Season 2007

Squad size: 19
Squad Photo:(Back row, left to right) Sandra Wixted (c), Jo Garwood, Posy Song, Emma Cassim, Coach Dougal, Chrissy, The Cat, Kerrie Hatz
(Front row, left to right) Margarita Caamano, Holly Maclean, Annette Pidoux, Linda Iocapetta
Missing players:Sonja Felderhof, Mo Wood, Pozza Dizzley, Amy Mayo, Sarah Skelton, Sarah Chapman, Courteny, Rachel

All match reports can be read here

End of Season Summary Report, written by Coach Dougal [27th Sep]
With Queens Park Lions season coming to a close and my first year as coach/manager has certainly been a tough year for us all. Being pushed up one league was initially accepted until we played our first game! QPL found it hugely physical and the standard incredibly higher - it meant I had to get the girls skills up to an acceptable level. Frustratingly, with erratic turnouts for training, it was proving difficult to get the team up to speed but there were other factors to hurdle too. A 4 week mid-season holiday (to get married!) and 5 weeks of rain since the day we returned from the UK as Mr & Mrs Guppy! With heavy initial defeats, proved an emotional strain for us all...but we hit a turning point when we lost to Dunbar Rover 2-0 on July 8th...

Although we lost, prior to this game we'd also beaten UNSW 3-0. Painstakingly, we'd lost to Dunbar Rovers 5-0 and 5-1 earlier on...but today we played football for the first time of the season. With passing coming into our game we'd grown in a little confidence and gave them a real run for their money! Training was perhaps finally paying off. The proceeding matches in the saeson just got better and better. The following week we played with only 10 players but we halved the defeat and even managed to score! Coming so close to a point against Pagewood on August 5th gave us so much confidence. The spirits were high. With Season nearing an end we knew our final 5 matches would be a close and ready to do battle. Unfortunately we had to play QPR two days in a row. Saturday's game was a just deserved draw, perhaps we could have won but really missed Sonja's extra flavour to the mix, as it also showed on Sunday. Frustratingly going down 1-0 early on in the game we couldn't convert our many chances. With the heavens opening mid-way through the second half made life even harder. Sonja braved the last 15 minutes of the game and made a huge difference. Unfortunately nothing came off and bitterly lost with a soft goal. We were numb but a few of us went to the pub and talked about the season (for some) for over 5 hours...hic hic!

With our open wounds rehealing and a great training session, two of our strongest games followed. Our final game against Dunbar Rovers and our very final game against Pagewood. With a painfull free-kick giveaway at the start of the Dunabr game meant our tails were in between our legs (once again) but only briefly. We grew in huge confidence and was end to end. So many hard runs from Chappers and Skelton, in her new found position, had some excellent opportunities....but to no avail. We played for 90 minutes which again was another turnaround to our game, something which I'd never seen the girls do. Fantastic game to watch.

Pagewood, our final game, was time to get revenge since the poor referring decision depriving us of a deserved point; he was barely old enough to change his nappies let alone make a decision in front of 22 feisty females!! Anyway bac to our final game, the start was oh so familiar. Another cheap goal put us down 1-0 in the first 5 minutes. Oh so common girls but we looked tired and so un-inventive until... the last 20 minutes of the first half. Suddenly the game had turned around. Excitingly we were breaking away quickly and finally getting crosses were firing in with through balls onto our forwards. Once again we grew in confidence. Second half was the most domineering game of footabll I'd seen from the girls all season. Phenominal. So many chances. So many close misses. Because most of the season we weren't used to being on the attack we weren't quite making the final touches count. With a few crosses in, no-one was there, but there was a chance where Marga had whipped a cross in from the edge of the left side and Kerrie got a head to it, sailing just wide of the right hand post. Incredible.

When the final whistle blew we had finished on an absolute high, there was really not much else the girls could do but hold their heads high; what a grand finale. My thoughts were if only we were now halfway through the season I think we could have contended for a top four play-off spot but not sure if the girls would agree...

Roll on next season!

Friendly - 11/03/2007 - Queens Park Lions (9) v (2) Maroubra, 3pm @ Queens Park

Pagewood 1 (1) v (0) 1 Queens Park Lions [ 2007 Sep 2 ]

ok...so here it goes....we played excellent and despite a 1-1 score i suspect that you know we really dominated the game and they didn't actually have chance!! haha! what a great way to end the year girls...i think we can all agree that our season improved dramatically and that even though getting off to a slow start i think we managed to prove that we can play in this division and give everyone a good game!! it makes me really look forward to next year and hopefully everyone else too! have to say thanks to jen and lisa (from the other queen's park team) for filling in nets and as well their team for providing some treats after the game! nothing like a good sausage to fill the belly!! haha!

i hope that everyone continues to have a great year and that those of you playing 6 aside have heaps of fun! maybe through the summer we can arrange some kick arounds just to keep in touch and get us geared up for next year!! looking for to the last couple of party's....really hope everyone can make them!!

ok girls...well done! great great season. i love playing with you all and thanks for being such great sports and heaps of fun!! i picked a great team when i came here!!

oh and for those of you who don't know....seth is going to be a big brother!! i am just over 13 weeks and the baby is due march 10th...perfect timing as perhaps i might be able to play next season as well!! haha!

enough said...see you all soon. and one more thing...points please and this will be the last time i ask!!

cheers

Queens Park Lions 0 (0) v (0) 3 Lions [ 2007 Sep 1 ]

Dunbar Rovers 2 (1) v (0) 0 Queens Park Lions [ 2007 August 26 ]

Firstly, yesterdays game was such a great team effort. We played for 90 minutes and dominated a huge chunk of the game; although we came away with a 2-0 loss we payed like champions - so a huge well done for your efforts it was a gripping game to watch. Plus, thanks to Sonja for coming along, despite her nasty cut to her toe, she gave 100% from the sidelines too!!

Hope you can all make our final training session tomorrow (minus Sonja, Amy, Posy, Sarah S & Rachel) so we can prepare ourselves for our last w/e of footie. As you all know we have a game Saturday and Sunday. Please check the blog for details and add a comment if you can't make either game.

Saturday will be tough against the Lions (so need to take it easy; may recruit a few O35 girls to ensure we're injury free - what do you think?)...but it's Sunday we need to focus on. Facing Pagewood, last time we were at least robbed of a point but now we've made huge progress and think we know exactly what to do come Sunday!...so if we can finish this long tough season with a high, well then that's an even better excuse to get drunk after the game!!!!!!

Finally, can you please let me know by the end of the week if you can make Queens Parks end of year social event on Sunday 23rd Sep @ Coogee Bowling Club (details are below)!...

People so far:
Chrissy,
Sarah S and Brad,
Sandra and Michael,
Jo and Lydia,
Annette,
Vicky and Dougal
Please just reply to me.

Cheers,
Dougal.

Queens Park Lions 1 (0) v (0) 1 QUEENS PARK RANGERS [2007 August 18]
QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1 (1) v (0) 0 Queens Park Lions [2007 August 19]

ahhh....and now for sunday. for some reason we seemed to slip back into our old playing habits...a bit panicked on the ball and not passing as well. maybe it was playing the same team again and of course the weather wasn't exactly cooperating. but all excuses aside we seemed to be lacking in spirit on sun and unfortunately ended up with a 1-0 loss!! on a more positive note we did have some great moments and despite a few great chances up front we just couldn't seem to find the back of the net! i know that we have it in us to beat this team and if given another chance we definitely would! so i think we must just put this tiny little loss behind us and continue to finish the season with a bang!! we all love the game and i think we must try and remember that despite the circumstances eh!! thanks to margs and kerrie who played nets on sun and i think they secretly want to play nets too haha...they had some very very impressive saves!!

only three games left and i know we all have it in us to come out and play the game!! keep those heads up and keep up the hard work! we have had a long tough season but let's keep going till the end eh! have a good week...rest up as we don't have practice tonight and get ready for sundays game!! cheers girls! and of course a little reminder for those points please..only three more games to have to send along your points for!! thanks!

cheers

LIONS 3 (3) v (0) 0 Queens Park Lions [2007 August 12]

hi girls!! well i honestly thought i was actually going to get the wrap done on sun but once again i am late!! i hope everyone enjoyed the rest of a lovely sun as today it's seems so cold today! i am seriously becoming a real wimpy canadian!! haha!

you know i am not going to write heaps this week...i think we can say we played a terrific game yesterday...we did lose 3-0 but i am so impressed with our playing....we all rock! there were heaps of great passes and did we ever control the ball and for that matter the game!! headers were amazing...vicky did one off a corner and i have to say it was the absolute best! sonia also had a great one too!! everyone is very composed on the ball and takes their time to control the ball first and then do something with it...however i think the only thing is that this composure has to start from the time the first whistle is blown. the goals were all scored fairly quickly as it takes us a bit to get into 'our game'!! we won all our tackles and went in for challenges 100 percent!! overall...fantastic playing and ii don't know about everyone but i am very proud of our team! much thanks to our 2 volunteers for goalie..mo and amy! amy had the rockets coming at her and mo was solid with a couple of great saves as well!

we have a big weekend coming up...2 games against queen's park...and if we continue the way we are playing we are going to kick some butt!! heehee!

have a good week girls!! please pass along your points! way to go!!

Queens Park Lions 0 (0) v (0) 1 PAGEWOOD [2007 August 5]

Well girls...a little bit of a bummer eh!! however i think we all know who lost the game for us...how old was he anyway?? haha!! anyway...nothing we can do about it but come away from the game knowing that we played well and didn't give up!!we had some great chances with lots of through balls but just didn't clinch any winners! we moved really well on our throw ins...great movement off the ball and i think we were able to win 99% of them! good work girls!

linda had a few hard knocks but that didn't stop our defence from playing hard and stopping them from putting together any sort of attack! i hope you are not too sore today linda! as well vicky was trying another strategy for shielding the ball...holding it between her knees...at least we are learning from our practices eh!! haha! i think we are stil improving girls and it's best not to get discouraged from a hard played weekend!

i know sat was tough..even though i wasn't there and i hope that despite that we keep our heads high and think of every game as a new one we can play and win!! having 2 games in one weekend is not easy...especially at our age...haha (right sarah?? hope you had few good drinks after the game!). we are in good shape and run till we can't run anymore so keep up the good work! and paula thanks for playing in nets the whole game..hope that ankle is better now!

please send along your points and if anyone wants to do a sat wrap please do so!! see you all soon. cheers girls!!

Lions 5 (2) v (0) 0 Queens Park Lions [2007 August 4]

No report.

Queens Park Lions 3 (1) v (0) 0 UNSW, Scorers: Chrissy, Sonja, Vicky [2007 July 22]

hi there girls!! well what do you know...we won!! yippee!! a 3-0 score and well deserved in my opinion!! i have to say it was a good match..the opposing team was there to play but then so were we!! the first half started off very strong with lots of ball movement and some great headers...with some awesome dougal looking like flicks!! sorry dougal!! there was also some great great passing and lots of fantastic first touches leading to some very impressive balls being passed around! jo did a superb job in nets and the defense was once again their stellar selves! we started to get a bit slack near the end of the half but hung in there to make it to half time.

The second half was much of the same. we had chappers take over in nets despite being sick and i mean very sick for the past three weeks! good to have you back! hope you didn't get too cold!! the only thing i think we need to practice is a bit more movement when we have throw ins...a bit too much standing in one place...more runs in and out and switching!! however i think our positioning on their goals kicks was great and it definitely paid off more than once!! dougal made a few position changes with vicki having a chance up front...and it proved to be a great move as she had a GOAL!! way to go...she didn't give up and it really paid off!!

The middle girls controlled the ball well and did some great passes to forwards as well as to the wingers for a chance to run onto the ball and get the ball up front. there were also a few crosses from the wings...nice work!!

Overall a great match girls! we have had 2 great weekend matches so let's continue...lots of talking and winning those 50-50 balls!! we rock!!

See everyone at training...oh and points too please please!!

WAVERLEY OLD BOYS 6 (2) v (0) 1 Queens Park Lions, Scorers: Holly [2007 July 15]

ok....so i know it is tues and i am just a touch late but i was too excited about heading to the kangaroo valley (which i think should be named wombat valley!! but that is another story!)after the game that i completely forgot....but i haven't forgot about the game!!!

so i think we played great!! we did lose 6-1 but i must say that we put in a super super effort!! the day started with only 10 players and no we did not getting any more!! so being down 1 not too mention that we had a few hungover team mates but maybe this was a good thing...not that i am saying go out every weekend but hey...we did play great! and then there was a lovely lady v in nets...with such a bum shoulder that she could only stop the ball and not pick it up. way to go vicky!

overall i think we were a very relaxed team and made lots of great passes, including keeping our heads up to pass it back as well as some very well placed give and gos!! i honestly think we won most balls especially when we went in hard...and came out with the ball 99% of the time! way to go girls! margs made some great tackles and had some super goal kicks...could she be the new goal kicker?? the defense played solid in the back as they do have some really strong forwards that can turn and pretty much shoot from anywhere. our midfield played strong too with some great passes and very good control on the ball....the forwards had some unlucky bounces and some tough girls playing them on the opposing team. but they continued to play strong and near the end of the game we were rewarded with our persistence with a BIG GOAL!! i don't know about you but i felt we won the game after we scored!!!

ok...i am starting to babble. we played great, looking forward to practice and the continuation of our strong efforts in the games ahead!

Queens Park Lions 0 (0) v (1) 2 DUNBAR ROVERS [2007 July 8]

oh my goodness...well i certainly am slack on my duties as doing the sunday wrap!! sorry amy!! i completely forgot but could that be due to not playing soccer for 5 weeks?? ok...no excuses!!

so we had a great game yesterday...the ref certainly made heaps of calls and a lot managed to be in our favor...i think that ticked the other team off!! heehee!! however having lots of whistles certainly does slow the game down a bit!! anyway...we had lots of great passes, solid defending (thanks to jess for playing back to back games and adding some strength to our back!) and a few chances on goal!! the overall atmosphere i think was good....a bit more talking would have been good but it has been while and i think next week we will be back to our chatty selves!!

oh and there was some great heading by everyone...must have been all those headers dougal made us do last tues...thanks!! the only crappy thing about the game was the weather...managed to rain some but i think we all agree that it was great to play as it has been sooooooo long!! ok girls this is the beginning of a new trend...we are going in hard, winning ball after ball and not taking any flak from the other team!! we rock!! haha!!

looking forard to seeing everyone out on the pitch for training on tues night!! and send me those points to girls!! great game and thanks to posy for going in nets (it was a cold wet game and she played the whole game...many many thanks for that...hope you had a really hot hot shower afterwards!)....great job!!
cheers guys!! go lions go!
hol xo
ps...how did i do amy?? love the emails!! xo

Rain has stopped play for over one month!

UNSW 0 v 3 Queens Park Lions, Scorers: Sarah C (2), Chrissy [2007 May 27]

Good Evening All

It was great to come off the pitch with a win (3-0 UNSW) this morning, I think it was the chilly air and sweet dew that got us moving today.

We started off with Poz in goal and she decided to continue into the second half as she was having a ripper of a time there. She did a super job only touching the ball a 'handful' of times (pardon the pun!) Great work Poz, you can sleep well tonight now knowing that your time has been served!

We had 2 spectacular goal scorers today Chappers got 2 under her belt and Chrissy got one with a little help from some of the UNSW players. Well done girls, our goal scoring efforts to date for the season stands at: 6!

Thanks to Andy for filling in as coach, your calmness and positive thoughts/praise are very much appreciated.

Courtenay thanks for offering to sit out this weekend, it was great to have you and Ben on the sideline cheering us on!

For those who didn't make it to today's game, it is the last one for a few weeks. We have a bye next round (due to the new draw) and all games have been cancelled for the long weekend.

Sadly today was my last game before I go to Newcastle, then Canada. I think I'll be back for the last 2 rounds though, so someone is going to have to take on the role of Sunday Wrapper and the job of tallying the points. Any offers??? I am hopefully going to plan some farewell drinks (anyone would think I'm moving over there hey) so I'll let you know when and where. I can't make the 1 June event as I am putting liz's wedding invitations together with her and her sisters.

As social organisation is something that I think about constantly, someone will have to start thinking about our end of year party. Any offers to take the job on board???

Please send through your points (3, 2,1).

Training is still on Tuesday at Barracluff Park Bondi 7pm.

Thanks and have a great week.

Queens Park Lions 0 v 8 WAVERLEY OLD BOYS [2007 May 20]

Thanks to Sandra and Kerrie for going in goals they did a super job. Kerrie I hope your backside its too sore tomorrow. Who is putting their hand up for next week? Also thanks to Brad for filling in as team coach for the day.

The only other thing I am goin to mention is did you get a a load of A'man'da!!! When she ran on I was like oh my goodness what are we in for here. She was only on the field for a short time, but managed to push, shove, boot, yell and sware her way around the pitch during it. Good to see some of our girls giving her a run for her money.

On the social side drinks are planned for Friday 1 June (sorry can't make it girls) at Coogee. and a lunch after the 9am game on the long weekend. Sandra will send through some more details.

Remember to send through your points (3, 2, 1).

Have to keep the wrap short today, I'm in the middle of writing reports for my class and I am sick of looking at a computer screen. See you at training on Tuesday night.

Queens Park Lions 0 v 7 LIONS [2007 May 13]

We came... we played... we lost, and tomorrow is another day!

First of all HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to the mums in our team and also to everyone's mum as well.

Second of all, WELCOME BACK HOLLY, good to see you back on the pitch, running, falling, kicking, and giving your all to the game. We missed you.

As we hadn't played the Lions in an 'official' match before we were a little unsure of how the game was going to pan out, unfortunately we didn't come up with a win, but we did have some excellent plays and the second half went much better (I thought) in terms of passing and playing our own game.

The ref didn't seem to be too worried about a little bit of push and shove and it was good to see some of our players giving as good as they got! We don't have to be nice all the time hey?

Don't forget to send through your points (3, 2, 1) for the player's player. Thanks to those who diligently send them in each week.

Next week we play at QP @ 1pm against WOB! Remember if you can't make it visit the blog.

Well that's the wrap for the week. Sorry I won't be at training on Tuesday night I have a parent night on at school.

DUNBAR ROVERS 5 v 1 Queens Park Lions, Scorers: Chrissy [2007 May 6]

Another game over, time to bathe the sore muscles and bones, patch up the scratches, bumps and bruises and start a new week tomorrow, ready for the next round on Sunday!

The first drama of the day was getting to the pitch! Courtenay and I did three laps of Edgecliff and Kings Cross before we worked out which turn off to take! Having a Canadian directing me might not have been the wisest choice! (Sorry Court). Eventually we made it and the afternoon match was set in a beautiful park at Rushcutters Bay with quite a crowd (unfortunately, not for QP lions) and two teams ready to battle it out after our first round 'incident'.

With no coach in sight, Dunbar looked very professional runing drills along the base of the pitch. We were not feeling quite as confident but were going to give it our best!

Courtenay put her hand up for goal and did the job with impressive skill and dertermination. She put her body on the line a number of times and has the scrapes and scratches to prove that she was one hell of a goalie. The saying 'a job worth doing, is worth doing well' has Courtenay's name all over it. The scramble with Blanka (her workmate!) was priceless, she was getting that ball from her if she had to break her neck to do it. You had so many super saves Court, don't be down about the end result, you were fantastic. Our Saturday training was a great idea!

Although we suffered a loss (1-4) we did play a great game, and we have certainly improved since our last encounter with Dunbar. Chrissy scored our one and only goal, and it was a ripper. She had a tough time running with an opponent hanging onto her shirt for most of the match, but a lovely pass from Kerrie's boot allowed her to score with exact precision.

From the backs, I feared that Sarah Skelton would be sitting on the sideline for a few weeks after she was taken out by a woman in blue who had a 'win at all costs' attitude. Thankfully someone was watching over her and she got back on her feet and played the rest of the game with fire in her boots. Hope you don't feel too many aches and pains tomorrow Sare!

Today's game had so many talented plays, kicks, passes, throws and saves it will be quite tricky choosing people for points (3, 2, 1), but it must be done. Please send them through to me asap.

Thanks to all our supporters and stand in coaches aka Andy and Brad.

We have decided to keep training on Tuesday night even though we don't have a coach. Bring your ideas with you and we can work on some things before our match with the Lions next Sunday (Queens Pak @ 3pm).

To Mr and Mrs Guppy (it was this weekend wasn't it?) we hope you had a lovey day and we can't wait to see the photos when you get back!

Queens Park Lions 2 v 1 UNSW, Scorers: Kerrie, Courtenay [2007 Apr 29]

WE WON!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations to all that played today, it certainly lifted my spirits, hope it did for you too .

For those of you who couldn't make the game today here is a short overview of the match; we started off by having to go and collect all the gear, a field to drees, no boys/tall people to help, 10 players and an opposition that looked pretty confident with their 2 subs! No a very good recipe for success hey?

There was no time for the pre-game warm up or kick around as everyone was busy putting up ropes, nets, flags etc... I think this must have made us get into the game right from the start.

Kerrie and Sarah did a supurb stint in goal and had some ripper saves, well done and thanks girls... Anyone keen for it next week?

We played well in the first half and came off at half time one goal down, most of us would have been happy if we could keep it that way at full time (I think!!!).

Opened the second have with boots blazing and Kerrie took our first goal within minutes, Sarah S feeling the pressure did a super save or two or three, before Courtenay came up with another goal for the lions, taking the ball from the half way line all the way to the net, nothing was going to stop her from taking the next goal and wham, in it went! We played the rest of the game with tight defence and great team work.

Thanks to Brad our sideline coach for the day.. please come every week!!! It was fabulous having someone as your second pair of eyes. I really appreciated the positive instructions and personally I think it did wonders for our game, so again THANKS BRAD!

So overall a fabulous effort from a team that was one player short and a little down from previous games. Hold your heads proud lions and roar!

Next week we play at Little Bay fields at 3pm, I put the idea out there if people are keen to go for a drink/early dinner at the Coogee Bay Hotel afterwards. Let me know if your in, don't want to sit there all by myself... I'm not desperate yet!

Please send through your points (3, 2, 1). It will be tricky this week.

Training could be on Tuesday or Wednesday this week, I'll email Julius and see if there is a field on Wed, if not, Andy is quite happy to do fitness, which would be great. Thanks Andy.

I know these wraps are getting longer and longer each week, so I'll stop now!

Queens Park Lions 0 (0) v 3 (1) Pagewood [2007 Apr 22]

Hi All
Even though we suffered another loss (3-0), today was a certainly better game. We definately played more competetively and it's good to know that there is going to be at least one team that we can 'match it with'.
Last Tuesday night at training we did lots of drills with passing and finding spaces, ball kicking and throw-ins, all which we used today, so it seems to be true that training sure pays off, lets try to all get there this week.
Great to see our players 'taking one for the team'; Kerrie with a ball to the face, Vicky tried so hard to get a penalty from her 'trip' but unfortuantely Jodie (aka big man on) wasn't budging. Hope your not too sore and bruised girls. Linda also made contact with the pitch on more than one occasion, hope you're ok too.
Well I am glad to say that I've done my time in goal, sorry girls for letting a few get passed, but I tried my best and that's all I can do. A big thank you to Sarah S for her quick wit and back up goalie support... you saved my behind!!! And you did it with such ease.
Remember to send through your points (3, 2, 1) didn't get many replies last week.
Good luck to Vicky and Dougal who are heading back to the UK on Thursday to 'get hitched', have a wonderful time and enjoy. See you when you get back... when is that? Oops, I guess I'll check the blog.
For all the poor teachers in our team, holidays are over and a new term approaches. Just think 10 weeks and you'll be on holidays again, I only have 9 weeks!!

Thanks All

Waverly Old Boys 11 (5) v (0) 0 Queens Park Lions [2007 Apr 15]

Well Girls

Go the lions... purrrr... OOPS, I meam roaaaaaaaaaaaar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waverly Old Boys 11 (5) v (0) 0 Queens Park Lions [2007 Apr 8]

Queens Park Lions 0 (0) v (2) 5 Dunbar Rovers [2007 Apr 1]