16/09/07: ESFA AA6 Grand Final: Queens Park V Coogee United

09/09/07: AA6: Semi Final: Coogee United V Sydney Uni
26/08/07: AA4: Coogee United V Redfern Raiders
26/08/07: AA6: Coogee United V Redfern Raiders
19/08/07: AA6: Coogee United V Pagewood FC
12/08/07: AA6: Coogee United V Locomotive
12/08/07: AA4: Coogee United V Sydney Uni
05/08/07: AA4: Queens Park V Coogee United
05/08/07: O352: Dunbar Rovers V Coogee United

Sunday 16/09/07
ESFA AA6 Grand Final: Queens Park V Coogee United
Hensley Athletics Field

Queens Park 1 Coogee United 0

It was a meeting of footballing giants for the Eastern Suburbs Grade 6 Grand Final. Coogee United entered the fray as underdogs against a Queens Park who had not dropped a point all season.

With El Presidente out of action, Mark Gannon took the reins as player / manager. Jimy kept his spot in goal, behind Mark Scala, Dean, Colin & Luca. Matt Dale & Evan played wide around Tim, Vito & Mark, with Matt Watts as a lone striker.

The pitch was aptly christened a cow paddock by Mr Gannon. So it was no surprise that the football in the centre of the field was bovine agricultural. The boys should have took off their boots and put on some wellies. This was compounded by a lack of pitch markings, which ultimately proved costly for Coogee.

Still though, Coogee battled on and started to carve out some chances. Pressing high up the pitch paid off, and a series of whipped balls from both flanks put the Queens under the cosh. Matt W looked sure to score until a Queen knocked him off balance to prevent the shot. Tim had a gilt edged chance after Matty squared in the box, but couldn't quite get his shot away. Vito added to the pressure with a shot following a surging run by Evan. Queens Park responded with tough tackles and the referee rightly put a few queens in the book for late and dangerous challenges.

It was against this backdrop of Coogee pressure that the match was won. Jimy was quick to spot a dangerous through ball from Queens Park and raced of his line. He snaffled the ball on the edge of the box, but his momentum carried him outside the imaginary area. The referee must have had good eyesight to spot the non-existing penalty area markings. Queens Park took the resulting free kick quickly. The ball was aimlessly floated in and was watched by all as it sailed into the back of the net.

Mark rang some changes in response to this disappointing turn, pulling himself off much to the crowds dismay. Matty also came off behind Evan, making way for Gareth, Simon & Allan "El Diablo" Paller. The changes worked without upsetting the balance of the team and pressure continued, although no clear cut chances came either way before half time.

In the second half the already tense affair went up a few scales on the Richter scale. Things reached fever point in the terraces. Jon and Stevo were introduced into the fray for Scala and Tim respectively. Jon showed some classy touches, unselfishly setting up others with neat knock downs and clever lay offs. Gareth was his usual box of tricks self, showing energy the Duracell bunny would be proud of. Steve was a rock at the back, managing to keep a Queens Park Whippet, sorry striker in his back pocket for most of the game. The one occasion when the slippery sucker escaped though proved costly for the Coog. the rapid Queens Park Striker was clean through and bearing down on goal. Allan bust a gut to get there but in the end had no choice but to bring the man down, otherwise the game would surely have been lost. A second yellow was shown and Allan, one of Coogee's finest and most consistent all season, took a walk.

From then on it was a one sided affair. Coogee threw everything at their opponents. Wave after wave of attacks followed. Matty's long deep cross was only just caught on the goal line. A great free kick from Luca saw Dean's bullet header draw a top save from the keeper. Tim the dynamo was here, there and everybloodywhere, linking up with all around him. Vito pulled out all his energy, craft and skill but the breakthrough did not come. The Brave Black & Whites ran out of time at the final whistle.

And so it ended. Coogee collected their medals, got maggotted and made some schoolboy errors in the pub choice department.

MOTM: JimyDeanLucaColinScalaGannonGarethSteveAllanEvanJonMattyMattyTimVitoSimonLouie

1000% effort right up to the end of the season, friends always.


- Report by Matty Dale

Sunday 09/09/07
AA6: Semi Final: Coogee United V Sydney Uni
Jellicoe Park

Coogee United 2 (Tim Wilkinson & Evan Watterson) vs Sydney University 1

The heavens may have opened over a rain soaked Sydney on Sunday, but the big man upstairs was smiling down on his favourite sons of Coogee FC as they booked their Grand final spot, taking the Uni apart in the process.

Coogee started the game as underdogs having taken only one of the available 6 points against Syd Uni. A new system was introduced for the day. Jimy kept goal, with a back 5 of Luca, Scala, Dean, Matty & the evergreen Mark Gannon. Vito flew solo in centre mid with Tim & Colin either side. Matt W & Evan paired up front.

Coogee conceded an early free kick at their left corner flag. With barely a minute on the clock, a mis-cued in-swinger shaved the inside of Jimy's post. He almost caught the ball, which would have had calls of "miracle" from the faithful but it slipped into the back of the net. There was nothing the cat could have done. Understandably Coogee were ruffled. The football failed to flow. So there followed a strange triple substitution after 10 minutes. Gareth, Simon & Tony came on Casper came on for Matty, Gannon & Evan. Although shape changed the game really didn't swing until after half time. Gareth looked sharp, breaking into the box and looking like a lively box of tricks.

The second half brought about a Renaissance. Coogee found their footballing feet in their preferred 4 4 2 formation. Scala, sporting his long locks & headband in a Maldini-esque mould looked and played like the veritable veteran Italian Defender (although thankfully without the diving and cheating!). Last ditch lunges, sliding tackles and and intelligent interceptions characterised Dean & Scala's game. They also won every header that came their way and commanded the park. Luca & Colin followed their lead, acting like the quality outlets that they are, breaking up play and feeding the channels. And it was through the channels that the break through came. Evan "Rocky Balboa" Watterson hassled on the right flank and won the ball against all odds. Evans' whipped not floated ball in was cleverly dummied by Simon, clipped by Matt W and nailed home from the edge of the box with a sweet left foot drive by Timmy Magic. The net nearly tore, and the celebration wasn't bad either. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!!!!!!!!

Vito as ever ran the show in midfield and cranked the screws on an on-the-ropes Uni. Not content with bossing the game Vito looked to get on the score sheet. On one of many romps forwards he was hacked in the box repeatedly, in what looked more like a Rugby ruck. Somehow the ref thought that was legal so Coogee were denied a clear cut penalty. Still the pressure came though. Sterling work by Matty W & Simon brought a great save from the keeper. Evan cropped up right place right time and should have scored but somehow skyed it from 3 yards out.

Thankfully he went from zero to hero in a pretty short space of time. Again a pile of pressure from Vito & Tim caused a melee in the box. Evan kept his head (down) to smash home. Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa;!!
It had been on the cards for most of the game, and when that champagne moment came, boy did it taste sweet!?!

As much domination as Coogee showed the last few minutes were a nervy time. The back four absorbed it all and the wide men, in Matty D & Evan, eased the pressure by storming up & down the flanks to keep the Uni on their toes. From one of these forays out left, Ev cut the ball back for Matt W. The Shearer-a-like slotted like like a champ to deservedly get on the score sheet. But the linesman flagged for offside, keeping the score sheet respectable for the Uni.

And so it ended. The boys drank the night away to strains of "ey mambo, mambo to Coogee Coogee". Queens Park laughed when they learned of their co-finalists. Which of course makes next Sundays match all the more interesting.......

MOTM: Dean "Captain" Kirk(land)


- Report by Matty Dale

Sunday 26/08/07
AA4: Coogee United V Redfern Raiders
Heffron Park

Coogee United 2 (Ryan Flack 2) Redfern Raiders 0

Coogee get a Semi!

Coogeee AA4 are all excited, they've got a semi!

Aroused by the early start, Coogee spurted into an early lead with a contender for team goal of the season. Andy penetrated Redfern with a perfect pass to Viagara user Alan who crossed into the path of Ryan who shot his load into the back of the net.

Flack came into the action again when he creamed a second past their keeper to harden Coogee's grip on the game, and with a win crucial against stiff opposition, Coogee were 2 nil up within 15 minutes.

This jerked a previously flaccid Redfern into action but Coogee held firm and are heading for a fantastic climax to the season!


- Report by Chris Calverley

Sunday 26/08/07
AA6: Coogee United V Redfern Raiders
Heffron Park

Coogee United 3 (Matt Watts, Joe Milsom & Tim Wilkinson) Redfern Raiders 0

With their semi final place already secured Coogee looked to fight for a higher league spot in the final game of the regular league season.

Jimy kept goal behind Steve, Scala, Mark & Gareth. Tim & Vito linked the centre with Evan (more maggoted than the worm out of a tequila bottle) & Colin out wide. Matt W & Tony hunted goals. Jon, Matty D & Joe sunned themselves on the bench.

The whistle blew league positions out of the window. Redfern started the better team and carved out a few early chances. The back 4 kept things tight though and allowed Coog to weather the storm.

The first chance for Coog came from Ev. He skipped past a RBT, sorry a defender, with pace and skill. Finding the by-line he fired in a killer ball right across the faces of the goal, the keeper and 3 defenders. Matt W charged in at the back stick but just couldn't quite get there. Still though the big centre forward didn't give up. He had a couple of chances to break the dead lock, but took one too many touches and the opportunities went by. Stick in there long enough though and goals will come. From another marauding flank run the ball was fired in. A bit of a scramble followed but like all good poachers, Matt was there to fire home. Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

Half time came and went. Tony shuffled the pack. Redfern belied their league position by again taking the game to Coogee with skill and good humour to boot. The visitors struck the bar twice, and forced a fine save from Jimy, who had to call on all his acrobatic prowess to tip the ball over the bar. Still the pressure came. Matty D pulled off a goal line clearance to help Jimy keep the clean sheet.

Coogee took the slap in the chops and used it to push on. Playing in his preferred position of Sweeper, Vito became an outlet and set up many an attack. Tony also saw a lot of the ball, but was cruelly picked off by a sniper in the stands on a number of occasions. And by his so-called brother and friends on the sidelines... It's an unforgiving crowd down at Heffron sometimes! Still, the player/manager of the season elect showed some good touches and positioning, linking up with the on-fire Jon Francis and wee-man Gareth and creating mayhem on the flanks.

From one of the ensuing short corners a change in fortune came. Matt W broke into the box and fed Tim who then coolly slotted home. Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Not happy there, Tim put the icing and the cherry on the cake. Linking up with Evan, a quick one-two was followed by a drop of the shoulder and a cut back. Joe & Matty virtually fought for the ball on the line but it was the soon to be wed Joe who poked the ball home, fittingly on his last game (this season) for Coogee. Nice one Joe. Goooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

So there it all ended. The lads went off to the pub, got pissed and talked shit. Some went to Jellicoe to heckle Maccabi. 3 points for Coogee to wrap up 3rd spot, at the least.

MOTM: Jimy Nanoo


- Report by Matty Dale

Sunday 19/08/07
AA6: Coogee United V Pagewood FC
Heffron Park

Coogee United 4 (Watts, Granata, Milsom, Francis) Pagewood FC 1

With the contest for top four reaching inferno level, Coogee entertained Pagewood. The world famous Sydney weather did all it could to prevent the tie from going ahead, and it would have had it's way were it not for the One and Only Tony "Mr El Presidente" Pengue pulling out all the stops to get the fixture underway. Grazie Tony. Not only that, but the living legend surrendered his place to allow Sparkey to play. Allan refereed in the absence of a proper match official.

In conditions that wouldn't have looked out of place on a winters day in the North of England, the brave hearts entered the arena against the Greek "gods" of Pagewood. Luca, Dean, Scala & Matty D lined up across the back with Gareth, Tim, Vito and Jon in the midfield, feeding Evan & Matty Watts. Jimy purred like the cool cat that he is in between the sticks.

Winning the toss and playing into the wind, Coogee took the game to Pagewood and got their rewards early. Switching from his preferred left side, Matt W found space on the right and was freed by a Vito/Tim combo. Skinning his man, Matt cut inside and finished clinically with a low hard drive. Goooooooooaaaaaaaaal!

The second followed shortly after. From a corner that swung sweetly in the wind, Luca produced a fine glancing header that sailed beautifully home. Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaal! The crowd was wondering how Luca managed to get the ball past the fridge-like keeper, given how his ample frame blocked out virtually the whole goal and probably the sun as well.

At 2 nil down, Pagewood discovered the wind was in their favour, and they truly put Coogee under the cosh. Jimy produced a string of fine saves / catches / blocks but had no chance after some great work from their number 8. Picking up the ball in the upper third, a shot was hit from 20 yards out. It was a bit of individual brilliance that nobody could do much about.

The back four, led by Scala and Dean and protected ably by Sparkey, snuffed out any sparks of threat from Pagewood. Up front, digging deep into their box of tricks, Jon and the rest of Coogee's forwards produced flicks and slick passes that Brazilian's would be proud of. Joe burnt the turf with his pace, spraying the ball around the park with real intent. Not only that. In spite of having 2 Verbal Kint style gimp hands, Joe used his throw ins to great effect. Coogee's third came when Joe, who like Matt should have had a hattrick, cut in from the right. The keeper made a hash brown of it and Joe bundled home. Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaal! Jon did the same moments later to put the icing on the cake. Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaal!

Full time and Coogee were the deserved winners. Their place booked in the semi finals, and the moral victors to boot.

MOTM: Tim Wilkinson


- Long Live Coogee, Matty Dale

Sunday 12/08/07
AA6: Coogee United V Locomotive
Heffron Park

Coogee Utd 3 (Evan Watterson 3) Locomotive 0

Coogee put on a convincing show to stake their claims on a grand final spot in spite of missing key regulars like Scala, Tim, Allan, Mark & Louie. Tony had to deploy all of his tactical know-how with personnel and positional changes that Marcello Lippi would have been proud of. Louie was polishing off a few Bourbons after nailing the city to surf in 1 hour 10, go on son! But it was the hat trick hero Evan who grabbed all the headlines with a match winning display.

A returning Dean, Matty D & Luca lined up in a flat back 3 with Vito & Colin sitting in at centre mid, Jon & Simon wide with Tony, Evan & Matt W up front. Jimy topped up his tan in between the sticks.

The usual shaky first 10 minutes passed without incident. Loco were well marshalled and limited to scraps. Luca played a huge part in this, but also in initiating the break through. Picking up the ball with a great interception on the half way line, he surged forward and left 3 markers looking like statues. Slipping the ball through to Vito, the talisman unselfishly fed Evan who calmly finished into the bottom corner. Gooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllll......

The goal ignited the locomotive engine room and they to sought to get their game back on track. The Coogee back 3 needed all of their wits about them, especially as Loco had the wind at their backs. Jimy the cat made a string of great saves, catches and clearances to keep a clean sheet and set up many an attack. Breaking from the back led to the second goal. Gareth put in some dogged work on the right wing, and battled through to the edge of the box, winning a free kick in the process. The result was straight from the training ground. Tony curled a clever ball into Vito (who had been read the script al italiano by Tony) who again laid it off to Evan. Ev kept his wits and rifled home. Goooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllll...

Just before half time Matt W again came close. A quick throw from the right found Matt, who shot on the turn. The keeper produced a great save to turn the shot over the bar.

In the second half it was more of the same. Jon played like a live wire on the right wing, breaking into the box with a cry of "here's Johnny!" and wielding his axe like a man possessed. He had three good shots on goal and was unlucky not to score. It was on one of these marauding runs that Jon set up the third. Again he romped forwards. There was a bit of a scramble but the ball broke to Evan and the outcome was inevitable. The commentator screamed Goooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllll...

By now everybody was trying to get in on the goalscoring act. Gareth linked up beautifully with Steve on several occasions. On one such time Gareth spotted the keeper off his line and spanked the ball from all of 40 yards out. The curling shot was goal bound and it took a fine finger tip save to deny him. Tony scraped the woodwork on a couple of occasions. Even Colin "Claude Makelele" had a few stabs on target. In the end we ran out of time and had to settle for 3 nil. Evan went off with the match ball and promised he'd buy us all a beer on preso night as per club rules. Not only is he a great footballer but a legend too.

Coogee now face Pagewood in the penultimate game of the league season. It will be a veritable 6 pointer and certainly one to watch.

MOTM: Evan (ably assisted by golden boot rival Vito).


- Report by Matty Dale

Sunday 12/08/07
AA4: Coogee United V Sydney Uni
Heffron Park

Coogee United 2 Sydney Uni 2

To the tune of ten green bottles:

11 Coogee players winning on the pitch,
2-0 up it's a piece of piss,
along came a tackle and a slap to the face,
and it was 10 Coogee players winning on the pitch

10 Coogee players winning on the pitch,
2-1 up but its still a piece of piss,
along came a handball and mistaken identity,
and its 9 Coogee players, winning on the pitch

9 Coogee players, winning on the pitch,
2-1 up and it's getting quite tough,
a dive from the portugese and a squirming free kick,
and it's a 2-2 draw, walking off the pitch

Sunday 05/08/07
AA4: Queens Park V Coogee United
Heffron Park

Queens Park 1 Coogee United 2

CouldGee Do It?
Two months ago, Coogee United were bottom of Div 4. They couldn't buy a win, couldn't find the net and had as much chance of waking up the following day with a clean sheet as Bangsy does after a night on the sauce. And now the're third with three games to play, with an outside shot of making the top 2.

On Saturday they faced the league leaders Queens Park, knowing that defeat could leave them outside the top 4. This was a Queens Park side that had scored 32 goals in 12 games, conceding only 12.

Coogee had enforced changes, starting the game with a bare x1, knowing that star centre forward Rob Hayden had to leave at half time to sell his car - I bet Alex Ferguson doesn't have these stresses. An early arrival from most of the team again meant every player was stretched and warm, and started the game strongly again.

QP didn't know what had hit them. Wave after wave of attacks down the flanks put them on the back foot. The front two chased down everything, the wide men pressed and the new central midfield partnership of Wildig and Reynolds snuffed out the threat of dutch international Hertz Van Rental. Wildig did the hard yards whilst Reynolds showboated.

The early pressure was rewarded by a nice finish from teenage sensation Ryan Flack. Hayden made it two before half time, with an outstanding finish from an acute angle - the new boots were clearly on the right feet.

Half time needed little to be said. Hayden toddled off hoping to get $10k for his rust bucket. Graham Downes, fresh from a mad dash to get his player card replaced him. More of the same please. Coogee continued to pressure and might have put the game beyond doubt when Flack beat the keeper only to see his shot drift agonizingly wide.

For ten minutes Coogee lost their way, many tackles and almost their heads. But this Coogee team is stronger than it used to be, and despite conceding a late goal, they never really looked threatened. With QP only managing a draw the following day with Sydney Uni, and Redfern beating Pagewood 1-0, this team of misfits, crocks and veterans is thinking that maybe, just maybe, they CouldGee do it.


- Report by Chris Calverley

Sunday 05/08/07
O352: Dunbar Rovers V Coogee United
Reg Bartley Oval

Dunbar Rovers 0 Coogee United 2

We played at the biggest field in the world at Reg Bartley with no subs, no interchange and 10 exhausted players and a fresh goalkeeper.

The team worked very, very, very hard to grind out a really gutsy 2-0 win with a wonder strike from Brett Patto opening the scoring in the 1st half and Petros winning and scoring a penalty in the 2nd half after a great run in which he beat 4 players before being chopped.

The defence led by Sgt Schultzy and Michael (he's not really my cousin) Magoo were able to protect Magoo from letting in a goal. Nuri & Slimy on either side completed a fantastic defensive unit. Johnny Fots and LEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOO in the midfield worked very hard as did the 2 Brett's on either side of midfield. Petros and Johnny Petrakis up front didn't get many opportunities but were very dangerous with the ball at their feet.

Really an outstanding effort as the opposition scored 5 past the comp leaders the week before and also had 2 interchange players.


- Report by George Magoulias