The Redbacks have just completed a big weekend of soccer with a game on Friday night and Sunday afternoon.
Once again we were low on numbers for both games which has been the case all year so the girls that we had must be congratulated for their efforts.
Our first game was on Friday night against Bathurst CSU at Bathurst.
This game was played on Friday night because CSU had deferred it earlier on in the round.
This was the only time that both sides could play the game which gave us a distinct disadvantage with a number of our players unavailable and CSU able to field a strength side.
In wet and very cold conditions we took to the field knowing the job that was ahead of us.
The girls played the first half with a confidence that has been lacking in most of our pervious games.
Our two centre forwards who have been thrown together for only a couple of games worked great together and were dangerous every time one of them had the ball.
Kylie and Tara unselfishly played for each other and Kylie was rewarded with two first half goals.
The whole team had lifted a gear and were great to watch.
At half time which ended ten minutes short we lead two to nil. After the break CSU made some positional changes which really affected the Redbacks defence.
I don't know what happened to us but we went from our best half of the round to our worst half of the round, and CSU were able to score at will.
Four unanswered goals to CSU gave them their first win of the year and gave me a pain in the gut.
The only bright light of the game was that we scored two goals in one game, something we haven't done since early in round two.
Player's player went to Kylie Rush and best and fairest end up this way with three points to Julia Carman, 1.5 points to Kylie Rush and 1.5 points to Tara Grant.
Our next game was on Sunday at Young against the Young Lionesses.
Young are having a good year and are guaranteed a place in the finals. After Friday's game it was going to be hard to pick the girls up and I could only draw on pride of the jumper to try to get them in the right frame of mind.
The girls dug deep in the first half with neither side having a decent shot at goal. The defence was outstanding from both sides.
Unluckily for the Redbacks one small error in defence led to a Young goal right on half time.
After the break we had the wind in our faces and the game continued as it finished with defence being the major part of the game.
Once again the soccer gods were on the wrong side and one of the Young girls cleared the ball from halfway and with the wind behind it caught our keeper in no mans land and bounced over her head and into the net.
That was a bitter pill to swallow as it came from nothing.
Anyway down two to nil with 20 minutes to go the girls could have given in but to their credit they held their heads up and kept on fighting.
With 15 minutes to go a beautiful cross ball from Jo was tapped into the net by the ever present Kylie and we were back in the game.
The Redbacks threw everything at Young, peppering the posts right until full time but the soccer gods weren't on our side today.
Actually the soccer gods haven't been on our side all year.
Anyway we gave the Young girls a big scare and came away from the game happy with the way we played.
Player's player this week went to Renae Nash. Best and fairest went this way: three points to Julia Carman, you have to call Julia miss versatility as I again played her in a new position.
Doesn't matter where I put her she always seems to shine.
I might try her as coach next game and see how she goes.
Two points went to Eryn Traves, Eryn is as solid as a rock in our backs with a terrific turn of speed and great positional mind. One point went to Romy Sanders.
Romy played her best game all year and it was great to see her get her first points of the year.
We have a bye next week so we are going out to party on Saturday night. The bus leaves the Services Club at 3.00pm sharp and catering numbers are required by Wednesday.
There will be no training on Wednesday anymore as we only have one game to go on September 2 at home against Bathurst CSU.
This is a must for all players to come to as we are having team photos before this game.
All the crew from the Redbacks would like to wish the Canowindra Tigers all the best in their finals match next week and look forward to having a few games together next season.
Thanks for reading.
Lost his L Plates Coach, the Banished Strapper.
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