Local
Senior and Youth fixtures were mostly away last weekend. On Friday the Burdekin Panthers Division 1 should have been at home to Warriors but the Townsville team forfeited. Then on Saturday away to JCU Riverway, the Under 23s lost 2-3, the Ladies lost 0-9 but the Premiers did very well to win 5-3. This week the Panthers have two home games against Rebels on Sunday with the Division1 team playing Olympic on Friday night the Women have a bye.
The Ayr Anzac Club Premiers started off well with Matthew Kolb finding himself in behind the defence with just the keeper to beat, which he calmly did to make it 1-0 in the first five minutes. JCU hit back with two goals of their own to make it 2-1 before Jay Leckenby got on the end of a Ryan Scodellaro free kick to make it 2-2 heading into half time. It was an even contest for the start of the second half but then JCU scored again to make it 3-2 with thirty minutes to go. This kicked the Panthers into life, and they scored three unanswered goals in a ten minute span. Jack Gimson scored a screamer to make it 3-3 and Matthew Kolb then beat his man and the keeper to put Burdekin ahead. He then turned provider for Jay Leckenby to score and give the Panthers a 5-3 victory.
The Burdekin Tyre Service Under 23s had another week with low numbers but started the game very brightly and played the best team effort of the season so far during the first half. After 35 minutes the Panthers were in front 2-0 thanks to a brace from Tarryn Smith. JCU got a goal back just before halftime. The second half was more of a battle and the afternoon was very hot. The lack of troops started to show as the energy and pass execution started to drop. Despite putting in a very good effort Burdekin couldn’t hold out and JCU got a late goal to win 3-2.
The Austral Masonry Funkies (Division 1) won 3-0 on a forfeit from Warriors.
The Ayr Anzac Club Ladies travelled to Townsville this weekend to face JCU. Player availability once again became an issue with only ten players in the team. The ladies came up against a very strong and dynamic JCU. Unfortunately, the night did not go as planned for the ladies, and an injury took them down to nine players. At half time the Panthers were 0-4 down and at full time had lost 0-9. The large scoreline however, does not reflect the efforts, determination and commitment that the young Burdekin side demonstrated. The ladies thankfully will take the opportunity to rest and regroup with a two week break, hoping to see injured players return to the squad.
On Saturday the Under13 Panthers met Warriors at Paradise Park. Xavier Mio did well in goal to keep Warriors off the score board and at half time the score was 0-0. Warriors came out firing in the second half scoring two goals in the first ten minutes. Some good runs down the right hand side by Will Shears gave Panthers some opportunities to get back in the game however they couldn't find the back of the net. The game got away from the Burdekin with Panthers conceding three more goals to make the final score 5-0.
On Sunday the Under 13 Panthers had another 5-0 loss, to Brothers at Paradise Park. Two soft goals in the first half saw the boys 0-2 down at half time but still in the game. A lack of concentration in the second half cost the boys dearly with Brothers scoring three more goals. Learning to compete for the entire game is a must for the boys.
On Saturday the Under 14/15 played Brothers Blue and were leading 1-0 at half time with a goal from Angus Innes. Brothers equalized in the second half. Burdekin missed a couple of shots at goal and had to be content with a draw. Goalkeeper Zack Durrant kept the team in the game with some excellent saves. All players played an outstanding game of soccer and the team came together very well with some great soccer. Max Kelly was the best player on the day.
On Sunday the Under 14/15 met Rebels Red and after leading 5-0 at half time, won 11-0. Burdekin dominated from the start with Kale Bryen scoring 5 goals including an excellent header from a cross by Caleb Formilan who also snagged a hat trick. Dylan O’Shea grabbed two goals with Brayden Card adding to the scoresheet. Excellent teamwork, from the Panthers who controlled the game. Players of the game come from our front line - Kale Bryan and Caleb Formilan. Burdekin play Rebels Red for a second time at Paradise Park on Saturday 27/4 at 9:30am.
Juniors
Saturday was a historic day for the club with, for the first time Townsville teams travelling down to the Burdekin to play against our local teams. MA Olympic Football Club sent down teams from age groups 8's and upwards. It was so good to see the park full of teams and players enjoying the morning. Thank you, MAO, for coming down, we hope you had a good time and felt welcome. A big thank you goes to everyone for their work to make this happen for our club, and to everyone for helping out with coaching and canteen each week.
The club was fortunate to have Matt Kilsby come down on Saturday afternoon for a coaching clinic. We had around 10 coaches and 10 kids for two hours to learn a few things on the core skills of football and the players had a great time demonstrating the games and scenarios put to them. With enough numbers, moving forward, we are hoping to arrange for Matt to come down to the Burdekin during the season, to help develop our junior coaches even more, so they can pass on their knowledge to our juniors.
Masters
National and International
The Matildas have two matches against China in the lead up to the Paris Olympics. The first is at home on 31st May in Adelaide and the second, in Sydney on 3rd June.
The Olyroos failed to make it to the Paris Olympics, finishing third in their qualifying Group after failing to score a goal in their three matches! Qatar and Indonesia both qualify.
In the A League, with one round left Wellington is in first place one point clear of Central Coast although the Mariners have a game in hand. Victory stays in third place despite drawing and Macarthur moves up to fourth spot after defeating Sydney, with nine men! Sydney FC and Melbourne City complete the top six. Perth Glory are the wooden spooners.
In the A League Women semi-finals 1st leg, Melbourne City beat Newcastle Jets 3-0 and Syden FC won 1-0 away to Central Coast. The 2nd leg will be played this weekend.
In the EPL, Manchester City were busy in the FA Cup, but both Arsenal and Liverpool won. With five rounds left Arsenal and Liverpool are equal on points with Man City a point behind but with a game in hand. Aston Villa and Spurs stay fourth and fifth. At the foot of the table, Burnley and Everton both won, and it is still not apparent who will accompany Sheffield Utd down into the Championship.
In the FA Cup semi-finals Manchester City beat Chelsea 1-0 and ManU were lucky to beat Coventry City on penalties after a 3-3 draw. AAARRRGGHH!
In Germany with four rounds left, Leverkusen are champions with second placed Bayern three points clear of third placed Stuttgart who are two points ahead of Leipzig with Dortmund fifth. At the foot of the table, Darmstadt and Cologne seem to be relegated.
In Italy’s Serie A, all four top teams drew but Inter seem to have it won, fourteen points ahead of AC Milan with Juventus a further five points behind. Bologna stays in fourth place with Roma fifth. Salernitana is doomed together with two out of Sassuolo, Frosinone and Udinese.
In Spain’s La Liga, Real Madrid beat Barcelona and is now nine points clear of Barca. Girona is two points behind in third place and leads Atletico by seven points with Bilbao fifth. At the foot of the table Almeria along with Granada and probably Cadiz are probably gone.
And in Ligue1 in France, with five rounds left, PSG won and is now eleven points clear of Monaco with Brest two points further behind in third place. Lille stays fourth with Nice a further five points adrift in fifth spot.
In the 2nd Leg of the Europe Champions League Quarter finals Arsenal lost away to Bayern and Real Madrid, away to Manchester City, went through on penalties. PSG beat Barcelona to qualify for the semi-finals and Dortmund went through against Atletico.
This week’s quote is from English manager Sam Allardyce "Today was about our lack of ability to not produce the ability we've got."
