Local
Senior and Youth fixtures were mostly at home last weekend. On Friday, the Burdekin Panthers Division 1 was away to Estates and lost 0-5. Then on Saturday at home to Saints Eagles Souths (SES), the Under 23s lost 0-4, the Ladies were unlucky to lose 3-4 but the Premiers did very well to win 3-1.
The Ayr Anzac Club Premiers were keen to bounce back after a couple of losses. Injuries and suspensions saw our depth tested with five regular reserve graders having to step up to the Premier league with all of them doing more than just holding their own. The Panthers dominated for much of the first half with Jay Leckenby making it count after a sublime ball through from Joshua Valle. Jay Leckenby doubled his tally with another good finish to put Burdekin 2-0 ahead at half time. Saints tried to make something work but the Panthers backline, which had three new players in it, gave them nothing and made sure Jarrod Camer had an easy night in goal. Matthew Kolb sealed the result with a nice mazy run from outside the box, slotting the ball in the bottom corner. Saints got a consolation goal right at the end, but it wasn’t enough, with Burdekin winning 3-1. A very good result to help the Panthers stay in touch with the league leaders.
The Burdekin Tyre Service Under 23s (Reserve Grade) were missing a number of players through either injury or being required to play in the Premier league game later in the day. This resulted in a number of 1st Division players being drafted in and a very small bench of two. The game started as a scrappy affair with neither team being able to string together any passes without losing the ball. The young Burdekin midfield wouldn’t let SES settle on the ball with their running and willingness to throw themselves into a tackle. SES took the lead after ten minutes and the game then settled into a pattern of SES trying to go down the wings and Burdekin trying to move the ball through the middle of the park. The Panthers had a good chance when in a one-on-one with the keeper, the shot hit the far post and bounced out. Late in the half SES doubled the lead to go 2-0 up at halftime. The second half was very even with chances at both ends. Burdekin began to tire late in the half and SES took advantage to run in two late goals to make the final score 4-0 to SES.
The Austral Masonry Funkies (Division 1) played Estates Blue at Victoria Park. Burdekin were on the back foot from the start of the game and conceded the first goal early after eight minutes. Some desperate defending kept the score at 0-1 at half time. The second half started in the worst possible way with Estates doubling their lead after only a minute’s play. The game then started to open up allowing Burdekin to get out of their half on a number of occasions, but they couldn’t convert any of the resulting chances. After 54 minutes, Estates scored again to make it 0-3 and after Brad Wright collected his customary yellow card to mark his return to the Funkies, Estates scored twice more bringing the final score to 0-5. The Funkies are finally at home next week where they will hope to get their first win of the year against Warriors.
The Ayr Anzac Club Ladies were up against a strong Saints team and midway through the first half were two goals down. However, goals from Tahlia Lawson and Kya Quagliata in five minutes before half time made it 2-2 at the break. Saints went ahead again straight after the resumption and although Kya Quagliata equalised again a late fourth goal from Saints gave them a 4-3 win.
This week the Panthers have one home game with the Division1 team playing Warriors on Friday night the other three teams are away to JCU Riverway on Saturday. Training, at International Park is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30 pm for men and Wednesdays at 6:00 pm for women. New to town? Come down to training and have a run.
The Under 14/15 played Warriors and after being 1-2 down at halftime, eventually lost 1-7. The Panthers goal was scored by Brayden Card. There were a lot of missing players due to school holidays. It was an exhausting game with no subs and most of the game was played with 10 players. Coaches said they all worked hard. It is a double game this weekend in Ayr at International Park. Games on Saturday and Sunday.
The Under 13 Panthers took on Saints Eagles South's at Honeycombes Park. A spirited first half saw the boys go in with a 2-0 lead at half time with goals from Tannar Cole and Lincoln Innes. Annan Power was exceptional in goal keeping a clean sheet. Unfortunately, after half time, SES scored five unanswered goals. A lack of Panthers’ match fitness left the opposition with plenty of time and room to run riot. The Panthers standout performance was Annan Power in goal.
Juniors
It’s an exciting time for Burdekin Football Juniors with Townsville teams coming down to the Burdekin to play in Under 8s to 12s. A big thanks to the committee for pushing this and helping make it happen. For this week we have MAO making the trip south. Everyone please make them feel welcome to our grounds. Let’s hear lots of loud cheering for our Burdekin teams also!
Before Saturday fixtures, on Friday there is a Meet and Greet sausage sizzle at 5pm at the junior grounds. Come down, bring the kids and a ball, grab something to eat and drink, meet everyone, and ask any questions you have about the upcoming season. There will also be a ‘nets up’ tutorial so come down so you can learn what is to be done when your team is rostered on nets up.
It doesn’t end there, on Saturday afternoon there is a Mini Roos coaching clinic. It’s still not too late to join coaches, and it’s free. A great time ahead for Burdekin Football!
Masters
Monday Night Masters had another reasonably good turn out and in a top of the table clash, Aston Villa beat Arsenal 4-2 after leading 3-0 at half time. Player of the night was Jonty Davis. Old and New players are welcome, usual time, usual place, 6.30 at International Park. Treat it as an escape…
National and International
The Matildas played Mexico in Texas and won 2-0. They now 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 Socceroos have two games in June but nothing in the meantime. Both games are the last of the AFC Asian Qualifiers Group fixtures. They are away to Bangladesh on 6th June and then play Palestine, at home, on 11 June.
In the A League, with two rounds left Central Coast and Wellington both won, and the Mariners top the table on goal difference. Victory stays in third place despite losing and Sydney FC and Macarthur both won to stay fourth and fifth. Western Sydney lost but stay in the top six one point ahead of Melbourne City. Brisbane lost and stay in eighth place.
In the A League Women the Finals series Newcastle Jets beat Western Utd 4-2 on Saturday and on Sunday Central Coast defeated Melbourne Victory also 4-2. This Saturday Newcastle is at home to Melbourne City and Central Coast is at home to Sydney FC in the 1st leg of the semi-finals.
In the EPL it is still very tight at the top. Manchester City won but both Arsenal and Liverpool lost, at home! With six rounds left Man City leads Arsenal and Liverpool by two points with Aston Villa fourth and Spurs dropping to fifth. At the foot of the table, only Everton won, and it appears that either Notts Forest or Luton will accompany Sheffield Utd and Burnley into the Championship.
In Germany, all top five teams won and with just five rounds left, Leverkusen are champions sixteen points clear of Bayern. Third placed Stuttgart is level on points with Bayern and seven points clear of Leipzig with Dortmund fifth. At the foot of the table, it looks like ‘Goodnight’ to Darmstadt and Cologne.
In Italy’s Serie A, it is all but over. With six rounds left Inter is fourteen points ahead of AC Milan and Juventus is a further six points behind. Bologna stays in fourth place with Roma fifth. Salernitana is doomed together with two out of the next five bottom clubs.
In Spain’s La Liga only three of the top six clubs won. Real Madrid and Barcelona were two of them and with seven rounds left Real still leads Barca by eight points. and Girona by thirteen. Atletico stays in fourth place with Bilbao fifth. At the foot of the table Almeria along with Granada are already gone.
And in Ligue1 in France, only two of the top six teams won. PSG drew and is now ten points clear of Brest who lost. Monaco is one point below Brest with Lille a further three points behind but five points clear of Nice. Clermont, Metz, Lorient and Le Havre are in trouble.
In the 1st Leg of the Europe Champions League Quarter finals Arsenal at home to Bayern drew 2-2 and Real Madrid hosting Manchester City drew 3-3. Barcelona won 3-2 away to PSG and Dortmund lost 1-2 away to Atletico. The second leg matches will be played this week.
This week’s quote is from English manager Neil Warnock “I don't think we've got a discipline problem. It's the players who are thick who are causing the problems”.
