1st Grade

Camden Haven started well playing some good possessional football and building several promising attacks however, unluckily their finish wasn’t quite on target. Finally on 30 minutes a free kick just outside the box was rifled into the roof of the net by Paul Eames to put the Havens in the lead.

Five minutes later though Wauchope hit back and levelled the score also from a well worked free kick. Nathan Lane put the Redbacks ahead a minute before the break with a controlled finish following a good build up and exchange of passes with Dillie

Camden Haven sealed the result with the final goal of the match 20 minutes into the second half. Again a patient build-up saw Scott Spokes fire in a cross from the left wing which Dillie flicked on for Luke Wells to finish with a well directed header for a 3-1 finalresult. Coach Pete Monaghan believes the team is now hopefully back on track in time for the second round of competition.

“They showed good patience and possession, and if we work on our discipline things will come together. Saturday the Redbacks are home again to Port Saints, perhaps with a little score to settle after their first round swampy encounter.

Reserve Grade

A home game vs Wauchope Axemen saw the team carry on where they left off from last week, playing some good attacking soccer resulting in a comprehensive 5-2 victory.

A settled side started well and moved the ball around all day. A few dubious offsides meant the Havens had to wait a little longer to get on the scoresheet.

Al Williams broke Wauchopes high-line defence and coolly slotted the first. The team settled down and played to their strengths. The boys in the backs again had a strong day dealing with all the Axemen had. 1-0 at half time.

The second half pretty much followed the same pattern. Good ball work in the mids put the forwards in space plenty of times with only the goalie keeping us out.

Man of the Match Daniel Trompert scored a great strike to put us 2 up. Then the flood gates opened with Lee Hartshorne slipping in a 3rd. Now everyone fancied their chances and a few lapses in positions let Axemen get on the board. Boys off the bench gave the team new drive and Chris Yewdall knocked in a contender for “goal of the season” and his determination led to our fifth goal. Wauchope managed one more consolation but it was all too late.

“Solid today with the mids and forwards working well and looking very promising for the rest of the season”, said coach Bill Roe.

“Consistency at this level will put us in good stead. Good stuff fellas let’s keep it going.”

Trevor Boyle Electrical Man of the Match went to Ben Romer in Reserve Grade.

Oxley Mens Saturday League Report

by Joel Purcell

The only team the Redbacks have lost to throughout the duration of the season, the Lower Macleay Lowies, were the Redbacks opposition at Gladstone on Saturday.

In a top of the table clash, both teams were eager to take to the field, especially the Haven boys who haven’t played in 3 weeks.

Both teams started the game displaying some good football, and the toughness of the game was evident from the word go. Matt Turner was unlucky not to score on the half hour mark, running from deep inside our half, but shooting just wide with a curling effort from distance.

Lower Macleay found the net with only 3 minutes left in the half. A shot across the face of goal was just out of reach of goalkeeper Rob Collins, and went in off the post.

The first half showed that the Redbacks could create goal scoring opportunities and fluently pass the ball. But unluckily they were down by a single goal at the interval.

The Redbacks came out with intent in the second half, and 7 minutes in, and the scores were almost leveled. Chris Bateup ran around two players to break free, but just shot wide of the goal.

Bateup went from almost hero to almost villain, “apparently” handballing the ball just outside the box. The resulting free kick going out for a goal kick off the cross bar.

Half way into the second half, and Lower Macleay doubled their advantage when their danger man broke through the defence. The Redbacks goalkeeper rushed out to apply pressure, but the Lowies striker kept his cool and lobbed the keeper to give the home team a 2-0 lead.

10 minutes from time, and the Lowies added a third, putting the match out of the Redbacks reach.

The Redbacks tried their best, with two of the goals coming down to luck.

That was only the Redbacks second loss of the season, and they will be looking to make up for Saturday’s loss, this Saturday at Laurieton against the Kempsey Saints. So come down and hopefully watch the Redbacks regain some pride after last week’s loss.