Round 1 saw the Taipans host the newly named Enfield All Stars. All our Academy and Development teams got a hit out. It was great to see the enthusiasm and commitment from these players who will surely feature in their respective clubs competition teams at some stage in the future.
The opening League game featured the Under 12 Boys. It was the visitors that dominated the game early getting the go ahead goal before the Taipans struck back with two well taken goals just before half time. The second half saw the Taipans take a stranglehold on the game and run over the top of the opposition scoring a couple of text book Futsal goals on route to a 5-2 win.
The 13 Girls were next on court up against early favourites Enfield who is littered with elite level players. The Taipans girls frustrated the All Stars early on through a combination of fine goalkeeping and desperate defending. Enfield finally found a way through and added a couple more goals just before the break to take a 3-0 lead. To the Taipans girls’ credit, they dug deep and conceded one further goal to go down 4-0.
The 14 Boys saw two evenly matched teams go toe to toe. Neither side was able to penetrate much through the first half as both teams defended very well. No score at half time. With three points up for grabs, there was a little more intent from both sides in the second half however it was the All Stars who nabbed a goal midway through the second term. Despite some late scares, Enfield held on for a narrow 1-0 win.
Next up was the 15 Girls game which was quite a physical encounter. The Taipans seemed to shade possession and chances in the first half and they were rewarded with a goal taking a narrow 1-0 lead into the break. The second period saw both teams come out with some physicality as they looked to assert themselves. The Taipans went two up before Enfield pulled a goal back but the Taipans were not to be denied as they scored again late to wrap up the match 3-1.
16 Boys next took the court with the game being played with a high level of intensity. The Taipans seemed to be trying to force the issue with Enfield looking to catch them out on the counter. In a see sawing first half, it was the All Stars who took a 2-1 lead into the break. The second half saw the visitors score three cracking goals with two of those on the break. It was a 5-1 win to the visitors and to be fair, it was well deserved.
17 Girls provided us with an entertaining game that went right down to the wire. The Taipans started the game well and raced to a 2-0 lead before Enfield managed to pull a goal back but a well taken goal minutes before the break saw the Taipans take a handy 3-1 lead at half time. The second half saw both teams go at each other and when Enfield pulled a goal back, it was game on. Desperate defending at both ends saw no further score added with the Taipans recording a morale boosting 3-2 win.
In what was an extraordinary Youth Men fixture, Enfield somehow walked away with a 5-3 win despite playing the game with just one substitute. The All Stars started the game at a cracking pace despite their lack of players and got the early goal however the Taipans hit back to level the scores 1-1 into the break. Two more goals early in the second half to Enfield saw them skip clear before the Taipans pulled one back. With minutes left and the game on the line, the Taipans went power play only to be stung twice despite also scoring one however it was too little too late as the game slipped away.
The Women’s game was always going to be a tight game and so it proved. Both keepers kept their teams in the game through what was in the end a scoreless first half. Neither side seemed content with a draw and the longer the game went, the more one felt one goal would settle it. It was Enfield who got the breakthrough late in the game after an unfortunate back pass infringement saw the home side punished. Despite a couple late goal mouth scrambles, Enfield held on for a narrow 1-0 win.
The final match of the day saw the mens play out a highly entertaining match. Both teams traded goals early in the game before Enfield scored twice to take a 3-1 lead however the Taipans managed to claw themselves back into the game with the score 3-2 at the break. In what was perhaps the turning point, Enfield had a player sent off and incredibly, they managed to nab a goal short handed. Taipans pulled a goal back to set up a grand stand finish however the All Stars scored from a long throw to wrap up the game 5-3.
The Taipans probably felt they deserved a little more out of the day however it really does look like each game is going to be as tough as the last in what shapes as a tight championship season. There were many positives to take out of the matches as the Taipans look to bounce back against UTS next week.
