The Under 9 Wallabies started their season at Hoppers Crossing against a newly formed team, one that had warm-up drills straight from the EPL, a giant centre forward that I looked up to as I walked past and an over-sized pitch.

The coach was lulled into a false sense of relaxation by the offer of a coffee before the match, the boys were out for a bit of fun and the weather was beautiful, what could ruin this fine day???? A first half rout is what could ruin it!!!!! OUCH, we were outsized, out muscled and out played, staring down the barrel of an absolute thumping due to a half time score line of 5-0 to the baddies.

We were to later find out the opposition has 3 NPL players at the core, which should have been evident by the structure and first play which completely unravelled the bus that we had parked at the back. The first goal was from a corner, the second and third by the giant and the fourth through a lovely piece of play….. we were 10 minutes in and the boys were trying to work out where the attacking end was…. A difficult task when a pair of binoculars was required to see the other end of the pitch…..

Mateja started in goals, but with the over-sized goals to go with the over-sized pitch, and a well drilled team, he didn’t stand a chance. Batman, Jed, Ethan and Will Taylor were trying to stem the flow, though with sore necks looking up to their key opponent, while Santiago and David found space, just too much space and were struggling to control the ball through the front half of the pitch, given the distance required to negotiate. To the boys credit they stuck at it and with the introduction of Dean, Jordan and Will Smith (Chippy) the boys settled into an attitude and endeavour that stemmed the flow and held the opposition at bay for a while.

Half time came, oranges, apples and snake lollies for the boys, a call for scotch by the coach….. We needed belief, so threw everything into attack at the start of the second half. Mateja was filthy with the first half and set out to make amends, Santiago got used to the space on offer, Batman used the width of the pitch and suddenly an opportunity, an opportunity Santiago capitalised on and we were on the board. At the restart our boys pressed, turned the ball over and stormed forward….. it wasn’t pretty, but after a bit of scrambling and an errant clearance by Hoppers, Mateja slammed in our second. The excitement from the parents was only matched by Teddy’s celebration, which I would describe, but he threw so many moves in there I lost track.

Our smallest players, Chippy and Jordan had the attitude of pit bull terriers and didn’t take a backward step. Jed went into goals and was more appropriately sized for the task, though didn’t see too much of the ball. Our third goal was straight from the playbook, a pass by Batman from defence carved through to Mateja, a deft turn and pass through to the left side for Santiago to run onto and BANG, we were back in it 5-3.

The opposition coach made some changes, bringing back 2 of his guns, but the momentum had shifted and our boys were up for the fight now. Will Taylor found his groove, Ethan got the job on the gentle giant (yes, completely outsized, but not out gunned), Dean and David came into the game and made some nice passes and took the physical hits that were on offer.

Jed was forced to make a couple of good saves, and the defenders copped some pressure, but kept tight, setting up better for the corners and then rebounded. When Mateja swooped on the goal kick and smacked it back past the hapless keeper, we were provided with one of the greatest celebrations seen on a soccer pitch, again too many moves to describe, but Teddy finished with a Usain Bolt pose and the crowd was on their feet.

Hoppers then constructed a goal through some exquisite play to snuff out our hopes, but the boys were, and had every right to be very proud of their fightback against a quality opposition. 6-4 to the baddies, but the good guys were brave.

Special mention to the new members of the team, as we had a few players that had not played a competitive game before.

Next game is this Sunday, at home to Werribee at 11am.