Broomedesliga Round Six: Barbarians Go Solo At Top

When the unstoppable force meets the immovable object, something has to give – or so the saying goes.

And so it was on Wednesday, when the unbeaten UN Barbarians met the undefeated Racing Guantanamo in Round Six of the Broome Soccer Association Broomedesliga.

With both teams boasting a one hundred percent win rate, the winner of the match would finally claim top spot on the league table for themselves.

With Alan Armstrong marshalling the Barbarians well, and Guantanamo’s Reno Kurg hitting top form, the match took on an energetic feel, with chances at both ends flowing freely.

In the end, it was a wonder goal from Fortune Nlanhla from deep inside his own half that bagged the win for the Barbarians, and ending the scoreline 8-7.

Eager to make their own headlines, Internet favourites Hobbits FC took on Cardiff City, as they set out to make amends for their embarrassing loss last week.

James Watt returned for the Hobbits, making his mark with four goals, while Selwyn Taylor looked in good form for City, scoring a hat-trick.

When the dust settled at the end of a long, hard-fought match, Hobbits gained the victory, their first of the season, 15-7.

Elsewhere, Sporting Guantanamo looked to firm up their hold on fourth spot, and a place in the finals, taking on last season’s champions Sanga.

It was a slow, lacklustre Guantanamo side however, and they were punished early, with Lawrence Elsoy playing a good game for the Sanga side.

The Mighty Orange looked tired, but managed to come back in the second half, scoring five.

It was a case of too little, too late though as Sanga sealed the win 9-7.

In the final match of the round, Jiminies FC battled the Travelling Royals.

Jon Falconer played well for the Royals as they pushed for their place in the finals, and they managed the win, ending the score 9-5.

With only one normal round of the season until the finals, all teams are pushing hard to make the top four. UN Barbarians and Racing Guantanamo have already sealed their place, but Sporting Guantanamo, Travelling Royals and Sanga all have a chance, and it will come down to next week to see who will be there.

Victorious Hobbits Leave Crowd Speechless...

By Allan Meikle

...well this author speechless anyway..

The hobbits actually won a game and in some style it must be said. The score ended up being 15 – 7 or so I am told. I am not actually sure as tears of joy were spilling down my tear soaked cheeks as the reality of it all started to sink in.

Cardiff City could not have expected the torrent of football that was about to hit them as the old Hobbit boys limped onto the pitch and assembled in their usual shambolic heap ready for the kick off.

All those long suffering fans who have been so vocal of late were strangely silent as they contemplated what they were watching. Strange days indeed!

Oh how they will lament the fact that a full team has yet to actually play. Yes yet again players decided not to turn up. Ian Chester and Big Ben Holden both used the excuse that they had to set up the Expo! (A note from your mothers is required because we don’t believe you!) and Miscreant Molefi simply didn’t arrive.

Never the less the players that did attend performed well indeed. Dangerous Dawie not only played well in defence but was seen in attack as well and even the lack lustre Meikle was seen to have shots at goal. Well when we say shots they were more like deflected prods really, but inspiring to see none the less. Mark Golden Boy Golding again was a no show but his gloves did turn up and it became obvious that it’s the gloves not the player that are the star as Andy Goram McDonald in goal played a blinder!

Jim Morris again played out of his skin and was vastly improved now his fitness levels are returning to normal and he acclimatises to Broome again.

A competition seems to be developing between Watt and Meikle as to who can score the most and best own goals and tonight it was James Watt who won with a tremendous shot that McDonald had no chance with.

Paper Doyleys contribution to the game seemed to be his continued skipping around the pitch like a school girl complaining that he had missed another shot. To be fair he may skip around like a wee girl but he set up and executed many shots at goal like the experienced payer that he is!

One other point worth mentioning was that Ten-pack-a-day Dangerous Dawies’ nicotine addiction appears to be being replaced by his fervour for the game.

Strange days indeed!

This win may mean the Hobbits fail to even win the wooden spoon but bodes well for the next competition.

Man of the match award must go to Dangerous Dawie, who now he has shrugged his impulsive desire to rugby tackle has developed into an all round player.

“Bring it on” , Paper Doyley was heard to cry after the game .

Broomedesliga Round Five: Championship Favourites Crash Again

Broome Soccer Association Broomedesliga title favourites Hobbits FC crashed hard again against a rampant Travelling Royals side, as league pundits were left wondering exactly who could have anointed them as contenders on a recent Internet poll.

The men from the Shire evidently seemed to believe the hype, with a number not even showing up to the game, leaving captain Allan Meikle scrounging for players five minutes before the game.

The Royals were ruthless, even without captain Richard Brunger, who was ruled out with a broken coccyx, putting a whopping 13 goals past the hapless Hobbits, who were left floundering for much of the game.

Dawie Van Rensburg showed his sublime skills for the Shire men, but it was ultimately in vain as Matty Tarbotton compounded the misery for the Hobbits, netting a hat-trick to finalise the scoreline at 13-1.

UN Barbarians continued their unbeaten season with a 17-6 defeat of last season’s champions, Sanga.

Sanga started the match under-strength, but rallied under captain Shane Bilston, who inspired his team to match the Barbarians on a number of occasions, but with Alan Armstrong and Geoff Peck in great form, it was not to be.

The league’s other unbeaten side, Racing Guantanamo, continued to confound critics with another win, keeping pace with the Barbarians at the top.

They met Jiminies FC, who welcomed back Jamie Lane to their side after a few weeks out.

Despite some excellent passages of play from Brazilian player Mark, who netted a hat-trick, Jiminies were unable to stop the Mighty Orange from notching up another win, finishing the match 18-4.

In the last match of the round, Sporting Guantanamo took all 3 points as a result of a forfeit by young guns Cardiff City.

With only two rounds of the normal season left to play, Hobbits FC and Jiminies FC are both locked together at the foot of the table on zero points, while at the top, it could come down to next week’s blockbuster match between the two unbeaten teams of the league, Racing Guantanamo and UN Barbarians.

W-Broomedesliga Results

By Erin McDermott

The Women's opening match after the Easter break proved to be a fast-paced, action filled forty minutes with the two favourite teams in the competition going head to head. The Troppos looked a bit shaky at the start with only four team members showing up for the match. Luckily newcomer Jess Downie agreed to stand in for the Blues. Black Magic put away an early goal from Karli Orazi in the opening seconds, soon followed by a goal each from Kali Owens and Emma O'Mally. The Troppos seemed to flounder with the absence of Captain Karen Salkilld and their stand in player but 10 minutes into the first half they seemed to find their feet putting pressure on the opposition with a Troppos corner and a near miss from Sasha Mitchell. Increased Blue possession allowed Black Magic few chances with Troppos Bec Morgan and Downie slipping through a goal each. In the final seconds Owens netted a second for Black Magic bringing an exciting second half to a close with a score of 4-2, in favour of the Blacks.

There was no messing about in the second half as the Troppos brought their A-game with Mandela Yu scoring an early goal for the Blues. Mitchell followed soon after bringing the score to 4 all. Black Magic played well but Troppos kept applying the pressure giving them little room to manoeuvre on the field. Mitchell netted another two for a hat trick bringing the final score to Troppos 6 - Black Magic 4. Best players were Black Magic's Karli Orazi and Kali Owens and newcomer Jess Downie for the Troppos.

Tighty Whiteys fought back from last weeks defeat beating Nancy Girls 3-1 with Zoe Bulston, Alyssa Byron (Nancy Girls) and Sarah Eastbury voted the best players. The Shamrocks managed to end their three game losing streak with a 7-4 win over a tired Troppos team playing their second game of the night. Best players were Naomi and Alex Quigley for the Troppos and Megan for the Shamrocks.

Under-strength Hobbits Go Down Fighting

By Allan Meikle

Once again the hobbits had to contend with a lack of players as most of the team failed to show for tonight’s game against The Royals………….

The end result was not unexpectedly another defeat but the players who did turn out played well and hard right up to the final whistle. The main thing that must or can be taken from this game was that the Hobbits youth policy may yet prove their salvation.

A much maligned policy with many critics, but one which is essential if the club is to survive with the current average age being 156.

It was then a delight to see young Jimmy Meikle (all of 14) don the red shirt and play tonight. Previous scratch matches had shown the lads potential (and that footballing inaptitude is not necessarily hereditary) but tonight was indeed his night (partly due to him being the only one with a fitness level that meant he could run). Many attempts at goal followed his introduction to the team early in the first half followed by much nifty footwork in midfield and a willingness to defend when called for. A future all rounder indeed!

The usual culprits were tonight joined by “Jim , Jim the DHW man” who many locals will remember from his days with Broome City (Yes the rowdy rough days of Broome City). Jim was the recent mid season signing by the Club who have secured his services on a 12 month loan from Albany City. Tonight’s all round performance, Jim even played in Goal for a period due to there being no goalkeeper (stories abound as to Mark Golding’s whereabouts, but surely cricket can’t be it!) bodes well for the remainder of the season.

Marks job as keeper could well be under threat from Macca’s boyish wee face which managed to make one of the more spectacular saves of the night at point blank range as well.(We understand that the facial plastic surgery has gone well with many improvements being made on the original and we hope for a full recovery soon.)

There is no need to go into details regarding the final result other than to say that The Invincible Ian Chester managed to add yet another to his tally so far with a brilliant effort indeed.

Not to be outdone though and with possibly the goal of the competition was Nifty Molefi’s spectacular overhead bicycle kick goal worthy of Barcelona’s Lionel Andrés Messi, well it would have been if it had been into the correct goal, but spectacular all the same and to be encouraged but with some improvement in direction. Misfit Meikle was seen to sob on the sidelines following this incredible feat, no doubt lamenting the loss of his title as “the own goal King”. !

So, where to from here? Well not very far unless the team actually turns up to play this author thinks.

Driver Reviver Weekend a Success

This past weekend, the Broome Soccer Association launched its inaugural Driver Reviver trip.

A group of volunteers headed down to Port Smith for a weekend of camping, while at the same time committing one of their mornings to serving tired drivers free tea and coffee, as well as a sausage sizzle on the side of the Broome Highway approximately 150km south of Broome.

A large number of curious tourists pulled over for a chat, as well as a number of locals making the long trip from Port Hedland.

After their stint was finished on the highway, the BSA members headed back to the Port Smith Caravan Park for a couple of days of swimming and fishing.

It was a great weekend, and one which will be repeated sometime later in the year, stay tuned!

For photos of the event, check out http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=18945&id=112872448724200&ref=mf or just go to our Facebook page.