hope that Raiders Futsal drop one of their remaining matches.
Goals to Stefi Lejins, Elke Aitolu
Ladder Position: 2nd ( –1 )
16 BOYS:
Boomerangs 5 – 1 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 2 – 0)
The 16 boys were hopeful of an easier match this round taking on a bottom-placed SD Raiders team that had won only two matches so far this season.
And that is, indeed, how the match played out. Probably one of the less testing matches of the season for the boys, but they did have to work hard throughout as the visitors kept them to just two first-half goals. A step up in intensity for the second half saw the home side rattle up another three to the visitors single.
A solid hit out, that sees the team remain in second position on the competition ladder, and with only two matches left in the season to accrue competition points – unless top placed Taipans slip up – second is where they will finish the season.
Goals to Odhran Traynor, Zane McAlpine, Luca Macor, Murphy Shaw, Bailey Sorenson
Ladder Position: 2nd ( – )
18 WOMEN:
Boomerangs 0 – 1 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 0 – 0)
The 18 women’s match was tough and defensive and saw both side’s defences outshine the offensive tactics of the other. This was a contest of second on the ladder playing third, and it was clear that the teams were very closely matched.
In a toughly fought contest in round five, the teams could only be separated by a single goal (3-2) with the home side taking the spoils on the back of a hattrick to their goal-scoring machine, Vesna Milivocevic. Whilst the Boomers ladies marked Milivocecic tightly throughout the match, it was again a goal from her boot that gave them the match.
With two games left in the season, the 18s will need to triumph over Phoenix next week to stop their march up the ladder and to try and lock in spots two or three and avoid a semi-final clash with competition’s front-runner, Raiders Futsal.
Ladder Position: 3rd ( -1 )
YOUTH MEN:
Boomerangs 6 – 5 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 2 – 2)
The youth men’s match was promising to be a cracker of a game with the league’s top two teams battling it out for bragging rights – and for positioning themselves to take the premiership at season’s end.
And the game certainly lived up to its promise – with an end to end, highly skilful and highly entertaining match, that the combination of fitness, skills and testosterone brings.
The visitors opened the scoring in the first half and closed out the first period with their second. The middle period of play though was largely dominated by the home side who scored two goals in quick succession. A 2-2 scoreline at the break ensured the excitement continued into the second half.
The Boomers youth powered out of the break and slotted home three goals in the first six minutes to which the travellers replied with one a few minutes later. The remainder of the match saw an increased defensive effort by the Boomers youth trying to protect their lead. Fifth man power play (a staple in most SD Raiders teams’ arsenals) was employed and the match ended with a single goal advantage to the Boomers after SD Raiders scored their final goal in the 39th minute.
A cracker of a match – worthy of its top-of-the-table status – and one which will give each team some valuable insight into the other for when finals approach.
Goals to Jayde James-Ward, Nic Felizzi, Luca Macor, Leon Michl, Parsa Tabatabaei, og
Ladder Position: 1st ( +1 )
OPEN WOMEN:
Boomerangs 4 – 2 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 3 – 0)
The Boomerangs women continue to be full of confidence and are able to take on any challenge thrown at them this season. The SD Raiders women, whilst full of skilful players and potential, have struggled to string together wins this season, despite having some significant player talent.
The women took control of the match from the first whistle and scored three unanswered in the first 25 minutes. They continued to look the better of the sides into the second period of play, but the visitors were able to pierce their defences and knock home two goals midway through the second period to put some pressure on the home side.
The Boomers women though did withstand the extra pressure and held off to secure a reasonably comfortable 4-2 victory that secures their position on the top of the table (with an unassailable eight-point buffer) and the Premiership. All that remains for this group is to fine-tune their tactics, rest up the injured and prepare for a finals series at the end of January.
Goals to Ellie Raymond (2), Rachael Corbett, Stella De Marco
Ladder Position: 1st ( – )
OPEN MEN:
Boomerangs 4 – 4 Southern Districts Raiders (ht 2 – 1)
The men’s match against SD Raiders back in round five was a terrific clash that saw the home side grab the points with a single goal victory. The two teams seemed fairly evenly matched – and this appeared to be the case again heading into this match.
The home side came out of the blocks with more pace and intent and were able to take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break – courtesy of a Ben Basser-Silk goal and a sweetly converted free kick by Daniel Giovinazzo on the cusp of the break – not a minute after the visitors themselves had missed a ten metre penalty opportunity.
The start of the second half saw the Boomerangs again with the more energy and intent and a double to Michael Rinaudo opened up a three-goal lead.
The visitors bravely took the initiative playing without a keeper with around seventeen minutes still to play in the match. Their fifth man power plays were patient, without too many errors, and importantly for them, successful. Over the remaining period, they scored three goals without their goal protected to bring the match back to all square at 4-4.
A very evenly contested match, with astute use of tactics and player substitutions by both teams — and a very entertaining match to watch.
This leaves the Boomerangs men again outside the top four, with the need to win both remaining matches – against Phoenix (3rd) and West City Crusaders (4th) – if they wish to play finals futsal in January.
Goals to Mikey Rinaudo (2), Daniel Giovinazzo, Ben Basser-Silk
Ladder Position: 5th ( – )
NEXT WEEK
Next week the club is again at home – for the final time this season – for a critical round of matches against Phoenix Futsal.
After the Round 12 matches, the Boomerangs FS lead at the top of the PL2 Club Championship has diminished and now sits at just five points (ahead of Raiders Futsal) and only a further five points behind lurk Phoenix Futsal — meaning the race for promotion to PL1 has become a more challenging prospect. SD Raiders sit a further four points behind, 14 points behind Boomerangs, and likely a little too far behind to catch up in two rounds. The first challenge for the club is to win as many competition points from Phoenix Futsal as possible and to go into the final round of competition (against West City Crusaders) with a Club Championship lead.