Latest Seaforth FC Senior match reports will be placed here each week.
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If you would like to add a report, please email: Richard Wright
Reports Sat 13th/20th May 2006
AL1 - Last 2 weeks
Seaforth on the up as goals begin to flow
It’s hard to report on matches when you’re either playing in them or missing the first half due to your wife shopping on a Saturday (sound familiar anyone?!), but there’s no doubting that Seaforth’s newly assembled squad are beginning to find the measure of their opponents.
The last 3 fixtures have seen 9 points won, scoring 14 goals against 2 conceded.
This run has taken the black & whites into 3rd spot, behind Allambie, against whom they came from 2-0 down to earn a point that could so easily have been 3, and Narrabeen, whom they play on June 10th.
There seems to be more steel and grit about the performances right now (come on Runcs, we saw it. Even you made a tackle on Saturday!), and a confidence on the ball that was missing in the opening games, when the team struggled to put the best of training into match-days.
There are moments of petulance, not to mention poor refereeing, that are leading to silly yellow cards, which on another day might cause problems if a player ends up being sent off. Zola’s kick to an opponent’s ankle after he’d amusingly had a ball thrown on his head (this was amusing because he’s not the tallest in the pack) should have seen red.
Joey will be seeing red that he didn’t take his chances to score a hat-trick, though his second to make it 5-0 was a corker. (Next time Joey, it’s a round of beers for hat-trick evasion!)
Good luck to Adison who plays in state championship finals this week in the arse end of NSW. Please try and make it back in time for next week’s fixture versus Pittwater (away).
- Report by Mike Read
AL4Rs Round Seven: 20/5 - Seaforth FC v BTH Raiders
Result: SFC 2 BTH Raiders 1
This match was characterised by some enterprising attacking play from Seaforth as progress made in previous weeks finally began to bear fruit.
Seaforth's raids were rewarded 15 minutes in when top scorer Mauro headed in his fourth goal of the campaign, after a tentative Raiders keeper failed to adequately deal with Major Tom's shot from outside the box.
The home side doubled its advantage when Mauro was played in down the left and lobbed an inch-perfect cross into the box for Jono to slot home at the near post for his third of the season.
It was about 10 minutes before the break that some earlier concern regarding the selection of the match officials was proven justified, when the Raiders took exception to Gon's foul throw technique and began remonstrating piteously with the referee. Increasingly under siege, the ref retorted to one vocal critic of his officiating style that he'd certainly know about it when he, the referee, returned to the pitch as a player in the second half. It was about this time that UEFA's fourth official thought it prudent to relieve the referee of his duties.
The second half got under way with a suitable replacement who, after several warnings, bestowed the honour of Seaforth's first yellow card of the season upon Paul "The Tank" Arancio, whose balletic two-footed lunge at the edge of our box denied the Raiders striker a shot on goal and, indeed, his right to remain relatively vertical.
Unfortunately, we conceded from the resulting free kick when jostling in the box prevented Goalkeeper Willie from taking the ball cleanly and the Raiders fell on the scraps like ravenous dogs, eager to taste a rare goal.
The force continued to be with Seaforth, however, with Nelson taking on the job as midfield anchor and retaining possession well. Forwards Mauro and Tim and wingers Major Tom and Speedy Gon were linking well with Jono and Felix in the centre to create plenty of chances.
Your humble author was even presented with a couple of opportunities, heading just wide from a corner and, with the Raiders keeper off his line, attempting a 25m Steven-Gerrard-style volley with somewhat un-Steven-Gerrard-like results.
Mauro was also denied a second when the keeper knocked his curling free kick against the crossbar. The Tank once again organised his defence well and kept talking all game, as Paul, Thor, and Cal stubbornly refused to concede the equaliser that the Raiders threatened late in the second half. Willie also made a trademark full-stretch-tip-over-the-bar save.
As for the day's casualty list, Jono the Bubble Boy once again hobbled off with an ankle injury (possibly faked just to get out of training) and your humble author will, sadly, now probably never receive his UEFA referee accreditation.
However, the match was full of a creative attack-mindedness that could easily have resulted in another three or four Seaforth goals. Our defence has been tight for weeks. Now it's beginning to gel up front lads. Let's keep up the good work.
- Report by Tim Ireland
Reports Sat/Sun 6/7th May 2006
AL1 V Brookvale and Manly Allambie
Mature heads on young legs reaping rewards
The ability to get results when not playing your best and to dig deep when facing adversity tend to be traits reserved for the experienced, for teams who've been together for a few seasons or for those with championship credentials.
Seaforth FC have neither of the first two to call upon and their opening 6 game record of W2 / D3 / L1 is hardly the form of champions elect.
But if the last 3 matches are a barometer for the remainder of the season, there is much cause for optimism for Louis and his squad of young (with a couple of exceptions!) battlers.
Against Brookvale and Manly Allambie, Seaforth came from behind to earn creditable 2-2 draws; a killer instinct in front of goal would surely have yielded 6 points rather than 2. On both occasions however, Seaforth finished by far the stronger team, a sign not only of 'never say never', but also good staying power.
No team will have enjoyed the ridiculous early season double header programme more than the black & whites, who saw off Wakehurst 4-1, a result that was kind on the visitors who found themselves 3-0 down at the break.
Looking at results, it's hard to fathom form in a league that has already thrown up surprises.
The current mood inside the squad suggests that nobody at Seaforth will be surprised if the reward for efforts off the pitch from all linked to the club are paid back with a climb up the table in the coming weeks.
Word has it that a bit of soul searching has been going on at training and during half time team talks. Whatever's being said, it appears to be working....
- Report by Mike Read
AL4Rs Harbord Seasiders 3 v Seaforth FC 1
If any of us held notions that some karmic force at work in the league would soon be rewarding us for our sportsmanship and fairplay in previous weeks, such notions were cruelly dispelled in this match against Harbord Seasiders.
It was a very unsporting indirect free-kick that rubbed salt into Seaforth wounds in the second-half, adding to a scoreline that bore little resemblance to the match played out before the faithful this week.
Seaforth started brightly in the first period and one glorious chance went begging when Mauro's perfect left-footed cross afforded Jono a free header that he just couldn't keep down on target. However poor positional play at the back let Harbord storm into the box
from the right and slot past Goalkeeper Willie.
Shortly afterwards Willie was again cursing his luck when, after positioning himself well, a wicked deflection turned an innocuous Harbord strike into an ultimately successful one to make it 2-0. And, buoyed by their good luck, by the end of the first half it was fair to say Harbord had the lion's share of possession and were running us all over.
After the break Seaforth were playing with more verve, Nelson and Sven battling hard in the middle of the park with help from Trent in an advanced position. It was not too long before we nicked one back through Jono's brilliant individual effort. The feisty winger ghosted into the Harbord box, wrong-footed two defenders and calmly slotted home past the keeper at the near post.
Soon after, another magic curling cross from the boot of Mauro seemed to have presented Gon with a golden opportunity to equalise, however Speedy, perhaps momentarily contemplating a spectacular bicycle kick, somehow failed to get anything on it. Seaforth also enjoyed a number of corners but just couldn't make the most of the set play opportunities.
And of course it all ended in tears with a highly questionable free kick. Nelson was quite simply pole-axed while in possession in our own box, the ball dribbling out from under him to Willie who was penalised for collecting a back pass. The Harbord supplied referee took no account of the fact a player was down before the keeper collected and awarded an indirect free kick from 10 yards. The resulting Harbord effort skimmed the boots of your humble and chagrined author to find the back of our net to make it 3-1.
- Report by Tim Ireland
Reports Sat 29th April 2006
AL4Rs: Seaforth 0 St Augustines 0
Well, as the football pundits are fond of saying, it was a game of two halves. Which is just as well because who the hell wants to play half a match?!
In the first half, St Augustines were denied a penalty when James (aka the Pitbull) unceremoniously scythed down their striker on the inside edge of the box.
In the second half, Seaforth had a goal ruled out when, only seconds before Matt's predatory strike, the opposition's keeper tried on his best Basil Fawlty impersonation and mysteriously fell to the ground writhing in "pain". Perhaps an old bit of shrapnel from the Korean war.
Nevertheless, it was a heartening display from the home side, with Sven and Nelson in particular working well together in midfield. Thor (aka Mr Perpetual Motion) kept running all day and was almost rewarded in the first half when his shot from almost halfway dipped at the last second and only for the St Augustines keeper to somehow push it over the bar at full stretch. Speedy Gonzalo had a sniff but put his header wide of goal and other chances were squandered when play broke down in the last third and the final ball was simply not put through.
In the second half, Mauro saw a couple of shots saved by the keeper, one after a delightful through ball from Tim, who also made some menacing runs (according to the match referee). The forward pair possibly should have done better when their neat little one-two at the fringe of the St Augustines box became more like a five-six.
However, Seaforth's defence was imperious throughout. A rotating backline of Paul, James, Thor, Abi, John, Sven and Cal all stood up when it mattered. Abi also made some penetrating forward runs and Cal, in the unfamiliar role of left back, played with grit and dogged determination.
Goalkeeper Willie pulled down the high balls all day before stretching his legs on the wing. And it was Major Tom, it should be noted, who tracked back from the wing in the first half to make a crucial last-ditch, goal-saving tackle.
Remembering that St Augustines last week put five goals past the Mosman side that defeated us in Round Two, this was an encouraging showing. Let's work on that finishing lads.
- Report by Tim Ireland
Reports Sat 22nd April 2006
AL 1: Seaforth FC 0 Mosman 0
Who says goalless draws are boring?!
This week-end’s 0-0 draw against Mosman could well be the making of Seaforth’s newly assembled young side. On paper, this might read like an over-statement, but dig a little deeper and you’ll understand why.
Un-beaten Mosman came to Seaforth on the back of a 100% early season record, yet left lucky to escape with a draw against 10 man Seaforth, hot-head Latino Sele having been rightly sent off for attempting (and failing miserably I might add) to head-butt Mosman’s keeper on the stroke of half time.
His petulant reaction to a shove in the back, was only matched in stupidity by his disappearance from the ground immediately on removing his shirt in disgust at the referee’s decision. He obviously did this to reveal a torso that he thinks still belongs on Copacabana. Sele, we’ve got news for you bro’!!
Why is it that so many teams perform better when they’re a man down?
On this occasion, it may well have been the roasting that coach Louis dished out at half-time, but what was to follow was Seaforth’s best 45 minutes of the season to date. It was hard to believe that the black and white’s were a man short as they poured forward for much of the second half, the post and an un-rewarded penalty claim, coming between them and a victory their heroic efforts deserved.
More of this attitude on the training pitch and match days, and Seaforth has a season to look forward to with much hope and no little expectation of re-paying the investment the club has made in the 1st team squad.
A winning run is on the cards for this team as they grow in confidence, on the back of getting a few games under their collective belts.
Bring on Brookvale!
- Report by Mike Read
AL4Rs Beacon Hill 2 - Seaforth 3
This match got off to the best possible start for Seaforth when, in almost the first minute, Felix (aka Dr Love) enjoyed his first touch of the 2006 season. And what a touch it was. His cracking long-range shot bulged the back of the Beacon Hill net and sent the Seaforth faithful on the sidelines into orgasmic raptures.
We went on to control the rhythm of the first half, retaining a lot of possession in midfield through Sven, Felix, Mauro dropping back and some gutsy ball-winning tackles from Gon on the wing.
Some good set-piece training during the week was evident as a corner missed all the heads but found Mauro at the far post for the striker to loop a karate-kick-style effort into the top left corner, scoring his second goal in as many matches.
However, perhaps a little bewildered to find themselves an unfamiliar 2-0 up, the Seaforth troops lost concentration. In fact, post-match questioning revealed no-one could even remember how we suddenly ended up at 2-2, after a couple of nasty little Beacon Hill specials somehow trickled in before half time.
In the second half, a third opposition goal was briefly threatened when Beacon Hill were awarded a dubious free-kick just outside the box, however Tim's 400 decibel interpretation of the handball rule was perhaps just enough to frazzle the nerves of the kick taker, who blasted over the bar.
Halfway through the second period, however, Seaforth pulled their collective fingers out and were again running the show in the middle of the park. Eventually Beacon Hill served up dessert when a hard-working Gon received a menacing cross and put in a stinging shot from the right of the box.
The keeper couldn't take the ball cleanly and steaming in from midfield to drive it decisively into the back of the net was a little bald bloke... wait, could it be? Is it Timmy? No! Sadly, the division's slowest striker will have to wait a little longer to break his duck because it was a cameo appearance from Jumpin' Jono Ireland, on for ten minutes only to snatch the deserved match winner!
All in all, aside from Matt and Sven taking nasty knocks to the noggins, it was a successful day at the office. May it be the first of many.
- Report by Tim Ireland
Reports Sat 8th April 2006
AL 1: Beacon Hill 0 – Seaforth FC 2
Bring on Mosman!
The lads are off the mark... and encouraging signs were shown either side of half time, that coach Louis’ preference for free flowing football is beginning to come good on match days, as much as it does when training.
The AL1’s picked up where the reserves left off, even though there was an un-welcome reminder of the previous week’s defeat in the shape of Jim the ref appearing with what could have been a father and daughter pairing for linesmen.
Louis needs to be careful that one half of his Brazilian strike force does not get carried away with early season form, as Cele took his tally to 3 goals with 2 classy strikes, one in either half.
Perhaps the rest of Seaforth’s ‘Oompa Loompa’ front line should eat more Weetbix. For the last 20 minutes, the cumulative height of the 3 strikers must have been no more than 6 foot! "Oompa, Loompa, dumpa dee do, we’ve got a short arsed strike-force for you..."
Seaforth took the lead with the best move of the game after 8 minutes, Cele heading in from Sean’s cross, after great work from Dutch Dash and Will.
From this point, Beacon Hill launched an aerial bombardment reminiscent of the Blitz. However, the Jowett brothers held firm in central defence, with Scott handling crosses well. Captain for the day, plus a clean sheet. We trust you had a large night on Saturday Scottie?!
The ref was pole-axed after 35 minutes, which must have been karma for his dodgy decisions the previous week, but he came good, just before Seaforth wasted a great chance to extend their lead after trickery down the right flank from Tiago and Dash came to nothing.
The Black & Whites went 2-0 up in the 51st minute, when Cele struck a 20 yard pearler, after his lame free-kick re-bounded off the wall. He then received a yellow card for a typical striker’s tackle and was soon guilty of 'beer' avoidance, when missing a glorious chance for his hat-trick.
Beacon Hill rallied well, and substitutions for Seaforth led to a breakdown in shape and tempo. Just as well that Scott made a superb point blank double save with 30 minutes left. Things may have been different if Seaforth had conceded at this point.
The game was played out to the sounds of an electric rock guitar coming from a nearby bedroom, but not before 3 balls that belonged to the away team, were lost in bush running down the far touch-line. Come on Beacon Hill – we want our balls back!!
There’s now a 2 week break until Seaforth play their first home game against un-defeated Mosman. At least, they are at the moment.
Kick off is at 3pm on April 22nd, Seaforth Oval.
Happy Easter to all.
- Report by Mike Read
AL4Rs Rd 2: Mosman 2 V SFC 1
Well, perhaps the football gods decided we had to pay for round one's arsey draw, because to my impartial eye Seaforth suffered a thoroughly undeserved defeat at the hands of a Mosman side that had very few answers to our attacking play.
The sky blues' first-half opener was fortunate to say the least. Seaforth's goalkeeper Willie, somewhat confused to find himself playing on a RUGBY LEAGUE PITCH(!!), mistook the 22 line for the boundary of his box and was cruelly penalised. He was helpless as the resultant free kick sailed into the upper right-hand corner.
Our response was muted at first, with Mauro firing over the bar and Matt dragging one wide. Our Captain Courageous had already taken some punishment, however, courtesy of an opposition knee to the head, a kick or two to the calves and a sore coccyx suffered in a nasty rear end collision.
In the second half, Seaforth began its domination of the midfield, with Nelson and Jono enjoying freedom to bring the ball up the guts, Mauro dropping deep to receive and Thor making some strong runs from left back.
Mosman's second goal came from another set piece, very much against the run of play, when a rare lapse of concentration at the back saw us allow a free kick wide on the left to float unchallenged into our goal.
Finally, our dominance in the middle paid off when a good sequence of passing freed up Matt who, with options in the box, picked out Mauro on the right for the stylish Italian striker to slot home with aplomb.
Late on some good crosses were coming in from Tom and Gonzalo and the defence, led by Sven, continued to hold the fort well at the back.
Looking ahead to round three, let's make those final passes count and convert those chances we're creating.
- Report by Tim Ireland
Reports Sat 1st April 2006
AL 1: CC Strikers 2 – Seaforth FC 1
First match jitters and bad luck sink Seaforth
It’s very hard to put this result into any type of context, given the newly assembled AL1 squad know so little about each other, let alone their season’s opponents.
But what is certain is that whilst a draw would have been a fairer result, the AL1’s will need to raise their individual and collective performance to be competitive this season.
After an insipid, nervy start on a bumpy, windswept pitch, it was Seaforth who looked to play more of the football, even though conditions made this very tough. However, Strikers took the lead after 30 minutes, when confusion in the Seaforth defence allowed a looping header into the net.
The response was immediate, with Sele netting an equaliser inside a minute and then having another 'goal' disallowed for offside, after a searing left foot free kick from Gus was parried into his path by Strikers' keeper. This was not the first poor decision from the officials to go against the black and whites.
Seaforth adjusted to play a 3 / 4 / 3 formation in the 2nd half, but playing into a strong wind was always going to mean that most of the game would be played defending, looking to counter. This suited Seaforth’s natural counter attacking game, but numerous opportunities to punish the opponents went begging and this was to prove the AL1’s undoing when, with 10 minutes left, a beautiful curling 20 yard free kick beat Scott to give the Strikers their winner.
Seaforth responded well, only to have an 'equaliser' disallowed by the referee when he blew the final whistle just as Runcs struck the ball from 12 yards out. There was confusion at the end with players from both sides unsure as to whether the goal had been allowed or not.
It was not to be.
So, a very disappointing start. But the squad will gather this week knowing that they can play much better and that it’s unlikely so much bad fortune will come their way over 90 minutes again this season.
- Report by Mike Read
AL 2R: Seaforth 3 V HSU 2
Well, its a worrying thing when you arrive at the match 45 min before kick off to see the other team fully dressed (about 17 of them) going through drills on the pitch. It was even more of a worry at 20min to kick off when we only had 3 blokes at the oval. At 12.45pm we still had no balls and only 10 guys.
As I exchanged cards with the opposition manager he informed me that they had been training since the start of Feb and had played a few trial games so I was really starting to get nervous as the most we have had at our 3 trainings was 8.
We lost the toss and had the wind in our faces. But we managed a very good early defensive strategy which led to two nice goal scoring opportunities in the first half. Daryl got around the keeper and sliced one home and then Darren ran down the left flank and scored a beautiful goal.
All this in the first 20min. We held out a determined attack and went to oranges a bit tired and hot. Then realising we forgot the water bottles things really stated to heat up.
After the break we came back and HSU looked like a new team, they passed the ball well and knocked in early goal. Daryl had a chance with a penalty but pressure got the best of him and the ball was last seen heading towards Frenches Forest.
They equalised with another goal and we started to realise it was not going to be as easy as we thought. Then our Goalie Drew came off the line with a magnificent save and was penalised for supposedly bring down their player. Thankfully they missed the penalty and we played up and back soccer for the rest of the half until Daryl smashed a beautiful goal from about 25m that cleared the keeper and dipped at the right time to take us to 3-2.
All in all with one fit and one sick reserve it was a good result, but we will need to improve our fitness quickly to stay competitive this year.
Thanks to the referee who reffed both games as no linesman turned up!
Best Players: Daryl, Drew, Mick T
Most Improved: Darren
- Report by Guy Goldrick
AL5s: Seaforth 1 V Curl Curl 1
Let's face it. We got out of jail this time, snatching a cheeky 1-1 draw despite the Short 'n' Curlies enjoying the majority of possession and attempts on goal.
It was a man of the match performance from our keeper, Willie, who made crucial saves, dragged down high balls and craftily employed the Eric Grobelaar/Jerzey Dudek technique of baulking a penalty taker.
He was ably shielded by an outstanding back four, led by central defenders Paul and
Thor, who consistently forced the Curlies to take their chances from outside the box.
On about the 30th minute, after a particularly nasty challenge, Jono won the hearts of the Seaforth faithful by distracting the opposition with his girlish squeals of pain to allow Tom to steal in from the left wing and score with a thunderous (and wind-assisted) long-range drive.
On the attacking front it was a quiet day to say the least. Seaforth had relatively few attempts on goal and the Short 'n' Curlies controlled a lot of the possession in midfield.
In the second half, Matt hooked an effort just wide and Tim failed to test the keeper sternly enough after latching on to a swirling high ball into the box. However, Speedy Gonzales troubled the Curlies on occasion down the left flank.
All in all, it was a good day, as we managed to grind out a decent result despite not firing on all cylinders as a team. There's work to be done.
- Report by Tim Ireland
