Week 6 (1 Aug)
RESULT: Loss 1 – 2
SCORER: Madison Hardy (1)
We had only 10 players (again) .For the second week in a row we mist our injured right back James Sieff. WPH on the other hand had 13 players . PHD was unfazed at it certainly was not the first time we went on the field with less than a full team. So our team is experienced in that respect and does not give up easily. In fact our team never gives up what ever the odds stuck against it.
As usually the team was a hard nut to crack and the game was fairly balanced . In the dying minutes of the first half we actually gave a goal away. One of our defender skillfully dispossessed our goal keeper from the ball and scored a good goal, unfortunately in the wrong goal mouth.
We started the 2nd half ,1 goal down and put pressure on WPH.It did not take too long for the team to be rewarded for its effort. Madison Hardy scored and it was 1 all.
In quick succession , each ,Samuel, Madison and Meg had the opportunity to put the game out of reach of WPH .But it was not to be and somehow, we failed to clear the ball and it was WPH that took the lead. They scored a late very good third goal and that was it.
Our kids fought to the end, never dropped their arms or heads and were a constant source of danger for the other team.Not bad with an undersized team.
And that was the end of our normal season. We finished 4th and not far behind the top three. In fact there is only 9 points difference between number 1 and 4th.
Bring on the semi-finals and we have a chance has good as any of the other teams to win the championship (if we can field 11 players).
This not an empty statement as I know what our kids can do.
The player of the match award was given to Madison Hardy for showing such a fighting spirit and making life so uncomfortable for the opposite defense.
Well done to everyone in the team and semi-finals, here we come!

Week 1 (25 July)
RESULT: Win 2 – 1
SCORER: Samuel Dethan (2)

Both team had only 10 players so at least we started on equal footing.
Playing the team that has been leading the competition from day one was alwys going to be a task. However, following the 4-1 loss we experienced against them a few weeks ago, when our team was so depleted, I knew that our kids had what it takes to be more than a match to them.
This is exactly what happened. WPH scored a goal in the last minutes of the first half. It was a bit unmerited and against the run of the game, as we were more than matching them.
Nonetheless, our players kept on pressing them and playing great. The reward came shortly after the restart, and Samuel Dethan scored his first goal of the match, by placing it neatly out of reach of their keeper. Samuel scored his second after a great run from halfway, beating 2 defenders and the goal keeper as well. Great effort!
This brings Samuel’s goal tally to 10 for the season so far.
Our team held well against some furious attacks from WPH towards the end of the 2nd half and Samuel was quite unlucky not to score a hat trick. Maddy and Meg came also ever so close to score as well.
It was a great performance to see our kids doing so great against the number 1 team. Even when lead 1- 0 at half time they showed what they are made of.
The whole team performed very well, the defense was awesome, the midfield untiring and uncompromising, the forwards were relentless.
I was very pleased to see that some of what we do at training is beginning to be used.
Callum Frazer received the player of the match award for 2 reasons. First he never stopped defending and secondly he listened to the advice I gave him at half time. Straight away he more than doubled his effectiveness as a defender and did great Well done Callum!
This victory was entirely due to an excellent team work and everyone working for each others.
Great game, great team, great spirit ,awesome!

Week 14 (18 July)
RESULT: Win 5 – 0
SCORERs: Jess Duggan (1),Madison Hardy (1), Samuel Dethan (1)Josh Mcadam (1), ,Meg Gasser (1)
This was quite a strange game.
Our team was totally dominating the game and unable to score. We had all the ball possession and RFL barely made any incursion in the PHD side but we still could not get through. All that being said, RFL,to their credit, defended fiercely. Our team is normally a good counter attack team but seemed to lose it completely when in total control. Thankfully a goal from Jess allowed us to go to the break leading the game.
The second half was marginally better for us as the continual attacks from PHD finally broke the determined RFL defense. Madi scored first followed by Samuel, Josh and Meg who entertained us again with her beautiful victory cartwheel!
The positive from this match is that 5 different players scored which is very good as the scoring is not done by one or two players only.
Jonathan Lee received the player of the match award as he had another terrific match and rendered our defense impenetrable. His valued incursions in the RFL half created some dangerous situations as well.
So well done team.

Week 13 (11 July)
RESULT: Win 3 – 1
SCORERs: Samuel Dethan (2) ,Meg Gasser (1)
It was important for us to win this week for 2 reasons. Firstly we did not want a 3rd loss in a row as this would not have to good for the moral and self confidence and secondly we were playing the team just behind us. We had to increase the gap between Kenthurst (5) and PHD (4) as we are going to have a tough couple of matches against the leaders of the comp in the last 2 matches.
Again we started with 9 players only in the first 10 minutes. Thankfully the other team could only field 10 players themselves and our 10th one arrived, late ,but at least he made it. Our kids started at full speed and although we were missing our main striker and leading scorer Madison Hardy ,our players raised to the challenge and pressured effectively KEN.
As a result Samuel Dethan scored and we were leading 1 nil, which was well deserved. Kenthurst against the run of the game, equalized just before the end of the first half. That was a real wobbly one but a fair one.
The second half started like the first one with PHD pressuring KEN at all times. As a result Samuel scored his second goal of the match placing him as the team top goal scorer with 7 goals against 6 for Madison. Josh Macadam after a good first half ,despite sore legs ,replaced Meg Gasser in the goal for the second half ,as for every match. I would like to take the opportunity to give a really big THANK YOU to both Josh and Meg for sacrificing half a game every week to be our goalkeepers.
The match was sealed when Meg scored the third and final goal, a few minutes from the end of the game. Since the start of the 2nd half,Meg who had been a thorn in the side of KEN ,her darting runs creating havoc in their defense. That was a great goal preceded by a great run.Meg was so pleased she granted us with a magnificent cartwheel at the end of the game.Superb!
Our team performed well, even though a few players played out of their normal positions, which showed their versatility.
Our midfielders Duncan Reid, Calvin Pretorius and Jess Duggan did great. By the way Jess is the most and best supported player in the team. Her extensive fan base, mostly her mum Julianne, is very supportive and VERY vocal , to Jess’ great delight.
Our backline Callum Frazer, Jonathan Lee, Nick Keough and James again worked well together and were rock solid.
Finally our forwards Samuel, Meg and Josh made life difficult for KEN for the duration of the match.
Finally the player of the match award was given to Meg for a great game and a fantastic cartwheel!
To all PHD 13/5 WELL,WELL DONE!

Week 12 (4 July)
RESULT: Loss 2- 5
SCORER: Madison Hardy (2)
We were able this week to field 11 players .This was a massive improvement on last week were we had 9 players only.
This was not enough though as we struggle a bit in the first half. The first half finished with RFC leading 2 nil. At half time we did a few tactical changes which immediately paid off and within 10 minutes of restarting we were on par with RFC,2 all. Both goals were scored by Madison Hardy,who then became our leading goal scorer.
I think we took the Redbacks by surprise by having a more aggressive attack line. We pressured them and it paid off. At that this point I thought we might be able to pull it off. RFC was on the back foot and obviously at a loss of what was happening.I was not surprised as I know what our kids can do. Unfortunately it was not to be, and our back line usually so good made a couple of uncharacteristic mistakes and RFC made us pay for it, scoring 2 goals in quick succession and a third one was the icing on the cake. In the defense of our back line, 2 of them were still not 100% as they were still recovering from the flue that decimated our team last week. The other team had 2 replacements and again I believe this played a part in the match as RFC was able to rest players and and we could not.
The player of the match was Duncan Reid for all the running and hard work he did in the midfield. Well done Duncan.
We are still in the run for the semi-finals are we are in 4th place with a little bit of a safety cushion.
To all the team we lost but our kids made us proud as they did not give up and gave the best they could on the day.

Week 11 (27 June)
RESULT: Loss 1- 4
SCORER: Samuel Dethan (1)
This is the first time we played against WPH .They are the leaders of the group and we knew it was going to be a hard one.
Before starting the match we were already up to it with 2 of our players unable to play because of sickness. When you have only 11 players on our books that means 9 players only on the park. On top of that we had another 2 players on the field that were also sick, one being our main goal scorer Madison and Josh one of our midfielder( Thanks both of you for staying on). They did the best they could despite being pretty crook. Finally our right back Callum had forgotten one of his soccer boots, so he played with his sport shoes. On a wet ground, it meant he had no grip whatsoever.
Not bad for a start! WPH was also missing one player as well.
Our team finished the first half being lead by WPH , 2 goals to 1.The goal was scored by Samuel Dethan (his 5th one for the season and our leading goal scorer). Samuel was able to score after some hard work done by our sick girl Madison.
The second so WPH scoring 2 other goals wit the match finishing 4-1.
The score does not quite reflect the physiognomy of the game as our team was certainly not run out of the park.
PHD fought valiantly and at no point, did they show any signs of giving up. They neither gave any signs of being a weaker team. This augurs well for the other 2 matches we have to play against this team, hopefully this time with a full team with no sick players.
A big thank you to each and every one who gave it all for the team and my special appreciation to those players playing out of their usual position and still doing terrific.
Those that were healthy worked like Trojans and never stopped running.
One that never stopped running is Nick Keough. He was like a machine, up and down the field, full on attacking and defending.Nick deservedly got the player of the match award .
To all the team you are terrific and a joy to coach!

Week 10 (20 June)
RESULT: Draw 2 – 2
SCORER: Maddison Hardy (2)
This is the third time we played against STU .After a 6-1and 3-2 loss(after PHD leading 2nil at half time),we got a draw on Saturday and a hard fought one at that ,as always with STU. They have some good players and are not easy to beat. Our kids did well. STU scored first , we came back shortly after with a goal from Madison Hardy. We scored a second goal by Duncan which was disallowed by the referee. To this point I wonder why.
At the end of the second half our team was really pressed hard by STU and they scored their 2nd goal. PHD came back on the field after the break and played very well. They held STU at bay and we scored our 2nd goal through Madison, again! This time our kids held on , maintained discipline, never gave up on their defensive work and even had a couple of opportunity to score on counter attacks.
Again our 2 goal keepers Josh and Meg did an excellent job with some great saves. Our defensive line had a couple of lapses in the first half but worked superbly in the 2nd half. Our midfielders, as usual, worked tirelessly all over the park, and credit to Jesse who kept on running despite a painful leg. Our 2 forwards did great. Duncan worked hard and unluckily got a perfectly good goal disallowed by the referee,and Madison with a sore knee managed to score 2 goals. Brilliant!
How’s that for a team with no subs, as opposed to 3 subs for STU!
Well done you splendid players and well done for applying the recommendations I mentioned to you at half time.It paid off.
The player of the match award was given deservedly to Meg Gasser who did great in the goals but who also created some panic in the STU defense with her incisive runs in the 2nd half.
To all the team you are awesome! I am proud of you.

Week 9 (13 June)
RESULT: Win 3 – 0
SCORERS: Jessica Duggan(1) Maddison Hardy (1) Calvin Pretorius (1)
Another very good game from our team and for the first time solely made of our 11 and only own players, no help from other teams.
Our kids did great and as a coach I was really pleased with their performance. Since the beginning of the season I have been encouraging my mid-fielders to have at go at kicking from a distance.For the first time they took their chances and 2 goals were scored as a result. The first one was scored by Jessica Duggan our left mid-field and the third one by Calvin Pretorius our centre right. The second goal was scored by Maddison Hardy who did another one of her superb run and cool finishing.
Well done scorers!
At the end of the first half PHD was leading 2 nil. In the second half PHD kept on pressing RFL and scored goal number 3.All credit to the RFL goal keeper who did and excellent job at stopping many of our shots that were almost certain goals. Our 2 keepers Meg and Josh did not have much to do but did well when solicited. Everyone in the team did very well and we could see that they all benefited from training which we missed for a few weeks in a row .
The player of the match was won deservedly by Maddison Hardy who constantly gave headaches to the opposing team .
To all the team well done!

Week 7 (30 May)
RESULT: Draw 2-2
SCORERS: Samuel Dethan (1), Joshua Pretorius (1)
First of all I would like to announce that, yes, finally , we do have 11 players in our team. Whoopi!
We had the pleasure to welcome and meet, for the first time, Duncan Reid on Saturday .For his first game with us he did a great job forward and straight away, Duncan blended very well with the rest team and gave trouble to the other team.
The Redbacks started strongly and had a few good shots at Meg our first half goalie.Meg blocked them all with great composure and class. However against the run of the game, our number 10, Samuel Dethan scored a good goal and we were leading 1 nil. Samuel, has scored 1 goal in everyone of our last 3 games. That’s a good habit and well done.
The Redbacks got one back just before half time and finally our goal keeper ”extraordinaire” was beaten.
RFC scored again early in the second half against our other goalie ,Josh Mcadam who did us proud again ,as Meg did, prevented some other good shots to go in.
Although there was 15 Redbacks against us, that is, 4 replacement players and none for us, on a very wet and heavy ground, PHD players were holding their own very well. In the last 10 minutes they dug deep and showed superior fitness and resilience by leveling the score at 2 all. Our helper of the day,11/4 Joshua Pretorius ran superbly at the tiring RFC backs and scored a great goal, Awesome!
Again, everyone played so well, but special credit should be given to our back line Nick,Callum ,James,Jonathan and our 2 very good goal keepers who kept us in the game.
I will not forget Calvin,Samuel and Jessica who worked so hard in the midfield.
Our player of the day was James Sieff, who deserved it, for a very good performance at the back with some solid defending ,good kicks and good passing.
What a great team to coach!

Week 5 (16 May)
RESULT: lost 1-6
First half
The game started pretty well with PHD dominating in the early part of first half. However, due to some brilliant soccer by STU, we were down 3-0 before we knew it. Despite of this situation, PHD fought valiantly in an attempt to turn the situation around. One of our tireless forward Maegan Gasser made several brave attempts in scoring. Through the team’s persistence, Samuel Dethan eventually managed to score a goal. The first half ended with PHD trailing by 2 goals.
Second half
PHD tried their utmost to recover from the situation. However, STU continue to play some brilliant soccer. We were eventually beaten by a stronger team of the day. Callum Frazer was awarded player of the match for being the ‘most improved player’. While we may have lost the match, not everything was in vain. PHD 13/5 is continuously improving their soccer skills though sheer commitment and dedication from all the players and their coach – Patrick Dethan. Let’s keep up the good work!