Short version:
Coogee United were quite good, with an attractive strip.

Long version:
With definite traces of a Saturday party somewhere in the Bats community, it was a sunny Sunday afternoon as another undermanned Bats team took to the field, this time facing the runaway Div 1 leaders… As if you would have subs!

Time and again we held our collective breath, as the ball hurtled towards our net, only for Junior to leap into its path with another fabulous save. That said, our defensive strategy was quite effective and gave a new definition of the term “sagging”.

Fi, Anna and Jane had to cover some serious ground in the middle of the pitch, generally having to defend four Coogee players between them. And each time Coogee approached our goal the backline dealt with the extra player magnificently, seemingly communicating via brain wave to make sure the overlap was covered.

A chance to put the embattled bats on the scoreboard came early in the second half, but a poorly timed micro-sleep in front of the goal meant Carmel’s foot failed to extend the required three centimetres to tap the ball into the back of the net.

And then the break was on – after a rip roaring run from Carmel down the left, she crossed to find Emily, who rifled a rocket into the top corner!!!

Div 1 played a strong competitive game with only 10 players against Coogee who currently top the division. The team fought hard with a lot of determination and defensive spirit to keep Coogee at bay.

So despite a 5-1 loss to the Div 1 competition leaders, the Bats walk off with their heads held high… Could this be the turning point we’ve all been waiting for?

After a 4 -week gap between games we turned up slightly apprehensive to play last year’s grand final winners and old arch rivals Putney.  After our terrific win against Gladesville, we had a few people still injured so we just 11.

After a slightly slow start, we soon found our groove, our new player Kate, who’s also new to the game got right into it and Putney seemed to be attacking less than in recent years, but they still gave our defence a good run around.

Devon did some fancy footwork and was constantly in the goal mouth but their defence was getting in the way, finally there was an opening and as Angela shouted “Shoot” Devon obliged and the ball went straight to the back of the net.

Second half, Maryann was back in her favourite position on the left and before long, she did one of her now classic shots, giving us a 2-0 lead.  Putney seemed to have lost their mojo and ran around but were fended of mightily by the defence. Angela was everywhere diving, jumping and chasing and fought them off, backed up by Shelby who did a fine job in goal.  They didn’t have a chance.

Finally the whistle blew and to our great delight and we’ve now beaten the top two teams from last year.

Player of the match by a landslide was Angela Skolarikis.  Great effort by everyone.  Now the next challenge is the Reds!  Don’t miss this game, they haven’t been beaten either!

Tina King

Manager

Over 35s Black Match Report – 10 April

Over 35s Black had their first game after starting the season with a bye.  The team is a mixed bag of returning Over 35s players, Bats from previous years, and new players.  We’ve got people with over 20 years of experience and people who’ve never played football before and so we had no idea how we would go in our first game.  We were up against Gladesville Ravens who have dominated the over 35s competition in the last two years and who had quite solidly thrashed us both years.

We got off to a great start and very early on Maryann scored our first goal to the huge excitement particularly of last year’s players who had been trembling in fear.  Ravens however, quickly came back and got one in.  But giddy with success we attacked and next up Angela scored and this was shortly followed by a lovely tap in by Moo, one of our new players who had never played before and she was like a pro.  Gladesville used their big boots to follow up and get another one in and we stayed at 3-3 at half time.

In the second half, we were tiring but the great thing about this division is so were they!  They kept at us but our defence was strong and Shannon our new goalie was doing a magnificent job fending off their shots.   However after a particularly spectacular save, she injured her wrist and had to go off. Shelbey stepped in and did a great job fending off Raven balls.  Next thing we were back on the attack and Angela got a rush of blood and took off down the field and scored again bringing it up to 4-3.   By now Ravens were rattled and there was a bit of pushing and shoving resulting in yellow card being issued to our side (enthusiasm mistaken for pushing).  We got past this and received a free kick just outside the goal and Angela passed it neatly to Andriana who cleared it right over the entire Ravens team and lodged it firmly in the back of the net, giving us a great lead just before the final whistle.

Following an on line vote – Shanon was voted Player of the Match for a tremendous effort in her first ever game of football.

A great start to our season and a great result, considering it was our first game together and we were still finding our feet.

Tina King

Manager

The reputation of the Putney Tennyson team that Div 3 played today meant that we were prepared for a tough and gruelling game.   As it turned out Div 3 dictated the game again this week.  While Putney Tennyson had some skilled, strong players Batties Div 3 were able to take it to them with effective attack and solid defence. 

All four goals were scored from outside the box by Kobie, Sarah, Mara and Gemma. Robust defence by Mel, Michelle, Annette, Kate and Finn meant the opposition did not get much of a look at goal.   Caz, our goalie, didn’t allow any balls into the net and distributed the ball quickly and cleanly back out to the mids and forwards to counter attack. 

Putney Tennyson were unable to respond with points on the board and the final score was 4-0.  Big ups to Div 3!

by Shelley

Div 3 started the season with a bang from a squad of girls who hadn’t played together before.   The Div 3 Batties dominated the first 40 minutes with all the action taking place in Div 3’s half of the pitch.   All the mids and forwards took shots at goal including Sarah, Mara, and Gemma.   But it wasn’t until Kobie capitalised on a free kick and punted the ball deftly over the opposition’s wall, and their keeper, into the back of the net that Div 3 took the lead.  Some skilful passing between the mids and the forwards set Dan up for the next goal.  Shelley was also able to take advantage of the adept footwork of her team mates and slot another one in to bring the score up to 3-0 to the Batties.   Louie, filling in as keeper, smoothly fended off attempts by Normanhurst to minimise the goal difference.

The long drive, heat of the day and perhaps lack of game fitness began to take its toll in the second half of the game and Div 3 failed to continue dominating possession.  However extremely solid defence by Michelle, Annette and Mel meant that Normanhurst’s attempts at goal were thwarted before they got too close to the net.   Shelby, helping out and playing keeper in the second half of the match did well to intercept any balls that did happen to come her way. 

Finally a lob into the goal area from Kobie resulted in one of the Normanhurst players headering it into their own goal and securing Div 3 a 4-0 win.  After a long, hot game with no subs and many of the girls playing out of position Div 3 were both relieved and delighted with the win.     Bring on the rest of the season.

by Shelley

Div 2

Fair Dinkum: Let’s call it a draw (Bats 2-5 Putney)

This is the problem with a 6 team division – playing the same team three times makes it difficult not to repeat oneself in the match reports, especially when the games turn out quite similarly each time. Although each has been characterised by hard work and good skill from both sides, the determining factor in separating the teams has been luck, or lack of it.

A slow start saw us concede unluckily in the first few minutes, however we were back on level terms soon after when Erin played a through-ball for Alice to finish with ease. All square and we were ready to start from scratch again. Then followed two rather soft penalty decisions, and it was back to chasing the game.

The frustration was clear at half time as once again we were more than matching Putney, yet things were not going our way. In the second half we piled on the pressure but were foiled by a couple of offside decisions and some general gamesmanship. Nicky finished well from a corner to pull one back late on, but by that stage the opposition were 3 goals ahead.

In the spirit of all things Australian, I think it is only fair dinkum to call this game a draw (2 Bats goals versus 2 penalties, 2 own goals and 1 regular goal). In fact, that is being generous – technically the real score was 4-3 to the Bats (plus two assists from the ref for the penalties). J

I would like to state for the record that I will not be writing another match report about losing to Putney, so we’d better bloody win the next one.

Written by Jane

Div 4

Win secures us Minor Premiers (Bats 1 – 0 Sydney Uni Yellow)

Hoo Har Batties! Oh yeah baby. The Div 4 Bats did it! Minor Premiers 2010. Considering we were in Div 5 last year I consider that an awesome achievement.

Our final game of the rounds was a close game I will admit but with a little help from Amy and Nic from Div 8, we were fired up and ready to win. We had lots of room out on the wing and plenty of time on the ball to pass and control. Of course we didn’t do that because we always get so excited and/or nervous that we boot the ball away as quick as we can.

So Fi gave us a half time pep talk to cool it down and injured Bec asked us one question: ‘Do we want to Minor Premiers?’. Yes we did, we cried back and ran on with a renewed enthusiasm to play our game our way. Controlling the ball, passing 1,2′s and even 3′s, it was 10 minutes in when Alex slid in for the winning goal around the goalie and two other opponents.

High fives all round girls, I am totally proud to be a Div 4 Bat and know we can go one better with the Grand Final trophy ready for us!

Written by Suz