Bellingen High School’s U14 Years Girls Futsal team have taken out third at the Junior Australasian Champions of Champions at Oxley, Brisbane. The result finishes the girls’ stunning performance throughout the year as they’d gone undefeated in the preliminary games.
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Their first game was against Taylor’s Lake Secondary College from Melbourne. The girls started well but just couldn’t find the back of the net. Despite this strong start it was Taylor’s Lake that scored first. This seemed to knock the girls and after 15 minutes the score was 3-0. Just before half time Jackie Kambere found the net and the half time score was 3-1. The girls showed more grit in the second half with Jackie Kambere (2), Claudia White and Kelsey Williamson-Leslie scoring goals, despite this Taylor’s Lake snuck away with the game 6-5.
The second game was against Pine Creek State High School one of the gun teams of the competition. Again this game saw the Bellingen girls set up many goal scoring opportunities yet fail to score. It seemed only a matter of time and we would score. Then one raid at the other end and we are down 1-0. The Bello girls kept attacking and Pine Creek kept scoring to take the score to 4-0 before Bello finally got one in. Half time 4-1. The second half saw only one goal to Jackie Kambere which put the final score at 4-2.
The third game against Murrumba State Secondary College finally saw the tide turn. We were on the attack early and this time we scored. This set the scene and the girls went on to beat a very good team 6-2. The girls definitely got their passing game back together while the defence and goal keeping was brilliant. Goals went to Jackie Kambere 4 (2 absolute gems) with Jasmin Nolan and Emily Ruming scoring 1 each.
Day two of the championships and the girls had four games to play. The first game was against the previously undefeated St Monica’s from Cairns. This was a tough game but the girls started well continuing with their good form and by half time the score was 3-0. St Monica’s came back in the second half but the girls didn’t let them back in the game winning 4-2.
Game two was also against a previously undefeated team. St Peter Claver College looked like one of the favourites but the Bello girls showed grit and determination and with the help of some brilliant goal-keeping by Maddi Allen kept them scoreless while Jackie put two away for us.
Game three and tired legs kicked in as we struggled to beat Mt Alvernia College 2-0.
Finally game four against East Doncaster Secondary College from Melbourne saw a slow start in the first half with Jackie scoring two goals. The girls came back and had a great second half with goals going to Willow Berry, Jasmin Nolan, Claudia White, Emily Ruming, Willow Neal, Kelsey Williamson-Leslie and Maddi Allen (2).
With one game to play the girls had to win their final game to make the semis.
Day three and the girls’ final preliminary game against St Clares of Port Macquarie. The first half proved to be their best half of Futsal so far scoring seven unanswered goals (Willow Neal 2, Jackie Kambere 4, and Claudia White 1). The second half the girls held well with Claudia White scoring one more to make the final score 8-0.
The girls qualified for the finals in equal second on points but was pushed in to third on goals for. The position didn’t really matter as they played the second placed St Peter Claver in the semi final. It started fast and furious and Willow Neal was the first to score, however, the tide was to turn with St Peter Claver scoring three quick goals from their very talented striker. By half time the score was 4-1. Nothing really seemed to go our way. Willow Neal had a goal disallowed and hit the post twice. Emily Ruming just missed many good strikes and Jackie Kambere put a number wide.
This wasn’t to be our game although the second half was much closer with Claudia White scoring a great goal. Final score 6-2.
The girls need to be very proud of their efforts coming third in the Australasian Champion of Champions. It was a great team effort with all the girls contributing. Maddi Allen was magnificent as goal keeper. Willow Neal, Claudia White, Kelsey Williamson-Leslie and Jackie Kambere attacked with good passing and flare. Willow Berry, Lauren Rigney, Emily Ruming and Jasmin Nolan defended strongly and with Maddi made the team the best defensive team at the Championships.
Finally, Jackie Kambere was named in the All Stars team in which the coaches of all the teams select the best five players from the competition. This is a great honour.
