Godfrey Baldwin Reserve was blessed with perfect weather conditions on Thursday as 16 local soccer teams descended on the Sale United Football Club grounds for Round 5 of Go Sevens.
At 6.30pm, the undefeated ladder leaders Bayside Astronauts took on Purple Cobras, with both teams entering the game with something to prove.
Bayside Astronauts were fighting to keep their undefeated status and remain ladder leaders, whilst Purple Cobras battled to ascend the ladder, a loss posing imminent decent.
Next door, Pink Bits met Tekkerslovakia. Pink Bits, sitting fourth on the ladder, were determined to escape a second loss, keeping them in the running for the pending grand final. For Tekkerslovakia, sitting two steps under their opponents on the Go Sevens ladder, a win was crucial to keep them in the running for the final battle for third place at the end of regular rounds.
Over on the back pitches, Group B ladder leaders Misfits were up against second-place team Mac Rappers. With neither team having lost or drawn a match to date, the Round 5 game would indicate who out of the two really deserved that top-place position.
On the next pitch over, Raglan Street Blues, who had yet to win a game, faced Occasionally United, sitting fourth on the ladder with two wins, one draw and one loss.
Despite having some of Sale United’s best, most accomplished players, Purple Cobras, playing one man down, were no match for the youthful Bayside Astronauts.
Bayside Astronauts were dominant from the first whistle blow, knocking in goal after goal after goal. Purple Cobras managed to find the net twice across the two 20-minute halves, but Bayside Astronauts’ were unrivalled, putting away a whopping nine goals. Final score 9-2.
Isaak Jondahl scored five of Bayside Astronauts’ nine goals.
Next pitch over, Pink Bits and Tekkerslovakia had a matchless start to the game; whilst Pink Bits aimed numerous shots on goal, Tekkerslovakia’s goalie rejected each attempt.
Pink Bits’ stand-in goalkeeper ripped out some impressive saves, raising eyebrows as to whether dedicated goalkeeper Cameron Churchill should pass over the gloves permanently to Abby Kemp.
It was a tough-fought battle, but Pink Bits found the back of the net twice despite their opposition’s efforts, claiming a 2-0 win over Tekkerslovakia.
At the back of Godfrey Baldwin Reserve, Misfits and Mac Rappers were pulling out all the stops, both teams biting at the chance to claim the best in the business title.
Forty minutes ticked by, and the score read 1-1; Misfits remain at the top of the ladder by goal difference.
Ragland Street Blues and Occasionally United also drew even in a particularly high-scoring game. Final score 4-4.
Occasionally United’s Luke Wilson and Raglan Street Blues Rhytham Thind each scored hattricks.
Next in order, Dico’s Demons met The David’s, and Mighty Cornflakes faced Ringins on the main pitches; over the back, My Little Morty’s were up against Divines, and The Special Ones met Green Grubs.
The Davids took a 4-1 victory over Dico’s Demons, and Mighty Cornflakes proved too good for their opponents, beating Ringins 3-0.
The Special Ones claimed their first win of the 2022 Go Sevens season, taking down Green Grubs 5-0.
My Little Morty’s, sitting second on the ladder behind Bayside Astronauts, claimed their fourth consecutive win against Divines.
Josh Deschepper added a hattrick to My Little Morty’s final score, the team in bright yellow shirts taking home a 6-2 win over Divines.
Next week, bottom of the ladder team, Green Grubs, faces the undefeated Bayside Astronauts, and The Special Ones meet Divines. It is the battle of the coaches as the SUFC Senior Men’s coach’s team, Pink Bits, meets SUFC Senior Women’s coach’s team, Purple Cobras. My Little Morty’s play Tekkerslovakia.
Mac Rappers will play Occasionally United, The David’s meet Ringins, Dico’s Demons are up against Raglan Street Blues, and Mighty Cornflakes face Misfits.
