Match Reports

10/2 v Kellyville
Win 2 – 0

Winners are Grinners!!! The hard work throughout the season for the 10/2's has paid off! The team put together at the beginning of the season from last years 9/3 and 9/5 grand final teams had coach David unsure of what lay ahead for the season after the first 3 weeks with 2 losses and nearly a third behind them. However after getting used to their roles in the team, the training regime that brought their skill & stamina level up to speed and some minor tinkering with player’s positions, things improved.

In the first 3 games of the season the 10/2's let in 6 goals. To highlight their teamwork and improvement as a combination, in the following 17 weeks (14 rounds & three final weeks) the team let in only a further 4 goals! In fact the 10/2's haven't had goal scored against them since the 3rd of July!

It was uncertain if the grand final would kick off as scheduled at Coleman Park after games on an adjoining field were held over, however the boys were keen as pigs in mud (pun intended) to get the game underway. While Kellyville only lightly warmed up for the match, the Knights were firing up and were asked by a Lidcombe official to move their warm up as the square was soft and would be churned for the game.

With the game underway the Knights, like the majority of the games this year, controlled possession and kept play in Kellyville's half.The Kolts appeared to have watched World Cup re-runs as motivation for the game. The number of times their players hit the ground and stayed waiting attention from their coach added several minutes on to both halves. This stemmed several plays from the Knights. The deadlock was finally broken after some great team lead up work and concentrated attack allowing Lucas to find the net and put the Knights ahead. The Knights continued interchanging the hard and fast running forward throughout the game catching the Kolts off guard on several occasions with their pace.

Winners are Grinners!

The highly disciplined backs were also able to catch the Kellyville attack offside by watching their defensive line and moving up and away from the Kellyville forwards.
Lewis, the great goalie during the final series, has had more work to do in all games combined during the season and didn't let the team down again today when it mattered. The brickwall backline of Adam, Yehan and Regan all contributed with their ball skills, great cover and well directed clearances in keeping the Kellyville attack at bay.

The mighty mid-field of Jackson, Hamish, Chris and Vedant, covered, cleaned up and set-up play. The fantastic fast moving forwards, Ryan, Lucas, Oscar, Ijaz, Rohan and Yali caught Kellyville offguard with their speed, passing and positional play.
It was a nail-biting finish with only a goal in it that brought relief and excitement to the team and their large group of supporters when our lethal lefty Ijaz found the net in the last 5 minutes of the game.

Still grinning

Through win, sun and rain these boys would train and now all this hard work has paid dividends. From 9/3 and 9/5 runners-up to 10/2 champions! The boys celebrated with a mud dance and got together later in the afternoon for a team family ten-pin bowling function with with smiles as big as the face on Luna Park, or maybe that should be their parents faces.

In closing on behalf of the players and their families I'd like to congratulate David on coaching such a well disciplined bunch of boys and guiding them on a smart, skillful way of playing soccer with fitness and positional play a paramount. As I said Winners are Grinners, but don't worry the boys won't let it get to them, they know what training lies ahead and are ready for the step up.


9/6 v Auburn
Loss 2 -3

Grand Final on a wet cold muddy day on a wet cold muddy field. The team were all fired up at the start of the match after standing by & watching the 11/5's get up in a penalty shoot out against Auburn. We were hoping to emulate the excitement for our proud Knights. But it was not to be. The game was the game & was not out of reach until the final whistle went, just 2 minutes after St Johns got their third. Unfortunatley our Knights just couldn't get the ball over the line before that final whistle. That’s how it ended.

For our guys, what can I say, GRAND FINALIST in our first year together. What a great result. Graham, our coach, has created 2 great keepers in Jackson & Michael, both of whom spend half a game in goals then have some fun out on the field. Strong defensive players in Bronte, Dom, Stephen & Courtney (who bravely carried on as long as she could after being hit in the face with the ball, which did save a goal), non stop midfielders in Luke & Bryce, strong wingers in Adam & Aleandro, real fighting forwards in Matt & Jacob as well as some fantastic utility players in Tulizo, Olwen & Micheal who play anywhere & always give it their all. Right throughout the year the team have always given their best & from a manager’s point of view, been great fun to 'work' with. Be proud of what you have achieved this year team. I know Graham & I are very proud of this year’s result & your effort as are all the parents. Look forward to seeing you all again next year.


11/5 Blk v Auburn FC
Win (4) 0-0 (3)

This was it. Grand Final Day. It had been raining all night and the ground was muddy and slow, still the Knights could not wait to take on the formidable Auburn side. We started full on taking the ball up to the Auburn defence launching attack after attack on goal but with no success and it was not long before Auburn were returning fire on our goal but our determined defensive line kept their chances at bay, and keep the scores locked at 0-0 at half time.

The second half saw more of the same and at full time it was still 0-0. So, on to extra time were with a minute to go after a corner came the best chance of the match with a cracking shot by Jai from the edge of the penalty box, only to hit the cross bar and bounce down on (or was it over? – we’ll never know!) the line and was scrambled away by their defence. Still locked at 0-0. On to the penalty shoot out.

With the pressure on both keepers a miss by one Auburn player and a terrific save by Shaun had it 3-3 as James K stepped up to put the last shot in the back of the net! The crowd went wild as did the whole team, all covered in mud but who cared, what a brilliant effort, what fantastic achievement, Premiers for 2010
Congratulations you’ve shown just what can be done with a great team spirit and never give up attitude, and with true sportsmanship.


13/4 v Guildford County
Win 3 – 0


A well-deserved result!  At the beginning of the season this team was hard-pressed for numbers, often without any reserves. In our first game we had the disappointment of losing points for a win due to rules being breached over a player transfer…however every week they raced onto the field with confidence and expectation. One loss and two wins against County in the season had us confident, but until we beat them them in the second round they had not faltered.

The first half was frustrating. No one was making any headway. We had a disallowed goal, but at half-time it remained nil all.

The second half was a lot more upbeat. The Knights came out fired up and focused, and shortly into it Dinesh put the ball into the net, only to have it called back for a penalty to us. Pressure! Why couldn’t he have just allowed the goal? Fortunately Alex was successful. At last, in front. Just defend boys! Whilst staying on the attack though, and keep up the intensity!!

The first!

It is so easy to yell from the sidelines, and of course we on the sidelines have to suffer the pressure more than anyone! Right!

Team Effort

Justice prevailed and Dinesh scored with about 12 minutes to go. Now we wished time would speed up. Maybe it didn’t because James used the final moments to consolidate our lead as he deftly timed his stroke into the net for a 3 – 0 lead.

The minor premiers were overcome, and St Michaels claimed victory. Nice!







Snr 8 v Castle Hill RSL
Loss 0 – 1

Every match report for this team has finished with the word ‘Undefeated’. Readers may then point out we lost the last game of the regular rounds and my answer would be: ‘Of course we did, mainly because I wasn’t there!’ No match report was written for that game.

So the unfortunate truth is that I caused our defeat due to being unavailable, and consequently the Rockets defeated us, entered the finals from 5^th place and and then took us out - the minor premiers who had been 12 points in front of everyone else. Damn! We can’t deny them the pleasure as we almost pulled off the same stunt last year from 6^th place, and boy did the Rockets enjoy it, and deserve it.

The first half was scoreless and dominated by the Rockets. Usually we dominate both attack and defense, however they shut down our attack. The half-time talk was specific about what they needed to do, including playing with the joy they had shown all year.

I almost wish I was out there

My nightmare, in which I dreamt the boys let one in against the run of play, then came true. The Lowe Pavilion considered heart medication, or sedatives. The boys fired up and we saw incessant Knights attacks. No matter how many times we aimed up the gods of football , and the Rockets goalie, were against us. Rhys, Tim, Scotty, Andy, Kyle and Nick all had a shot, with no result! Following their early goal all the play was at the right end of the field, however the Rockets fairy tale came true.

Nothing worked!

Thanks boys for a consuming and entertaining season. You were a pleasure, albeit a stressfull one, to watch and support. It’s sad that Derek will return to Ireland without the final trophy, but for the rest of you there is always next year. Particular mention has to go to Rhys, Kyle and Stuart in this game. All were flu-ridden and breathless, but you would never have known it.

Coach David, you’ve given the boys the benefit of your many, many, many years of experience, and I know they are all grateful and hope you return as they have developed brilliantly under your coaching. Thanks!