Round 1 of the 2015 Amateur Soccer League Premier Division kicked off on Saturday afternoon at a sodden Bradwood Park. Following a long and gruelling preseason and two seasons in Division 2 provided plenty of ammunition for Stirling Districts to begin their 2015 Division 1 campaign with a victory against the travelling Adelaide Comets.
With Coach ‘Peter Cottle’ in charge for his second successive year, it was clear to players of what was expected and what style of football he was after. A number of talented players joined the club in the offseason and this was evident when the players took to the pitch against the Comets, as six of the starting eleven were making their Stirling Districts debuts. Of these six were Scott Mather and vice-captain Jonathon Gomez up front, Lewis Coulls, Josh Hill and Joel Byrth in the midfield and Sam Papini in central defence. The remaining 5 consisted of Josh Clifford in goals, Andrew Wendelborn and Matt Hawthorn in defence, Adam Gore in the midfield and captain Ryan Gore in defensive midfield.
After winning the toss and kicking away from the clubroom end, the Comets kicked off and soon after the Aces gained possession of the ball and began to play the ball around in testing conditions. The first clear chance at goal came just ten minutes into the match as Hawthorn sent a free kick down the wing to A.Gore and with an outstretched leg, flicked the ball into the middle of the box and an oncoming Gomez was able to pass the ball into an empty net. The early goal appeared to ease any nerves that the Aces were feeling and begun to dominate possession whilst looking dangerous in front of goal. Coulls fired over the crossbar after some good build up play from Mather and A.Gore down the right hand side. Soon after Gomez made a great defensive challenge to set up a counter attack which ended in Mather hitting a low driven shot which was poked around the post by the keeper’s outstretched leg. Stirling Districts went into the break with a deserved 1-0 lead.
A.Gore was substituted at half time with a strained hamstring which meant Daniel Wilby would start out on the left sided in the second half. With Coulls and Byrth dominating the midfield it provided numerous chances on goal but the Comets keeper was first class and kept out everything. Wibly was quickly into the action and soon saw his shot blocked after getting onto the end of a low cross, while Byrth too had an attempt blocked as the ball then ricocheted out, for yet another Aces corner. Moments later R.Gore got his head onto a set piece and flicked it toward the far bottom corner of the goal and amazingly the keeper stuck out a mitt to again deny the home team.
After looking solid most of the game, the Aces defence conceded after poor communication at the back allowed the Comets striker in on goal to level the scores. It was a bitter blow as Stirling Districts knew they deserved to be in front but reacted well to conceding by going on the attack again. The game became scrappier with tackles flying in from both teams and chances at either end as the Comets confidence grew after levelling the scores. However with five minutes remaining a great ball from Hill found Gomez who controlled the ball, then sweetly hit his left foot shot low and hard across the keeper and into the net. In the closing stages Martin Moran replaced Byrth to provide some fresh legs toward the end of the game. At the final whistle a 2-1 win was a deserved result and Stirling Districts will look forward to an away clash against St Peters this Saturday at Lloyd Oval.
Lewis Coulls slides in to block an attacking move while Adam Gore watches on.
Defenders Andrew Wendelborn on the right and Sam Papini (Number 7) on the left.