Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club’s Competitive Junior (U12-U16) season got underway last Saturday April 22 with opening games at Chewton as well as away across the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League. For the second consecutive season the Chewton based club have been able to field 15 teams with five of those across the Girls competitions and at least a single teams in every age group from U10s to U16s.
At home at Chewton the Castlemaine Goldfields club hosted three opening round games with U12 Black, U14 Matildas Green and U14 Gold all taking to the field.
For round two Castlemaine will host seven games at home, including the start of the Non Competitive Junior (U10s) season while the Women and Girls teams will be heading to Epsom for Female Football round and a big day of celebrating the Female game in our region.
To follow the Goldfields Junior fixtures for the season you can head to the BASL website.
Small Sided
Castlemaine Goldfields program aimed at kids ages 5 through to 9 starts up again on Friday May 5. Limited spots are still available before we open up a waiting list for this ever popular fun packed program that will once again run across Terms 2 and 3. For more information email cgfcsecretary@gmail.com
Seniors & Youth
Goldfields Senior Women and Youth squads both enjoyed wins in round three of their BASL competitions. The Women came away with a huge 14-0 win over a depleted Golden City Women’s squad for their second win of the season after a 6-0 away to Swan Hill in round 2. As part of Female Football Week the Women along with other female sides from the club will all play their games at Epsom on Saturday April 29. The Women will face off against Kyneton in a top of the table Derby at 1pm
Earlier in the day Castlemaine’s Youth team also took out a convincing 10-3 win to Golden City. After going in 3-3 at half-time a red card for Golden City around the 60 minute mark saw a further 5 goals come for the ‘Prospect’s as they took their first win for the season.
The Senior season kicked off with the Men’s (Reserves) in Div 7 Metro North West against Swinburne Uni. A new look squad sees a handful of players from last season plus a new group from Castlemaine new residents from the Solomon Islands, all on debut. So this was the first true test. Also on debut was coach Steve Peterson. Maine started positively from the beginning, moving forward at every opportunity. Mid way through the first half the defence won the ball at the back and immediately launched a counter attack. With the ball played out wide to Gianluca he zoomed past his opponent and then angled in on goal. The keeper came out to him but he finished past him tidily to make it 1-0.
The second half started brightly for Maine and we looked in control. Unfortunately they struggled to string passes together and couldn’t capitalise on that control. Swinburne began to push forward and take some risks. A couple of good balls over the top of the Maine defence saw their strikers seize on a couple of opportunities but luckily they were narrowly wide, Paul O’Connor in goals applying the all important pressure. Through the second half it took a piece of individual brilliance from Gianluca again to extend the margin. Playing wide on the left he cut inside. He weighed up the options for a cross but decided to back himself and go for the shot. It cannoned into the top right corner. 2-0.
The central midfield continued to be dominated by Goldfields FC, ensuring that Swinburne couldn’t gather any meaningful momentum. Instead Maine created a number of further chances. Kane Parker went narrowly over the top with his shot and then Barnabas continued to pepper the Swinburne keeper with shots. Carlos Billy worked hard out wide and tried to get balls into the box and our defenders at the back held strongly alongside Ashay, with some resolute defending.
The whistle went and the Maine had prevailed.
Week 2 will see the Goldfields team travel to Reservoir United.
In Div 5 North West the first were on the road against Birrarung FC, in a replay of last seasons final game which resulted in a 3 all draw.
After a comprehensive preseason but with a much changed line up, Castlemaine started brightly and had the majority of possession. Birrarung were dangerous on the counter, with pace up front and out wide, as a result Castlemaine soon found themselves 2-0 behind against the run of play.
The Maine intensified their attack, winning the midfield battles, and started to create chances of their own. However, It wasn’t until a fortuitous handball decision in the box, leading to Ollie Gunter scoring from the penalty spot for Castlemaine to pull one back. It stayed this way till half time.
A few stern words and a slight change of tactics after half time meant that more goals were to come. First Michael Jones scored from a free kick to make it 2 all, and Jerome Time finished nicely on his debut for the Maine, to make it 3-2. Next week sees the Men away to West Point Soccer Club.
