Tag: FFA

F-League Round 3 Review

Round Three of the 2015 F-League competition was played out over the weekend of 24/25 May with home matches for both the Boomerangs men and women against the travelling Queensland teams, South Brisbane and Galaxy FC (Gold Coast).

It was a beautiful autumn afternoon in the capital, and with the sun shining, quite pleasant outdoors and indeed inside the mPowerdome. However as the afternoon sun gave way to the evening chill, the air became distinctly icy, making both the players and spectators shiver through the three matches.

WOMEN

South Brisbane

The Women’s game was sandwiched between the two men’s matches and kicked off at 6pm, after the South Brisbane team drove across town from their earlier comfortable defeat of Capital FC.

In what was always going to be a close match – these two teams have rarely been separated by more than a goal or two – both teams brought their A-Games to the Boomerangs home court.

The match started not with a bang, but with control and discipline, as each team attempted to gain strategic advantage. The scoreboard opened after a goalless first nine minutes with South Brisbane knocking one home after a dominant period of play. It took little time though for the Boomer ladies to respond with Olivia Gurney smashing home from a rebound not two minutes later levelling it up at a goal a piece.

With three minutes remaining in the first half, the Queenslanders slotted home a second after the Boomerangs lost possession in the defensive third. Again the Boomerangs clawed it back almost immediately with a stellar goal by Nat De Marco which took the teams into the half-time break all squared up 2-2.

The second half commenced similarly to the first, with neither team looking to press goal-ward with any level of intensity, rather seeking to gain possession and momentum advantage. Some great work by goalkeepers at both ends allowed the scorer to remain idle.

Indeed it took until fifteen minutes into the second stanza for the arm wrestle to be broken with Becky Roche scoring from an Alex Marten assist. Boomerangs 3-2 South Brisbane with just five minutes to play.

However the lead did not take long to be cancelled out – as it had all game – with South Brisbane converting a free kick to bring it back square with just four minutes to play.

Both teams pressed for the winner, but neither could convert, leaving the match all tied at 3-3 as the final whistle blew.

Boomerangs Women 3-3 South Brisbane De Marco 1, Gurney 1, Roche 1

Check out photos of the match at http://bit.ly/1cU9sPW

MEN

South Brisbane

The first of the two men’s matches – against the South Brisbane team – kicked off at 4.15pm to open up the day’s proceedings at the mPowerdome. It took until nine minutes into the game for the Boomerangs to register their first score with a smashing shot by Grant Barlow – his second goal in just his second F-League match. In no time at all though, South Brisbane countered effectively to tie it up 1-1.

The Boomerangs coaching staff were forced to call a time-out as South Brisbane scored a second with seven and a half left in the first half.

On almost the very next offensive play the South Brisbane team had a player red carded for an infringement on Boomerangs first half goal keeper, Zac Sorenson. As hard as they tried though, the Boomers failed to convert the one man on-field advantage into scoreboard advantage in the following two minute period. However, not five seconds had elapsed after South Brisbane regained their full quota of on-field personnel, when a Cal Smith bomb smashed into the back of the net to tie it up two all.

The Boomers conceded another through an unfortunate own goal with just three minutes to play of the first half, ensuring the Queenslanders went into the half-time break a goal to the good.

The first eight minutes of the second half saw the Boomerangs pepper the South Brisbane goal for no return….  on the counter South Brisbane were busy throwing their best efforts at the Boomer’s defence. It took until eight minutes into the second stanza for a goal to come – and it was a cracker with Cal Smith taking matters into his own hands and slotting one home after beating most of the defenders along the way. Boomerangs 3-3 South Brisbane.

With five minutes remaining on the clock, the Boomerangs coaching staff called a much needed timeout after what had become a very physical period of play, resulting in several players being heavily knocked to the floor, including Smith, Ciminelli and second half keeper van Aalst.

Soon after the resumption, and for the second time in the match, Cal Smith took it upon himself to beat the whole South Brisbane team and smash home his third to make it a single goal lead with two and a half minutes to play.

Smith registered his fourth for the match from the ten metre penalty spot as South Brisbane incurred their sixth team foul of the physical second half. Ben Basser-Silk put a full stop on the game with just two seconds to play to wrap up a solid, and hard fought win over the courageous South Brisbane team.

Boomerangs Men 6-3 South Brisbane C. Smith 4, Barlow 1, Basser-Silk 1 

IMG_6420_filtered (1)

Check out photos of the match at http://bit.ly/1F6E4c6

Galaxy FC

The second match of the day for the Boomerangs men was at 7.45pm, immediately after the women’s match and less than two hours after they finished their tough physical game against South Brisbane. From the earlier game, Jono Ciminelli sustained an ankle injury which prevented him backing up. Also worse for wear, but still able to take the court, were Michael Reeve and Cal Smith.

The lads though started the match in fine form, hitting their straps immediately and grabbing the early lead against the jet-lagged Galaxy boys. It took just four minutes of game time for Ben Basser-Silk to knock one past the Galaxy keeper from a killer Cal Smith assist.

Michael Reeve added to the scoreline not a minute later with a cracker of an individual goal – with the pleasure showing after not being able to register on the score sheet in the earlier match. Boomerangs 2-0 Galaxy with less than six minutes played, and seemingly on their way to another victory.

However, the Galaxy men grabbed one back with some nice passing and movement catching the Boomerangs defence out. 2-1 to the Boomers with eight minutes gone in the match. Two minutes later, the Galaxy add a second to tie the match up, which is where it remained when the half-time buzzer sounded. The Boomerangs looking to tire in the latter part of the first half, and the Galaxy boys starting to pick up their rhythm and flow.

The end of the half-time break couldn’t come quick enough for the players as the temperature started to drop to near freezing. Some five minutes into the second half and Galaxy, clearly thawing out more quickly, score a third – once again as some terrific passing and movement off the ball split the Boomers defence wide open. For a team in their first season of the top flight of futsal in Australia, the Galaxy lads play a high quality, slick brand of futsal.

No further goals and a time out called with five minutes to play; and the Boomerangs men decide to play fly-keeper in an endeavour to claw back the deficit. The Galaxy defense handled the extra Boomerangs field player effectively despite constant forward half pressure by the home team for the majority of the final five minutes.

With 42 seconds left in the match the Galaxy scored into an unprotected goal after intercepting a Boomerangs pass. Down by two, the Boomers lads threw everything into the final three quarters of a minute and managed to secure a ten metre penalty with only a few seconds left on the clock – which they failed to convert.

As the final whistle ended the game, it was Galaxy the victors in their first ever F-League trip to the capital 4-2 over the Boomerangs.

Boomerangs Men 2-4 Galaxy FC (QLD)  Basser-Silk 1, Reeve 1

IMG_6616_filtered

Check photos of the match at http://bit.ly/1F6E4c6

Across the F-League

In other matches…

Men’s

The traveling Vic Vipers did the seemingly impossible and won all three matches on their Sydney road trip, stamping their favouritism on the 2015 race for the title. Bayside Pirates did less well, losing all three on their trip north of the Murray, and conceding 31 goals in the process. As a result, the three Sydney teams all split their weekend games with a win and a loss each.

The Queensland travelling teams both split their ACT Road trips, but in reverse fashion — and Capital FC, like the Boomerangs also split the weekend.

Women’s

The Vic Vipers ladies lost all three of their Sydney games putting a dampener on their good season start. South Brisbane had an unbeaten road trip, defeating Capital FC and drawing with the Boomerangs women.

F-League 2015 Draw Released

The draw for the 2015 F-League Season has been released by Football NSW.

The competition for 2015 consists of nine men’s teams and seven women’s team.

Boomerangs FS men and women will play all their home games at mPowerdome (eight for the men and six for the women), and away games will be held in various locations in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The majority of the games are scheduled for Saturdays to minimize conflicts with outdoor/football (NPL) matches. There will be two Friday night ‘local derbies’ against the Capital FC teams and two games on Sundays mornings against visiting teams.

The men’s season kicks off with a home game against F-League debutants Bayside Pirates on Sunday morning 10 May (11am) and the women kick off a fortnight later on Saturday 23 May when South Brisbane bring their men’s and women’s team to mPowerdome.

The season has scheduled several weekend away trips for the Boomerangs to Sydney for matches against East Coast Heat, Dural Warriors and Inner West Magic, and two major away trips – to Melbourne to take on Bayside Pirates and Vic Vipers in June – and to Brisbane (Galaxy FC and South Brisbane) in early July.

The final weekend of the regular season – before finals – will see the second ACT derby on the Friday night (17 July) followed by a home game against Vic Vipers (18 July).

Semi-Finals and the Grand Finals will be held in Sydney the following weekend (25/26 July) at Valentine Park.

Follow Sporting Pulse during the season to keep up to date with the schedule, results and the ladder.

W/E Date Women Men Home Team v Away Team Venue
1 Sun, 10/5 – 11:00AM Boomerangs v Bayside Pirates Mpowerdome
3 Sat, 23/5 6:00PM 4:15PM Boomerangs v South Brisbane Mpowerdome
3 Sat, 23/5 – 7:45PM Boomerangs v Galaxy FC Mpowerdome
4 Fri, 29/5 6:30PM 8:15PM Capital FC v Boomerangs AIS Training Hall
4 Sat, 30/5 Noon 2:00PM EC Heat v Boomerangs Valentine Park
5 Sat, 6/6 Noon 1:45PM Dural Warriors v Boomerangs Dural SLC
5 Sat, 6/6 4:00PM 5:45PM Inner West v Boomerangs Valentine Park
6 Sat, 13/6 – 10:30AM Bayside Pirates v Boomerangs Vic Futsal Centre
6 Sat, 13/6 12:15PM 2:00PM Vic Vipers v Boomerangs Vic Futsal Centre
7 Sat, 20/6 11:00AM 12:45PM Boomerangs v Inner West Mpowerdome
8 Sat, 27/6 11:00AM 12:45PM Boomerangs v EC Heat Mpowerdome
8 Sun, 28/6 11:00AM 12:45PM Boomerangs v Dural Warriors Mpowerdome
9 Sat, 4/7 – 10:00AM Galaxy FC v Boomerangs Logan Metro ISC
9 Sat, 4/7 11:45AM 1:30PM South Brisbane v Boomerangs Logan Metro ISC
10 Fri, 17/7 6:30PM 8:15PM Boomerangs v Capital FC Mpowerdome
10 Sat, 18/7 10:30AM 12:15PM Boomerangs v Vic Vipers Mpowerdome

 

The full men’s draw can be found HERE, and the women’s draw HERE.

fnsw-and-ffa

Futsal handed its first international match calendar

(photo © Getty Images)

The following from FIFA. 

There can be no denying that futsal has enjoyed continuous and remarkable growth over the past decade. Solid proof of that trend comes in the form of increased numbers both of registered players and leagues now run under FIFA rules – factors that have had a direct impact on improved standards in both domestic and international competitions.

Further evidence of this leap in standards was on display at the last FIFA Futsal World Cup, arguably the most evenly matched edition to date, as well as the quantity of emerging nations making a splash in the discipline. In its quest to continue the sport’s evolution in the most organised way possible, the FIFA Executive Committee, at its meeting of 18 and 19 December 2014 in Marrakech, approved something that world football’s governing body has long sought: the first ever futsal international match calendar, which covers the period of 2016-2020.

“It’s like this, the global growth of futsal means that a unified calendar has become indispensable,” said Jaime Yarza, Event Manager for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, when speaking to FIFA.com. “Everyone involved in the sport – FIFA, the confederations, associations, leagues, clubs, players, sponsors, media – needs to be able to plan for the sporting season in advance. And being able to do that for the next two or three years is better than for just one.

“There are so many factors that meant that it [a unified calendar] was now essential,” continued Yarza. “You have to prepare budgets, define TV slots, confirm activities for sponsors, build loyalty among clubs’ fans by having well-structured seasons… There are so many benefits to having a unified calendar that it’s hard to explain them in just a few words.”

Javier Lozano, who twice coached Spain to FIFA Futsal World Cup glory and is currently the President of theLiga Española de Fútbol Sala, backed up Yarza’s views. “This calendar is a big help for our clubs and for futsal across the globe: finally we can make concrete plans,” he told FIFA.com. “Safeguarding clubs, players and international competitions is essential for taking this sport to the very highest level.”

Releasing players
The new calendar, whose opening cycle will include the next two FIFA Futsal World Cups, is based around players’ mandatory release to their national teams, depending on the various stages of international competition. “We’ve tried to take into account the interests of all parties. First of all, we’ve set aside 12-day windows for the final stages of the confederations’ senior national-team championships. Now confederations will be able to properly prepare both their competitions and specific sponsorship programs. It even makes choosing host nations easier,” added Yarza, in reference to events such as the UEFA Futsal EURO and the Copa America de Futsal.

In addition to the final stages of confederations’ championships and the FIFA Futsal World Cup, the calendar also includes two international windows, called Type I and Type II. “The first type lasts for ten days, during which national teams can play up to four friendly matches, but which can also be used to carry out fund-raising events or extended periods of preparation, for example for the World Cup,” explained Yarza. “The second type is for four days and allows no more than two matches. Again, it will be up to the associations to decide how they make use of the time.

“It’s taken a huge amount of work in terms of coordination, since it has required bringing together the interests of many parties,” admitted Yarza. “We’d like to thank everybody, the confederations, associations, leagues, clubs and players, for their understanding. We’ve tried to take into account the needs of all of the world’s regions.”

Though satisfied with the step taken, Yarza signed off by emphasising that the calendar remains a work in progress: “We’re pleased to say that this [calendar] has put the defence of the sport and its stars – the players – first. In any case, in the knowledge that nothing is perfect, in 2017 we will speak to all parties again to discuss if any changes are required.”

F-League 2015 Teams Announced

From Football NSW

fnsw-and-ffa

F-League 2015 Season Announced

Football NSW has officially announced the participating teams for the 2015 F-League season for both the Men and Women’s Competitions.

In 2015 the Men’s Competition will feature nine (9) teams, while seven (7) teams will form the Women’s F-League Competition.

The teams involved in the F-League Men’s Competition include:

· Boomerangs FS (ACT)

· Capital FC (ACT)

· Dural Warriors (NSW)

· East Coast Heat FC (NSW)

· Inner West Magic FC (NSW)

· Galaxy FC (QLD)

· South Brisbane FC (QLD)

· Bayside Pirates FC (VIC)

· VIC Vipers (VIC)

The teams involved in the F-League Women’s Competition include:

· Boomerangs FS (ACT)

· Capital FC (ACT)

· Dural Warriors (NSW)

· East Coast Heat FC (NSW)

· Inner West Magic FC (NSW)

· South Brisbane FC (QLD)

· VIC Vipers (VIC)

Established in 2011, the F-League was initially a six (6) team Men’s competition with teams from ACT, NSW and Victoria participating across three (3) weekends on the east coast of Australia.

In 2012 it expanded to an eight (8) team Men’s Competition, again with teams from ACT, NSW and Victoria participating across five (5) weekends (three in NSW, two in VIC and one in the ACT).

2013 saw the Men’s Competition remain the same, while the inaugural F-League Women’s Competition was introduced. This saw an eight (8) team Competition which was played over three (3) weekends (one in NSW, one in VIC and one in ACT), with teams from NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD.

In 2014 the Men’s Competition remained as an eight (8) team competition, with teams from NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD, while the Women’s Competition saw six (6) teams competing from NSW, ACT, VIC and QLD. However the format of the competition was revamped with a hybrid home and away format being introduced, which allowed teams to capitalise on their home court advantage.

The Dural Warriors were crowned 2014 F-League Champions in the Men’s Competition after defeating the East Coast Heat 3-1 while the Sydney Scorpions edged out Boomerangs FS 3-2 in the Women’s Competition.

The F-League provides a pathway for elite futsal players, enabling them to pit their skills against the best players from other Member Federations in a club competition environment. The Men’s F-League Competition has, and continues to be, Football Federation Australia’s identified program to select the nation’s qualifying team for the AFC Futsal Club Championships.

In 2015 the F-League will continue with the hybrid home and away format that was introduced in 2014, with the competition expected to commence in early May and conclude in August.

The 2015 F-League is endorsed and supported by FFA.

FFA Nationals 2015 FINAL WRAP

Five weeks to organise… Nine teams entered… Ninety players committed… Twenty coaches and support staff… Fifty one games played… Five quarter/semi finals made… Two Grand Finals contested… One Championship won.

After a herculean effort by the Boomerangs club, a squad of nine teams was assembled to compete in the annual FFA Futsal Nationals in Sydney from January 5-9, 2015. For as long as any of the current crop of players can remember, the Futsal Nationals had been played in their home town, so this was a totally new experience for the vast majority of the players and the supporters.

Many of the players were regular Boomerangs NSW State League players, however, many others needed to be recruited to make up the numbers and to fill age groups not matching those in the FNSW State League. Continue reading “FFA Nationals 2015 FINAL WRAP” →

FFA Futsal Championships 2015

Some ninety Canberra region players, eighteen coaching staff and a handful of volunteers are making their way up the Hume Highway to compete as Boomerangs FS in the FFA Futsal Nationals of 2015.

This year’s event (5-9 January) has seen a number of changes from the most recent years where firstly, the Nationals have mostly been held in Canberra (each year for most of the past 20 years), secondly, Boomerangs FS is representing the Capital with Capital Football supporting the AWD team, and thirdly, Football NSW is the host and organising Federation, having assumed the role from Capital Football.

With only a very short time frame to put the teams together (some five weeks), the Boomerangs coaches and volunteers have done a sensational job in harnessing their combined efforts to ensure nine teams of ten players each will be able to compete in this years’ FFA Nationals.

Canberra has a proud history in the FFA Nationals with regular finals appearances and a number of national championships across a range of age groups over many years. Most notably, the ACT (Capital Football sponsored teams), are the current holder of the Open Men’s and Open Women’s Championship trophies, and this will remain unchanged as the FFA has decided to no longer include Open Age categories at these championships (instead utilising the F-League as an avenue for elite senior futsal player), and having Youth (Men and Women), and U23’s (Men and Women) as the uppermost age groups.

Boomerangs FS wishes all its players, coaches and helpers (including the travelling parents) the best for the week, and are confident of a number of finals appearances from across the age groups being contested.

Boomerangs FS are sending to the Championships:

12 Boys (2 x teams)
12 Girls
14 Boys
15 Boys
16 Girls
Youth Men (2 x teams)
Youth Women

Follow the action via the Boomerangs Facebook page and Twitter account as well as the @futsalchamps Twitter account and of course on Sporting Pulse.

2015 FFA Futsal Nationals

* Note – Regular Updates regarding the 2015 FFA Futsal Nationals will be posted HERE.

 

Boomerangs FS is pleased to be able to advise that the club has been approached to participate in the FFA Futsal National Championships being held in Sydney (in January), as an ‘invitational club’.

Participation is subject to Capital Football approval; however discussions with them so far have been very positive. The club has indicated to Football NSW and to Capital Football that it has the capacity to send teams in all age groups offered at the Championships.

In line with this commitment, we are seeking expressions of interest from players to participate at the Futsal Nationals (January 5-9, 2015). Age groups being played at the Nationals are as follows:

– Boys U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, Youth (U19) and U23 Men

– Girl’s U12,U14, U16, Youth Women (U19) and U23 Women

The competition will be spread across four different venues, being Valentine Sports Park (23s and AWD), Dural Sport & Leisure Centre (U16 and Youth), Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium (U12-U15) and Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre (Finals)

The time frame to make arrangements (such as planning training sessions, ordering strips etc) and assemble teams is very short. As such, we are seeking expressions of interest by no later than 12pm, Thursday November 27. (Please send confirmation emails to jenney@boomerangsfs.com and cc to info@boomerangsfs.com.au).

The cost to participate in the Futsal Nationals as a Boomerangs player will be approximately $550 per player – this is pending final confirmation of entry fees and other costs. The participation fee will include the following:

– Training sessions

– Home and away playing strip

– Polo shirt, walkout shorts, backpack

– Qualified coaches

– Team entry fees

– Travelling physiotherapist

Please note that these costs do NOT include transport, food and accommodation for the championships period to provide maximum flexibility for families. We are currently looking at options for inexpensive accommodation, however families will be free to choose the travel and accommodation option that best suits their circumstances.

Once expressions of interest have been collated an email will be sent to all players informing them of potential trials/training times and venue for their age group.

A reminder that expressions of interest are required  by 12pm Thursday 27 November.

Futsalroos clean sweep series

The following is from the Football NSW website.

The Futsalroos showed why they sit 24th in the world futsal rankings as they completed a Trans-Tasman Cup series clean sweep proving too strong over our neighbours taking out all three matches.

This ended a great tour by the Futsalroos who kicked off Game 1 with a 5-3 win.

Goals to Jarrod Basger, Tobias Seto, a double from Wade Giovenali and an own goal was enough to see off the Kiwi side in front of the 600 plus spectators at the ASB Centre in Wellington on Friday.

The Futsalroos then put on an impressive Game 2 performance which put them on their way to a comprehensive 6-0 victory over the Futsal Whites on Saturday night, where they secured the Trans-Tasman Cup in the process with a game to spare.

Jordan Mundell grabbed a hat-trick while Jarrod Basger, Wade Giovenali and Chris Polkinghorne added the rest.

In Game 3, the squad resisted to rest on their laurels and finished the clean sweep by defeating the Kiwi side 7-1.

Jonathan Barrientos scored a double while Wade Giovenali, Chris Polkinghorne, Jarrod Basger, Adam Cooper and Callum Smith added the remaining goals.

Trans-Tasman Cup 2014 – Game 1

Futsal Whites v Futsalroos
Futsal Whites 3-5 Futsalroos (half: 0-2)
NZL: Leo Bertos 25’, Kareem Osman 32’, 39’
AUS: Wade Giovenali  14’, 16’, Tobias Seto 32’, Jarrod Basger 35’, Own Goal

Trans-Tasman Cup 2014 – Game 2

Futsal Whites 0-6 Futsalroos (half: 0-1)
NZL: –
AUS: Jordan Mundell 1’, 35’, 38’, Jarrod Basger 22’, Wade Giovenali 24’, Chris Polkinghorne 40’

Trans-Tasman Cup 2014 – Game 3

Futsal Whites 1-7 Futsalroos (half:  1-4)
NZL: Jan Fischer 12’
AUS: Jonathan Barrientos 3’, 31’, Wade Giovenali  4’, Chris Polkinghorne 10’, Jarrod Basger 12’, Adam Cooper 34’, Callum Smith 38’

F-League Weekend #1: Boomerangs on Fire

Both Boomerangs FS teams (men’s and women’s) travelled to Melbourne this past weekend to suit up for their first games in the 2014 Australian hummel F-League.

The men were scheduled to play both Victorian teams in this year’s competition, St Albans Strikers (who finished 5th in 2013) and Vic Vipers (the 2013 Premiers and Grand Final winners).  The women had a date with Vic Vipers, a team that finished seventh out of the eight teams competing in 2013.

F-League MEN (video highlights HERE)

Boomerangs FS 12 – 1 St Albans Strikers

(D. Bennett 3, T. Zeitlhofer 3, M. Reeve 2, J. O”Dwyer , G. Smith , A. Konstantinou)

The men started their weekend with the match at YMCA Derrimut at 11am against St Albans. The first half saw both teams ease into the 2014 competition, but with the early difference down to the strong defensive effort by the Boomerangs, including some masterful saves by keeper Konstantinou, while his counterpart let one through in the third minute. Boomerangs doubled the lead at the half-way point of the first half immediately after a St Albans time out; with a the third scored with five to go first half. Konstantinou sealed a 4-0 first half lead with a quick thinking kick over an advancing St Albans keeper to chalk up a length-of-the-field goal. At half time the Strikers may have thought they were still in with a chance, but the Boomerangs lads were only just warming up — an eight goal to one blitz in the second half blew away any hope that St Albans had for a victory in this match.

The second half thrilled the small crowd as the game opened up – suiting the run and gun fast flowing style of the Boomerangs. The pacey, skillful Boomerangs players able to take full advantage with some silky smooth passing moves and back-post goals.  Even with the bench mostly operating in the latter stages of the second half, the Boomerangs dominated – especially defensively – making everything St Albans tried a significant challenge. A great effort by the lads and one to blow the cobwebs from the long off-season.

Goal scorers included hat-tricks to both Daniel Bennett (continuing his remarkable season of goal scoring feats in outdoor) and Zeitlhofer; a double to Michael Reeve and singles to O’Dwyer, Glenn Smith and Konstantinou.

Boomerangs FS 4 -3 Vic Vipers

(C. Smith , M. Reeve , J. O”Dwyer , D. Bennett)

If the match in the morning was a reasonably comfortable affair for the Boomerangs men, they knew this match up against last year’s Premiers and Grand Final winner was going to be much tougher. And it was. Both teams were cautious in the opening few minutes, but with the Boomerangs having already played earlier, they were well into their stride before the Vipers had warmed up. An early goal by O’Dwyer in the third minute was followed up soon after by another by Bennett – his fourth for the day. The two goals sparked the Vipers into action, and they worked hard to peg back those two goals with nine minutes to play in the first stanza. Some stunning work by keeper Konstantinou held the Vipers at bay, whilst Cal Smith scythed a path through the Vipers defence and slammed home a sensational effort just before the half-time break. 3-2 to the Boomerangs.

The second half saw the Boomerangs come out of the blocks as they did in the first half and some slick interplay between Reeve and O’Dwyer saw them double the lead with seventeen minutes left on the clock. The Vipers threw everything they had at the Boomerangs in the latter stages of the second half, but the Boomerangs repelled, including a ten metre penalty save by Konstantinou. For the Vipers though, Fernando and Cooper combined – as they had many times in this match – to grab one back with five and a half minutes of game time remaining. But contrary to what many in the crowd were thinking, the Boomerangs did not fade on the back of two games close together, they rallied defensively and did all they could to keep the Vipers out. In a last ditch effort, the Vipers went fifth man (flying keeper), but seemed unable to penetrate the now exhausted and stretched Boomerangs defence.

At 4-3 a great victory by the Boomerangs men, and one to match the early season upset of season 2013 when they also defeated the Vipers 5-2 (in Sydney).

F-League Women (video highlights HERE)

Boomerangs FS 4 – 2 Vic Vipers

(M. Whittall , D. Osman , N. Nisbet , H. Buckingham)

The travelling Boomerangs women looked a little ‘light on’ personnel going into this match as they had a couple of their eight-man travelling squad with injuries going into the game. Meanwhile, the home team – the Vic Vipers women, had a full contingent of 12 players on the field and warming the bench.

Much like the men, the Boomerangs women started the game apace, and had netted two before the Vipers knew what hit them. A nice goal to Whittall to commence proceedings, followed by a tap in rebound by new recruit Nisbett. The Vipers pulled one back with five minutes gone, with a slight fumble by Boomers keeper Curic.  The Boomerangs quickly made good though, with Doris Osman soon after netting a neat goal to restore the two goal lead, which is where it remained till half time.

In this first game for these players under stop clock conditions, both squads tired noticeable in the second half. The longer match time should have suited the Vipers with a deeper bench, but the Boomerangs women showed fitness and determination, as well as a high level of skill during this second half. The Vipers scored a second at the five minute mark of the second half, setting the game up for an exciting ending. It was end to end futsal, with keepers from both sides making solid saves, until Buckingham tapped in a rebound from the Vipers keeper with 90 seconds to play to put the game away. It remained Boomerangs 4-2 Vipers.

A great effort for this new look team in their first outing. A deeper bench and increased player availability will certainly help in the home game to follow next weekend.

The Football NSW review of Weekend 1 games can be found at http://goo.gl/ZjE4kD (Men) and at http://goo.gl/gwpCVm (Women).

To see photos of the matches, click on the PHOTO tab on the menu bar.