Round 2 v Mascot – Review

Round 2 of the 2013/2014 Football NSW Futsal Premier League was the first away game for the season and perhaps the thick smoke from the devastating bushfires that filled the air on the trip up to Mascot was a portent of the day that the Boomerang’s teams were to have.

The club started very well with both the 12 boys and girls winning their encounters. At this stage, some might have thought the day held much better fortune than eventuated. But a run of five consecutive defeats to the well drilled Mascot Viper squads meant that the men’s and women’s teams were fighting to add at least a modicum of respectability to the day’s outing. A win and a draw from the final two games of the day – and a very late finish – meant that the Boomerangs players were still heading back down the highway well after midnight with ten points in their pockets (three wins and a draw) and a decent dose of ‘reality check’ after the great start to season 13/14 in Round 1 against Dural.

A serious injury to a Mascot Viper youth player added to the drama of the day. We wish him well in his recovery, and hope the injury is not season-ending. .

12 Boys
Boomerangs 3 – 2 Mascot Vipers

The 12 boys continued their winning ways with another solid performance against the Mascot 12s. Strong performances right across the team meant that no matter who Coach O’Neill had on the court, they did the job. This game though, was tougher than the first against Dural, but the boys fought hard right till the end and held on for a great win. Two from two from the 12 boys.

12 Girls
Boomerangs 4 – 2 Mascot Vipers

Like the boys, the 12 girls also played well right across the playing roster. With a good number of players this week and a decent bench to work with, the girls didn’t suffer the fatigue of last week and remained in control till the end. A great win and perhaps a glimpse of their future form.

14 Boys
Boomerangs 2 – 7 Mascot Vipers

As expected the Vipers 14 boys were a very slick outfit with many familiar faces from last year’s dominating side. Our boys, made up of mostly 13 year olds, would have their work cut out for them. After going in to the half time break a couple down and being very competitive, hopes were high in the second half but they were dashed early by some seriously good futsal from the Mascot boys. A 2-7 loss not the result we were looking for but positive signs from our lads.

14 Girls

Boomerangs 1 – 7 Mascot Vipers

Another Mascot side that was right up there last season and many familiar faces for our young ladies to face. Mascot started in ominous fashion banging in five goals unanswered in the first half in what was a disjointed performance by the young Boomerangs team. The half time talk was inspiring and saw the girls lift and only concede two goals while scoring one of their own in what was a much better performance. This team will no doubt get better as the season progresses and bring home some good wins.

16 Boys
Boomerangs 3 – 6 Mascot Vipers

Once again Mascot fielded a strong team in its 16 boys line up and some familiar faces from previous seasons. And whilst the Boomerangs 16 boys put in a whole hearted display, they could not curtail the slick passing and movement of the Vipers. The Boomer boys showed glimpses of great play, but never for consistently long enough to truly trouble the opposition. This team certainly has improvement in it and better performances will come.

16 Girls
Boomerangs 4 – 5 Mascot Vipers

The 16 girls welcomed back F-League player Phoebe Worth for this encounter with Vipers; a team that belted our girls 6-0 on both occasions last season. This wasn’t going to be an easy match and from the outset the Boomerangs girls were playing catch up with Vipers scoring first 10 minutes into the first half. Boomerangs equalised soon after only for the Vipers to take the lead straight back, a trend that would continue into the second half. Boomerangs levelled the scores at 4-4 with less than a minute remaining and it seemed would get away with a draw, only to be left heartbroken as the Vipers scored with the very last kick of the game to steal the win.

Youth Men
Boomerangs 0 – 4 Mascot Vipers

This is a game that the Boomerangs youth will want to forget. Mascot built their dominance in this game on the back of some very solid defence – not allowing any easy balls into the front court. The path to goal was always blocked by one or two Vipers players. And when the Mascot youth moved it themselves into the front court, the Boomerangs did not respond quickly enough, or with enough of a physical presence to halt the goal-ward progression. The match was ended prematurely – probably suiting the Boomerangs rather than the Vipers – when a Mascot Youth player was seriously injured smashing into the goal upright with just under ten minutes remaining in the second half. A significant delay ensued whilst an ambulance was called to tend the player.

Open Women

Boomerangs 6 – 1 Mascot Vipers

The Boomerangs Women provided the lift that was needed for the supporters in the penultimate game of the day. Five consecutive losses in the middle of the day, needed correcting, and the much later than scheduledstart seemed to suit the Boomerangs girls better as they came out of the gate fast, scoring two early goals and not letting up for the remainder of the match. This was a comfortable win and they were never threatened. If they continue to play this well, this team is well set for a dominant season on the back of the successful F-League season and given the way they have played and comfortably won over the past two weekends.

Open Men
Boomerangs 5 – 5 Mascot Vipers

Wow – #whatagame.

This is a game that had to be seen to be believed. It had everything. The Boomerangs started off strongly and dominated the first ten minutes scoring three lovely goals and controlling the floor. So confident were they that it seemed a rout was on the way. But someone then turned the switch on for the Vipers men and they rallied to rip the game right open, themselves scoring five goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

If the first half was all about goal scoring and momentum swings, then the second half was a battle of attrition and a lift in intensity that you don’t usually see till finals time. Both these teams wanted to win, and win badly.  The Boomerangs managed to score two hard earned goals and successfully prevent the Vipers from scoring to end the match with honours shared at 5-5. A fascinating and intense match up. If these two teams don’t feature in finals futsal this season, then the teams that do make it will be very very good.

So after a mixed bag of results for Boomerangs teams – two wins to start, then five consecutive defeats, topped off with a win and a draw – ten competition points were secured, against what will most definitely be a top four club again this season. These are the stern tests that the Boomerangs must face, and win, in order to itself move up the table as a club.