Reserves Match Reports

Latest Football West Fixtures and League Tables

Sep 7 - Ressies start strongly but run out of legs

A very young Reserves squad faced off against Fremantle United at home; a general lack of fit players in the senior squad made it necessary for three U18 players to help out. Fremantle looked a little shaky in defence in the early stages and the Ressies took advantage well. Tricky left back Saul Rosenheim delivered a superb switching cross from the halfway line to find young recruit Will free on the right; unfortunately the shot sailed over the bar. Soon after, striker David Siano closed down two defenders at the edge of the box and managed to cause the ball to spill to the side, and he pounced and drove the bouncing ball spectacularly with his ‘weaker’ left foot off the inside of the right post and in. Fremantle responded straight away with a shot from the edge of the box that sailed into the top left corner to make it 1-1.

In the second half Fremantle capitalised on being a bit quicker to the ball, possibly due to their ability (unlike the Ressies) to make substitutions and replace players tiring in the hot spring sun. After about 15 minutes a cross was played into the middle of the box and a Fremantle player got to it first and scored, making it 2-1. Soon after ‘Bruce’ Goldman saved a shot but a Fremantle player was first to the rebound and made it 3-1. On the break, Adam Levitan played a through ball to Siano on the left and Siano found the net with a fine finish. However, Levitan released the ball a moment too late and Siano was ruled marginally offside and the goal was disallowed. Fremantle vanquished any last hopes of a revival when a cross was played from within the box to a player who charged in and headered home from close range. It was then 4-1, and that is how the game ended.

Aug 31 - Reserves dig deep to secure an excellent win

Eager to finish the season strongly, the Reserves were determined to claim a win at home against Murdoch, who were three spots above them on the ladder. The first half was hotly contested but no goals were scored. The closest Maccabi came was when Brett Goldman, cherishing his long awaited time out of the goals, pulled off a courageous sliding shot to beat the keeper to a well-timed through-ball from Sevan Gore, but the shot went just wide of the target.

Not long into the second half, the Ressies won a free-kick by the ‘D’ at the edge of the box. Dead-ball specialist Saul Rosenheim lined up for a shot and blasted it into the left side netting; the keeper was protecting that side of the goals but could do nothing to stop the rocket. Ten minutes on, Terence ‘Tex’ Fuhr intercepted a weak pass on the left side of the field and laid a ball through to Daniel ‘Kid’ Meilech who approached from the left and calmly slotted the ball to the left of the keeper to make it 2-0. In the closing stages Murdoch were awarded a dubious penalty from an innocuous tussle in the box, which they converted. The Ressies, thanks to some stalwart, intrepid defending from Gavin Kristal and the rest of the backline, held out for a 2-1 win.

Aug 24 - Shamrock fend off a Reserves comeback

Though missing several players, the Reserves started their game away against Shamrock Rovers on a par with the opposition, keeping possession well and not allowing Shamrock much time on the ball. However, after about 20 minutes Shamrock broke the deadlock; a ball was played into the box and a Shamrock player caught keeper Bruce Goldman off his line with a measured lob. Ten minutes later, the Rovers went 2-0 up with a freakish half volley from outside the box which swerved into the top corner. Unfortunately, Daniel Keyser re-injured his ankle and was replaced by Luke Melia, who seemed to enjoy himself outside of goals. Maccabi managed a few attempts on goal but most were from outside the box and posed little threat, and the score was still 2-0 by half time.

In the second half the game opened up as players tired. Maccabi’s luck finally turned when defender Steve Atkins played a perfect long ball directly to Rob Cotton at the edge of the box, and Rob took a touch right of his marker and then clinically cut the ball past the keeper and into the bottom left corner. The boys were revved up by the goal and soon after Cotton nearly pulled the scores level with a shot from the edge of the box. Alas, at the other end, from what looked to be a foul throw a Shamrock winger took the ball to the by-line and cut it right in front of goal for a simple tap in to make it 3-1. Yet again the Ressies were very much in the game but couldn’t claim it as their own.

Aug 19 - Reserves fight valiantly but bow out of Cup

On a chilly clear winters’ night the Reserves faced off against Hamersley Rovers under lights at Wooton Reserve in the quarter final of the Cup. From when Hamersley took to the field, the Ressies knew they were up for a bigger challenge than the previous Sunday – some players who played for their firsts on the Sunday were in the starting line-up. An early shot from the Rovers went just wide. At the other end, Dave Siano’s effort to slide the ball into the bottom corner went just astray. Five minutes later a dangerous long throw from Gavin Kristal was kept down well of the head of Siano but went marginally wide. The pace of the game was furious – the pitch was relatively small and all players were invigorated by the cold. Forty minutes in, a shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off a Maccabi defender, completely wrong-footed keeper Brett “Brucey” Goldman and bound off into the right side-netting. In the dying moments of the first half, Sevan Gore played a perfect through ball to play Siano through but the Rovers’ keeper flew out of goals and managed to cut down the angle and block Siano’s shot.

In the second half, the boys struggled to compete with size and strength of the Hamersley players, and found it difficult to maintain possession. Nevertheless, they defended grittily and ran very hard to keep themselves in the game. Some poor finishing and some excellent keeping from Goldman kept the Cup dream alive. On one occasion Goldman pulled off an excellent close-range save and reacted uncannily adeptly to block a horrendous skewed clearance by copping it in the face. Finally however, with five minutes to play Hamersley wrapping up some passing around the edge of the box with a solid low drive into the bottom left corner to make it 2-0 and seal the victory. Though overcome on the day by the Rovers, the boys’ effort could not by faulted and they should be congratulated on coming this far in the Cup.

Aug 10 - Reserves pepper the goals but manage only a draw

The Reserves were intent on getting a psychological edge over Hamersley Rovers for the imminent (Wednesday night) Cup quarter finals rematch by winning the ‘warm up’ league game against the Rovers at home. Dean Ossip was using his superior speed to wreak havoc on the right flank. On one occasion he made a blazing slalom run up the right but didn’t drop the pace to steady himself and his shot went over the bar. An excellent cross from Sevan Gore found Gavin Kristal unmarked by the penalty spot but without instruction from his team-mates to take his time, he hurriedly tried to lob the keeper with a header off the back of his head that the keeper managed to save.

In the second half Ossip did brilliantly to dribble his way into more goal scoring positions, but unfortunately his final delivery was lacking and the scores remained level. Realising his compass was off, on one run he drew the keeper towards him and decided to pass square to Siano. The move paid off, as Siano kept ahead of his marker and tapped the ball in to put the boys in front. Then, on the counter, Hamersley crossed the ball into a striker who managed to put the ball away into the bottom right corner and make it 1-1. In the closing minutes keeper Bruce Goldman was again the hero, stopping a point-blank shot inside the box and keeping the scores level, which they remained until the end of the game.

Aug 3 - Ressies get overrun before finding their rhythm

At the start of their home game against UWA, the Ressies had a reasonable share of the play. The were able to keep the visitors at bay until a UWA player chested a ball near the penalty spot and was fouled as he turned towards goal; a penalty was rightly given and was converted. Once the seal was broken, it made way for a goal blitz for UWA - five more were scored in the next 20 minutes. The Ressies struggled to deal with UWA's rapid-fire attacks and the speed and strength of their forwards. Having Hadley Missell sent off for aggravated assault on a UWA player further weakened the Ressies' resistance to the onslaught.

After a stern talking-to from coach Steve Selwyn, the boys finally clicked into gear in the second half and regained some dignity. Though Brett "Bruce" Goldman had to pull off many great saves, sometimes several in succession, the boys grittily kept a clean sheet in the second half. Dave Siano came close to providing the boys with something to celebrate with a solidly hit drive that shaved the post. He later squandered a golden opportunity right in front of goal, but it was inconsequential - the game had long been over.

Jul 27 - Reserves dominate in all aspects but the score-line

The Reserves’ game against the struggling Southern Spirit burst to life from the kick-off with exciting end-to-end football on Spirit’s small pitch. Sevan Gore tenaciously tackled a series of Spirit players, eventually winning the ball and crossing low into the goal mouth. In the scramble that ensued unfortunately no goal resulted. A shot from Siano was stopped by a diving save. Pat Warr was everywhere, speedily chasing down balls, beating players and supplying crafty through-balls. At the other end, Brett ‘Bruce’ Goldman heroically averted a goal by pushing a dangerous shot from outside the box onto the crossbar and back into play, and to the boys’ relief a Spirit player sprayed the ball over the crossbar in a one-on-one with Goldman. The deadlock was finally broken when Spirit charged up field on the counter and found an unmarked player on the right who finished in the bottom corner.

In the second half the Ressies fought fiercely to equalise. For once, a goal came from a corner; a cross from Warr was struck by Gore into the crossbar, and Adam Levitan reacted brilliantly to header the rebounding ball into the net. In spite of more pressure from Maccabi, Spirit took the lead again.  On the back foot again, the Ressies tried hard to level the scores and had many opportunities to do so. Many times shots were mishit wide or over the goals and it often appeared that they couldn’t work out how to convert their possession in advanced positions into goals. Yet again the boys lost narrowly in a game that could have easily been theirs, the game ending 2-1 to Spirit.

Jul 20 - Ressies run low on reserves

The Reserves’ started promisingly against Spearwood, distributing the ball well around the opposition’s vast but well-kept and even pitch. However, a freakish left footed half-volley put Spearwood in front. The boy’s plucky challenges and hard running eventually paid off – Gavin Kristal picked up a through ball on the left, dashed past his marker with pace and then clinically beat the keeper with a fine lofted shot from the edge of the box. In spite of continued pressure and several crosses into the box, the score remained 1-1 as the half drew to a close.

Not long into the second half the boys A cross into the box was skewed off the head of a Spearwood player only to fall right to a team-mate for an easy finish to make it 2-1. From the middle of the park Saul ‘Rosey’ Rosenheim lobbed a clever through-ball for Dave Siano, who laid the ball when closed down to Hayden Gomer, who confidently despatched the ball in the bottom left corner of the goals. The Ressies expected to outrun their older opponents but soon found themselves victims of the length and breadth of the field. Their vulnerability in defending corners was shown again when a header from a corner gave Spearwood the lead for the third time. Bit by bit the wheels began to fall off and they conceded two more goals to make the final score line 5-2 to Spearwood.

Jul 13 - Reserves fail to protect their early advantage

With several players away on holidays or out through injury, an undermanned but undeterred Reserves side faced off against Joondalup United at Joondalup Arena. The solid backline comprising Gavin Kristal, Steve Atkins, Daniel Keyser and Adam Levitan stood their ground well against an early barrage of attacks from the home team, and stand-in keeper Rob Cotton raced around his box to make several crucial saves to keep the scores level.  When Hadley ‘the H-factor’ Missell lined up to take a free kick from 30 metres out, it seemed he was intending on a lofted ball to the back post, but instead he majestically curled the ball into the top left hand corner of the goals. It was breathtaking to watch. Some more gritty defending kept the score at 1-0 until half time.

In the second half the Ressies let the game slip away. When a Joondalup corner sailed toward the front post, it appeared as if Cotton was fouled as he rose for the ball, resulting in him not being able to get his whole hand on the ball and it dropping right in front of goals where a Joondalup player stood to make a simple tap in. The goal stood, to the Ressies’ dismay. Not longer after, Joondalup took the lead when an unmarked player at the back post got onto the end of a pass into the box. The Ressies fought hard to level the scores but alas, a controversial penalty was awarded to the home team with less than 15 minutes remaining. The penalty was converted, and unfortunately the Ressies could not defy the odds to snatch a point. The game ended 3-1.

Jul 06 - Reserves take Kingsway to the cleaners

After a series of frustrating draws and close defeats, the Ressies were determined to walk way with three points in their away game against bottom-of-the-ladder Olympic Kingsway. Only about 10 minutes into the game, Patty Warr played a long ball over the top to Neil Borosh, who with electrifying pace cut inside of the onrushing troll of a keeper his first touch and advanced toward goal for an easy tap in. Kingsway swiftly replied with a headed goal from a free-kick to the back post. Soon after Borosh was at it again, starting from wide right, running sideways past three players and firing a shot that deflected favourably, wrong-footing the keeper and bouncing into the net.

The game was a very dirty affair – the pitch was muddy and several members of the opposition weren’t exactly paragons of FIFA fair play. In the second half, Gav Kristal had an altercation with his marker and received a brutal kick to the hip. The vicious oaf deservedly got his marching orders and the Ressies began to exploit their superiority in numbers and in fitness. When Borosh was tackled in front of goal, the ball spilled out of the box into the path of Warr, who found a gap between the players with a superbly executed low drive into the back of the net that made it 3-1. A tiff between Borosh and the opposition keeper resulted in a biff from the keeper in the form of a punch to Borosh’s stomach. Bizarrely both the keeper and Borosh were sent off. Later on, a ball was played through to Siano who clinically blasted the ball into the net with his left foot to make it 4-1 and effectively put the result beyond doubt for the Ressies. Near the end of the game, Siano shot his way onto the scoresheet again, reacting cleverly to a loose ball with a left foot shot on the turn that caught the keeper off his line. Well done boys!

Jun 29 - Reserves fail to capitalise on their fantastic football

Determined not to go a goal behind early on as has happened several times this season, the Ressies started their game against Perth Azzuri on Sunday firing on all cylinders. They were all over the opposition, maintaining possession with some of the most attractive soccer they have played all year. Midfield Adam Levitan nearly lobbed the keeper with an audacious half volley on the turn from the edge of the box that went just over the cross bar. Soon after, Sevan Gore laid a ball through to Pat Warr whose close range shot was denied by a fantastic reflex save from the keeper. Hadley ‘Haddles’ Missell also forced a good albeit theatrical save from the keeper with a fine shot from beyond the Dee. Siano’s header from a corner was headered off the line. The Ressies just couldn’t seem to secure the lead they so richly deserved.

The frustration continued in the second half. Everyone had their chances. Craig Hershowitz came close in a one-on-one with the keeper. Speedy returning veteran Gavin Kristal’s cross bounced off the cross bar.  Terence ‘Tex’ Fuhr failed to put away a volley at the back post from a Rosenheim corner. To add to the Ressies’ woes, completely against the run of play Azzuri played a ball through to a player that was believed to be offside by both the Maccabi defence and the linesman. However, the referee didn’t concur and the player went on to slot the ball past Brett ‘Bruce’ Goldman and into the left side netting. The boys tried desperately to salvage a point but to no avail; the game ended 1-0 to Azzuri.

Jun 22 - Ressies finish strong to march on to Cup Quarters

On Sunday, the Reserves played at home against Heathridge SC in the 3rd round of the Cup. Like in so many games this season, the Reserves were not switched on from the kick-off and went a goal down in the opening minutes. A ball went through to an unmarked opposition striker who was played onside by the Maccabi defence, and he didn’t have any difficulty putting it away to make it 1-0. Heathridge continued to mount pressure, and the boys were forced to spend a lot of time defending in their own half. Not many chances were created in the first half, but with 5 minutes remaining, Neil Borosh received a ball at the edge of box, turned and beat the keeper, putting a shot inside the far post to level the scores at 1-1. The tide had begun to turn for the Ressies.

In the second half, Borosh did the damage again when he sailed past a defender with speed and skill and slotted the ball home inside the near post. Now 2-1 in front, the Ressies grew in confidence and took command of the game. Borosh looked set to complete his hat-trick when he beat three defenders in succession en route to goal, but then knocked the ball into the path of a Heathridge defender. The defender comically missed the ball and it ran on for goal-sniper David Siano to hammer home from right in front of goal to make it 3-1. That is how the game ended, and the Ressies now march on into the quarters of the Cup. Kudos must also go Hadley ‘Haddles’ Missell for another great performance – his kids should be proud!

Jun 15 - Defensive errors deny the Ressies a win

A quite different Reserves team took their positions on the expansive Fremantle SC pitch on Sunday, with several players out due to injury, suspension or a wedding ceremony (Mazeltov Keyser!) About 20 minutes in, club legend Hadley Missell lobbed a ball across to Pat Warr on the right and Pat took an excellent first touch to control the ball, knocked it around an oncoming defender and with just the keeper to beat fired the ball brilliantly into the left side netting to make it 1-0. Fremantle swiftly replied with a shot from the edge of the box that the keeper could do nothing about. Soon after, a Fremantle midfielder sidestepped his marker at the edge of the box and despatched a low shot into the bottom left corner, making it 2-1.

The second half started promisingly for the Ressies. Missell delighted the crowd when he shimmied and at the last moment craftily ‘nuts’ed’ his marker. Tenacious striker Sevan Gore created a sensational equaliser out of nothing when he grittily blocked a defender’s clearance with his chest and ran on to lob the keeper on the half volley while still outside of the box. Unfortunately, as the game was drawing to a close, Fremantle chipped the ball into the middle of the box, and confusion between a Maccabi defender and the goalie allowed a striker to reach in and tap the ball into the net to make it 3-2.

Jun 8 - Resilient Reserves come back twice to grab a point

The Reserves continued their unfortunate habit of conceding an early avoidable goal when they played Murdoch last Sunday. An attempted clearance from an opposition corner was rebounded off the foot of another Maccabi player and into the lap of a Murdoch player who squeezed the ball through a mass of bodies into the back of the net. The Ressies responded through a bit of magic from David Sianovitz who controlled a ball in the box, darted past his marker to the by-line and expertly chipped a cross over the goalie onto the head of an unmarked Daniel Meilech who rose well and finished with ease. Murdoch took the lead again through a header to the back post from a free kick. Before the end of the half the boys came close to an equaliser when Sianovitz bravely chased down the keeper, won the ball and cut it across to Dworcan whose shot rattled the post.

In the second half, venerable veteran Hadley Missell fed a ball to Dworcan, who snuck a square ball through opposition players to Dean Ossip whose shot was foiled. Sianovitz picked up the pieces and reeled off a fine strike with his weaker foot into the corner of the net to make it 2-2. Praise must be given to Brett ‘Bruce’ Goldman whose brilliant goalkeeping kept the boys in the game, particularly when he covered the width of his box to make a brilliant second save off the line. The game ended 2-2.

Jun 1 - Reserves have an off day 

Only ten minutes into their clash against Shamrock Rovers the Ressies found themselves on the back foot – a cross into the box was met unchallenged by a Shamrock striker who headed the ball into the back of the net. The Ressies generally matched their opposition in terms of skill and gameplay, but suffered from Shamrock’s advantage in strength and height. A giant central defender craned over his marker to easily head the ball in from a corner to make it 2-0. Just before the break, a possible comeback was made even more unlikely when an opposition striker tore through the defence and comfortably slotted the ball home. 

The second half unfortunately did not bring more joy for the Ressies. Though there were some good passages of play, the Ressies were unable to allow the play to develop all way into a clear-cut opportunity on goal. They were just simply having a bad day. Shamrock used their muscle again to score another headed goal from a corner to put the result beyond doubt. The goal made it 4-0, and that is how the game ended.

May 25 - Reserves dig deep to salvage a satisfactory draw

The Reserves got a rude awakening only two minutes into their important away fixture against top-of-the-table Lynwood Colts. After the Ressies failed to clear the ball from their box, Lynwood pounced and went 1 up. The goal prompted the boys into action, and they created several chances; the breakthrough finally came when the hard-working Sevan Gore did very well to cut a ball from the goal-line diagonally back to Saul Rosenheim who was fouled dirtily from behind as he controlled the ball. Shaun Same comfortably converted from the penalty spot. Soon after Daniel Meilech whipped in a dangerous corner to front post and Mark Masel rose to header the ball home through a dense mass of Lynwood defenders and give the boys a 2-1 lead.

In the second half the Ressies continued to play impressively but suffered the misfortune of conceding an own goal. Then with less than 15 minutes to play Lynwood took the lead. Drained from the sun’s heat and over an hour of intense effort, the boys needed to dig deep to avoid defeat. It was David Siano who produced the goods, charging goal-ward with his first touch from a cross to beat his defender and hammering the ball past the keeper at the near post. The game ended 3-all, giving the Ressies a hard-earned point.