Stocky's Scribbles: Thunder storm past Victoria

Game two of the 2014 FFA Futsal National Championships saw the Victorian U16 Girls come up against the tournament favourites NSW Thunder, only to suffer another 5-0 defeat. 

Words and images by Craig Stockdale

Coach Jaroslav Dedic opted to start with strikers Dani Gudelj and Maddy Stockdale up front backed by Marianna Anthony and Katrina Bellesis shielding keeper Diarna Cartwright from the thunder barrage.

The Victorians were immediately under pressure from an advancing NSW Thunder outfit and a defensive error by Victoria resulted in the first goal for the Thunder.

The first real opportunity for Victoria came in the 6 minute mark when Maddy Stockdale played through the NSW defence and the resulting shot on goal was thwarted by the NSW keeper, denying the Vics their first goal of the tournament.

Soon after, the Thunder advanced forward and pierced the Victorian defense with silky skills resulting in a toe poke that registered their second major of the game.

Gudelj and Stockdale were relentless with their efforts to advance forward while Bellesis and Anthony were dogged in defending the baseline with Cartwright. The team structure is getting better and the girls are beginning to combine well as the Vics look to step things up a notch.

Dedic began the substitution process bringing in the positive aggressive play of Ryan, Smith, Fruscalzo, Alberti and Nelson to rotate through the game. Ryan and Fruscalzo was displaying some great foot skills while Alberti and Nelson moved fluently up and down the court with short sharp passing. Smith looked very dangerous up forward on a number of occasions peppering the goals but again the Vics were denied their maiden goal.

Beth Mason Jones entered the game in goal and it must be said that both keepers did an amazing job against a tirade of shots from the NSW Thunder team, preventing many attempts through their athletic prowess, throwing themselves sideways across the court to deflect the many Thunder shots.

The Vics can hold their heads high as they all worked hard in the heat to restrict NSW to a smaller score line given some of their previous results were in double figures.

The Vics now turn their attention to the next two games where they will take on ACT U16s and SA U16s. If they can break the ice with an early goal, the floodgates may open. Each player is aware that the next two games are must win if they hope to be participating in the finals.