In this week s edition, we wrap up all the results from Round 1 as well as looking at the lighter sides of a tough start to the season. Editor: Mark Jamison Welcome to the Season It was a stern reminder for the Hakoah Feds sides this weekend that trial games count for nothing as only the Under 16s came away with a win, with the First Grade and Under 13s notching up draws. Up against Prospect United, the Hakoah First Grade looked a shadow of the side that dominated Sydney University just last week. With key defenders Daan Ranshuijsen, Dino D Agrosa and Seamus Dowd unavailable through registration issues and injuries, 18 year-old Simon Weiss was promoted to make his starting debut for the First Grade. Weiss is a Hakoah Feds Youth graduate, and his promotion to the starting XI is a massive achievement. The side came out in a 4-4-1-1 formation as follows: Adam Sonnabend Greg Moss Simon Weiss Marc Kacen (C) Michael Randall Adam Joseph Nathan Kosmina Rani Rimmer Neil Jablonski Deklan Gilmartin Justin Kosmina Bench: Jon Pillemer, Moshe Wakil, Ricki Friede, Jamie Marcuson, David Helfenbaum. The game began with both teams feeling each other out. Despite the dominant squad that Hakoah has developed, the side was struggling to remain composed
under the weight of expectation. Passes were going astray, first touches were not falling the way they should, and the free-flowing football that is characteristic of the side was not to be seen. The game settled into an arm-wrestle for the first half, with Prospect the better of the two sides. The constant interference of the referee did little to help the flow of the game, with almost 25 fouls in total blown up by the ref in the first half. The second half began in similar fashion, with Hakoah failing to play to their strengths and Prospect starting to get on top. The midfield pairing of Neil Jablonski and Nathan Kosmina were once again showing their class, however the side was not lifting to their high standards. In the 55 th minute, Prospect punished a Hakoah mistake, slotting away to lead 1- nil. Hakoah again tried to regain their attacking flair, but were struggling with the basics. In the 65 th minute, an off-the-ball incident saw the Prospect playmaker sent off. The player had deliberately elbowed Kosmina behind the play, and was correctly shown red. The 70 th minute saw Adam Joseph replaced by Jon Pillemer, shortly followed by Michael Randall for Moshe Wakil. The fresh legs sparked a revival by Hakoah, who began to dominate the play. In the 79 th minute, some short passing in the midfield saw Jon PIllemer played down the right flank. A pinpoint cross found Jablonski on the penalty spot. Jablonski made the header look simple, arching his back and guiding the ball into the far left corner, evading the outreached fingertips of the Prospect keeper. 1-1. Hakoah had found their style, and began to stretch Prospect across the park. However, a winner could not be found. Some nervous moments at the end saw Prospect, in their only foray into the Hakoah penalty box in 30 minutes, hit the post with one minute left in stoppage time. The game ended 1-1, and the Hakoah side will need to heed the lessons of this match that no teams are easy beats in this competition. The Reserve Grade lost 0-2 in a poor performance. The side will be looking to make amends this week if the players are to push for first grade positions.
In the youth games, the Under 16s didn t fault under the favourites tag, sending a frightening message to the rest of the competition by demolishing St George 4-1. A hat-trick to Josh Shubitz and a Luke Aston finish capped off a brilliant display by last year s minor premiers. The boys were dominant throughout the entire match, whilst the quality of the plays that led to the goals, including the finishes, was sublime. Make no mistake; this team means business this season! Captain Harry Rosen punches a corner clear Josh Shubitz (left) sizes up the chip before his first goal
The Under 13s, the other team to watch battled to a 1-1 draw in the early game. The boys, in their first competition game in the rep league, started well against a strong St George side. Sam Massis-Wolf scored the opener for Hakoah in the second half, before a Jordon Koton red card left Hakoah down to ten men. Despite a spirited defensive effort, St George equalised midway through the second half, levelling the match 1-1. The Hakoah curse of the last minute again ran rampant over the Under 15s and Under 18s, as both sides conceded goals in the final moments of the game. Coach Steve Lawrence, famous for his last minute crushing losses over the years, again felt that pain as his Under 15s side, 1 nil up at half time after a Luke Burke finish, fell 1-2 with the last kick of the match. As Coaching Director Barry Walker says, Coach Steve Lawrence was a devastated man after this game. The Under 18s also fell to a 1-2 loss. Judd Felsher had equalised with a great finish in the 38 th minute, however the side couldn t hold on and were finished in the last minute by St George. As Walker said, it can be a cruel game. The Under 14s were poor in their match, falling 0-3. Despite holding out for a 0-0 score line at half time, the boys fell away within a few minutes of the second half. Three goals in quick succession left the side reeling, and coach Neil Jablonski stunned on the sideline. The side will be looking to bounce back this weekend after a good pre-season. Walker is confident that all the sides will be rearing to go this Sunday in the first competition home game of the season. A Call to Arms This week is the first home game of the season for both the Opens and the Youth sides. The entire Hakoah Feds club will be playing back-to-back on Sunday 20 th March 2011. This season is a monumental season for the Hakoah Feds sides, with the Opens pushing for promotion to Division 1. To do this, the Club is looking to make our home ground, Hensley Athletic Field, a fortress. Teams should fear coming to play Hakoah at home (like they used to in the old days!) We want to create an atmosphere that is unparalleled in this competition, and we want YOU there to help. Come down at 7pm to Hensley this Sunday night (corner Corish Circuit and Wentworth Avenue, Pagewood), grab a hot dog and come watch YOUR First Grade side go to battle against Luddenham. Together we can make this season memorable on so many levels, and it starts this Sunday.
Bring the family and come watch the most talented Hakoah side in years. You won t be disappointed! Barry Walker Hospitalised Coaching Director and Under 13s Coach Barry Walker was hospitalised this week with a stomach bug. Barry was put into isolation (we think because he was in a ward only with Liverpool fans) and is reportedly starting to feel better. His doctor is proctologist Dr. Jeff Engleman. As we don t want to make Barry the Butt of any jokes we will just wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back out at Hensley on Sunday. Seeing Red Every footballer has had those times where they watched on as a referee made bad decision after bad decision. It can be a painful exercise in futility, as approaching the ref will always achieve next to nothing. Enter Under 13s star Jordon Koton. After another poor decision by the referee, Koton chose to give him an insight into the incongruities with his decisions and how they are negatively affecting the game on a wide range of philosophical and physical levels. In layman s terms, he told him what he thought of him. Koton will now have between two and eight weeks to consider those words as his red card for swearing (officially called dissent ) has left him suspended. The full length of the suspension has yet to be decided.
Jordon Koton will have some spare time on his hands now Correction Goalkeeper Harry Rosen has been announced as the under-16s captain for the 2011 season. Awards of the Week Player of the Week: After a stellar pre-season, where he notched up goals on a weekly basis, Under 16 Josh Shubitz again showed his class putting away a hattrick this week against St George. His first came from a counter-attack from a defensive corner that saw Shubitz finish calmly past the stranded keeper. His second was another counter following a defensive corner. Robbie Ezekiel and Shubitz combining for an easy finish into an empty net. The hat-trick came with a screamer 15 minutes into the second half, in a play that came down the left flank before Shubitz fired into the net, leaving the keeper with no chance. After this performance, Josh is a deserved winner of this week s Player of the Week award.
Hat-trick hero Josh Shubitz (centre) slots away his second goal. Blunder of the Week: It wouldn t be a Hakoah season launch without at least one blunder, and this week s award goes to Reserve Captain Jamie Marcuson. With his side 0-1 down and starting to get on top of Prospect, Marcuson managed to turn the ball into his own net in the 80 th minute. When I spoke to Marcuson about the infamous incident, he explained it to me as follows: The Prospect bloke was one-on-one with Gil [goalkeeper Gil Pollak]. Realising that Gil hasn t saved a shot in years, I tried to get round him to clear the ball off the line. Who would have guessed that Gil actually got a hand to it, slapping the shot into my thigh, which went sailing harmlessly into the back of the net. I blame Gil completely! Congrats Jamie on taking out the inaugural Blunder of the Week award.
Jamie Marcuson The First Ever Blunder of the Week Winner This Upcoming Week This week the Hakoah Feds has their first home game at Hensley Athletic Field, corner of Corish Circuit and Wentworth Avenue, Pagewood on Sunday 20 th March 2011. The Opens are up against Luddenham. First Grade kicks off at 7pm. Reserves kicks off at 5pm. The Youths are up against Hurstville Minotaurs. Games times are: Under 13 9.00 am Under 14 10.15 am Under 15 11.40 am Under 16 1.15 pm Under 18 3.00 pm As we said, we want to make Hensley a fortress this season so come out and support the First Grade and let s create an atmosphere that no other team in the competition can muster!! That is this week s edition of the Hakoah Feds Newsletter. Until next time, let your passes find the man, your shots find the goal, and your skills find the girls.
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