News 03

The Masters league Division One 2003 Grand Final has been won by Pine Rivers United with a 1-0 victory over Kenmore KADS on Sunday evening.

A sweltering Sunday afternoon at Richlands Stadium saw Centenary take on North Star in the second qualifying semi-final of the weekend. Centenary's game plan was apparent from the kick-off, with plenty of high balls over the back four hoping that the pace of their forwards would give them the upper hand. This paid off after ten minutes when their striker hit a great half volley on the edge of the area giving keeper, Andrew Jones, no chance. North Stars enthusiasm to get back into the match went unrewarded as every challenge for the ball seemed to be met by the ref's whistle, giving Centenary a succession of free kicks - none of which were more important than in the twenty fifth minute when Neil Butland was adjudged to have fouled a Centenary forward in the area. The resulting penalty saw keeper, Jones, dive to his right only to see the ball go wide of his hand and the post!! Five minutes later North Star took advantage of this let off when Andrew Hauck won the ball in midfield, went on a great run through several Centenary defenders before hitting a superb shot from twenty metres that seemed to float over the keepers outstretched hands into the top left hand corner of the net. The score remained at 1-1 until half time.

The second half saw plenty of action at both ends as both teams looked to avoid the "Golden Goal" extra-time, but neither side could put the ball in the back of the net. The score remained at 1-1 until full-time. Extra-time saw North Star put almost continuous pressure on the Centenary goal but with no reward. North Star thought that they had the game sewn up in the twentieth minute of extra-time - Pete Martin sent a superb header soaring to the top left hand corner of the net only for the keeper to leap like a fish and turn the ball around the post. With seconds remaining the ball went out for a throw in North Star's half so North Star coach "Sir Alex" decided to play his master stroke and bring on three of his players for the penalty shoot-out - unfortunately Centenary had other ideas and a long throw found it's way to the far post where a Centenary striker found himself unmarked and with the final kick of the game buried the ball in the back of the net.

This was not an ideal way to finish a great season but we still have the end of season BBQ on 11th October to let our hair down and make plans for next season, if the bodies are still willing!!!

Tonight sees the first of the Queensland Lions Masters Division One qualifying semi-finals with Kenmore KADS facing Pine Rivers at the Richlands ground, kick-off 8.30pm, whilst Minor League champions, Ipswich Knights, have a weekend off before facing the winner of tonight's game. Sunday afternoon sees Centenary United taken on North Star again at Richlands, kick-off 3.00pm. The loser of this game will take no further part in the play-offs whilst the winner will play the loser of tonight's game in next weeks Preliminary Semi-Finals.

As a point of interest I have compared all the results of the games played between the top five teams this season and produced the table below

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	GD
NORTH STAR	8	4	2	2	11	9	14	2
PINE RIVERS UNITED	8	4	1	3	11	11	13	0
IPSWICH KNIGHTS	8	3	3	2	9	8	12	1
KENMORE KADS	8	2	3	3	10	11	9	-1
CENTENARY UNITED	8	1	3	4	14	16	6	-2

There was a great atmosphere in the North Star dressing room before tonight's match against Centenary and it was topped off by the quote of the season:

Several guys were commenting on sore limbs after having to front up for their second game in three days when in strolls 61 year old Colin Littlechild boasting that he didn't have any soreness at all - Pete Martin responded, to howls of laughter, " Col you can't feel your sore limbs cos' you have Alzheimer's and can't remember that you're sore."

The first half was keenly fought and ended nil all, with both defences having the upper hand. For the first ten minutes of the second half North Star didn't play as though they needed to win but then fortunes changed when, in the 55th minute, a Hauckie corner into the Centenary box was met with a crisp shot from Pete Martin that flew into the back of the net. This goal certainly livened up the game as tensions began to show. Ten minutes later Brett Mortimer was pushed from behind in the penalty area - both the offender and "Morty" were blue carded for foul language - Mike McEvoy stepped up and his shot to the left gave the keeper no chance to put North Star two up. Minutes later a Centenary striker was blue carded for deliberate handball and was given an extra ten minutes for kicking the ball away. Mark "Angry" Boulton was next to be blue carded for holding an attacker from behind. These changes to North Star's line up allowed Centenary back into the game and they headed the ball into the net from six yards with ten minutes to go. Morty and Angry returned to the action and helped keep out the Centenary attacks. With five minutes to go the final blue card of the night was shown to Centenary's number ten when he reacted badly to a fair challenge from Neil Butland, having to be pulled away from a couple of North Star defenders, and continuing to use foul language in front of the referee. The final whistle was blown giving North Star a 2-1 victory and the three points needed to secure fifth place. If the disputed Inala game default is given to us we would climb above Centenary into fourth place.

Having qualified for the finals, North Star have to travel to Queensland Lions next Sunday, Father's day, for a 3.00pm kick off in a rematch against Centenary United in the qualifying semi-final.

North Star's clash with the Black Knights on Friday night was a must win game for both sides as they both had a chance of finishing in fifth spot and gaining a place in the finals Play-offs. North Star almost got off to the worst possible start when from the kick off, sweeper Kevin Douglas, gave possession away on the edge of his own area. Fortunately the rest of his defence came to the rescue and cleared. Both sides created chances through the first half, North Star's best chance going to Dean Hicks whose rasping shot from twenty metres was tipped over the bar by the keeper, but the deadlock wasn't broken until the fortieth minute when Andrew Hauck's shot was cleared straight to Nick Iles, who fired the ball into the back of the net from the tightest of angles. North Star went into the break with a 1-0 lead and were keen to hear the result of the other game that could affect that vital fifth place, so Fish made a call to Taringa to discover that, much to our delight, Centenary had drawn 1-1 with The Fairley Arrows.

The Black Knights started the second half with a bit more urgency and managed to equalise after five minutes when their sweeper met a corner with a looping header, from the edge of the area, beating the outstretched hands of keeper, Andrew Jones. This seemed to spark North Star back into life. Nick Iles was sent clear, but after rounding the keeper he sent his shot into the side netting. Andrew Hauck hit a great shot from the edge of the area only to see his shot cleared off the line. It seemed like it was going to be one of those nights until the 65th minute when Kevin Douglas won the ball in midfield and after finding Andrew Hauck carried on into the area to receive the return ball. Douglas was about to line up his shot when he was shoved from behind, he managed to hold onto the ball and lay it off to Peter Martin, who'd been screaming for the ball for an eternity. From twelve metres Martin calmly slotted the ball past the keeper for his fourth goal of the season. North star managed to hold on for a 2-1 victory despite a determined effort from the Black Knights who saw a late effort hit the crossbar.

With two games remaining North Star are now two points behind fifth placed Fairley Arrows, who've completed their games, and five points behind Centenary United in fourth spot. North Star host Centenary United on Sunday evening, 6.00pm kick-off. No decision has been made about the final catch up game against bottom placed Inala Cubs.

Once again North Star did their utmost to grab a draw, in their must win game, against 10 man Britannia Easts at O'Callaghan Park last night. An entertaining first half saw plenty of chances at both ends without any goals. North Star broke the deadlock after 65 minutes when Pete Martin finished off a good move from defence with a great shot from the edge of the area. Easts continued to put plenty of pressure on the North Star defence and were rewarded with a penalty, in the 75th minute, when Jonnie Perotte handled the ball on the line after seeing two scrambled shots hit the cross bar. Fortunately the ref didn't see the culprit and Perotte stayed on the field. The Easts penalty taker stepped up but was put off by the sheer presence of man of the match, Andrew Jones, and put his shot over the bar. North Star managed to hold on for a rare victory which puts them in sight of fifth place in the table.

Next weekend sees two home games with the Black Knights visiting O'Callaghan Park on Friday night, kick-off 7.30pm, and Centenary United on Sunday evening, likely to be a 5.00pm kick-off.

Our two remaining catch up games have seen Easts default to North Star, giving us 3 points and a 3-0 victory (Goalkeeper, Andrew Jones scored a great hat trick with three penalties!!). Whilst the game against Inala seems to be running out of time to fit in.

After beating top of the table Ipswich last week, North Star decided that they should return to drawing games when they came up against bottom of the table Inala Cubs tonight . A game of few chances ended as a 0-0 draw, which leaves North Star with a tough task to finish in the top five for the Finals play offs, especially as we are looking at playing 5 games in two weeks.

North Star managed to gather 13 players for tonight's game, but due to the lack of a referee this was reduced to 12 at half-time, (Both Ipswich and North Star agreed to ref half the game each - thanks to both players who volunteered). The first half saw top of the table Ipswich struggle against North Star who were playing some great football. Fifteen minutes into the game a good move from defence saw Nick Iles play the ball through to Dieter Werner who managed to beat several defenders before putting the ball into the back of the net. North Star went into the break with a good 1-0 lead.

The second half continued in much the same way until the sixtieth minute when sweeper, Kevin Douglas, decide that we ought to play for yet another draw and planted a sweet half volley past his own keeper, even though the Ipswich strikers shot was going well wide. Fortunately the rest of the team had other ideas and for the first time in three months North Star managed to win a game when yet another superb break from defence was picked up by Dave Boyd, in midfield, who played a great ball through to star striker Jonnie Perotte on the edge of the area and his first time shot flew past the Ipswich keeper. North Star managed to hold on for victory despite Neil Sullivan trying to set up an Ipswich striker with clear shots on our goal.

Eleven hardy souls and the management team arrived at Centenary for a Sunday evening kick off. After being confronted with our host's unique outdoor changing facilities we managed to persuade "Sir Alex" to make up the numbers with the aid of Kev's spare boots and John's shin guards. (Fish politely declined after trying to squeeze his size twelves into a pair of size ten boots). The game started with Centenary keen to take advantage of the weakened opposition. Despite numerous chances they had to wait until two minutes before half time when they broke away from their own box and put the ball in the back of the net, going into the break with a 1-0 lead. 'Sir Alex". had to make an early debut as Donny left the field after about 7 minutes - (It took him the rest of the first half to master the art of staying on his feet). North Star managed to give a good account of themselves in the second half and gave Centenary a few scares before conceding two late goals - one clearly offside and the third a lucky scrambled goal. the game finished 3-0 to Centenary but a big well done to the North Star team for their efforts.

This week sees a home game against Ipswich Knights, kick-off 8.30pm, as we look to get our season back on track aiming for our first victory since 2nd May.

Yet again North Star went into this home game against FBFC Samford hit hard by injuries and work commitments. The team played a lot better than the previous week managing to keep the game scoreless until the last fifteen minutes of the first half when FBFC hit two quick breakaway goals to go into the break 2-0 up. North Star started the second half well managing to get back to 2-1 when Dave Boyd converted a penalty. With North Star looking for the equaliser FBFC restored their 2 goal lead with a well taken third goal. It was a tight finish When Mal McDonald put away a close range effort and he was unlucky not to grab an equaliser minutes later when his shot across the goal hit the crossbar and was cleared by the visitor's defence. The game finished at 3-2 to FBFC.

This week a perfect Friday night was upset by the fact that we had a referee who wore a baseball cap to keep the sun out of his eyes (and most of the game) and Capalaba decided to score SEVEN unanswered goals - three before half time and four in the second half. Lets hope we can get back on track next week with another home game against FBFC Samford.

On a wet Friday night, despite missing several key players through injury and work commitments, North Star were keen to get back into winning ways. A well contested first half saw North Star create more chances than Fairley Arrows. After 15 minutes central defender Kevin Douglas, returning from a netball injury, won possession on the half way line - he sent the ball down the left wing to Rod McDonald who made a fleeting run down the line and beat the defender to send a precision cross into the box for Kevin Douglas, who'd continued a storming run up the middle, to put the ball into the back of the net, from twelve metres, for his first ever goal for North Star. As has been the norm lately North Star failed to capitalize on their chances and went into the break with a 1-0 lead. Injuries started to take their toll on the North Star side in the second half and with only two subs the likes of Marto (groin), Sully (knee), Rod (hamstring) and Kevin (calf) were all pushed to the limits to keep out the Arrows. Eight minutes from full time North Star thought they had a penalty, to wrap up the game, when Dave Boyd was pushed from behind when through on goal - the ref with whistle in mouth strangely decide to play advantage - this resulted in a punch up and a drop ball restart!!! Two minutes later The Fairley Arrows won a free kick on the edge of the box and once again North Star managed to concede a goal in the dying minutes to snatch yet another draw from the jaws of victory.

Yes ... another 1-1 draw. Grange FBC had the best chance of the first half and hit the post and ran across the goalmouth. In the second half, a corner saw the Grange defenders head the ball straight to Peter Martin, who volleyed superbly into the top right corner of the net. The Grange then pulled the score level with 10 minutes to go ... seemed quite clearly offside, but anyway ...

A disappointing result.

Injury report .... P. Martin (groin), Jumbo (Face .. after a P. Martin tantrum kicking balls in dugout) Whole Team (Pride).

Once again thanks to Marto for his match report - Kev is expected to be back from injury for this weeks game at home to The Fairley Arrows on Friday night - No NETBALL this week, but he is going ICE SKATING with his kids on Monday!!

Decimated by dis-interest and injury, including, of all things, a 'NETBALL' injury, North Star traveled to Kenmore with only 12 players, well down on the normal 15-16, which meant that the 'half game' team was in for quite a big night. Sir Alec had re-arranged his cattle and with the pep talk of 'Next week's game is on Sunday' we were sent on to the field. Many of the players were left misty-eyed at the motivational speech delivered, and many were still not dry when in the 3rd minute of the game Nick Iles sent an early cross from the right side into a strangely empty Kenmore defence where Peter Martin swooped from the left midfield and hit a first time shot into the left corner of the net. He immediately asked the referee not to count it, because it was far too easy, but the referee denied him and it was 1-0. Kenmore fought back hard, and were rewarded when North Star let the big centre half run and shoot. The ball took a big deflection and beat the North Star Keeper to make it 1-1. The rest of the game was dominated by North Star, as was shown in the stat of 25 shots to 3 on goal (we were the 3, actually, did we have that many?). In all, a great result from a difficult game, made harder by absences. Full credit to our defensive 4, once again outstanding, with special mention to Col Littlechild and David Schulz for their tireless efforts.

Match report courtesy of goal scorer Pete Martin (Marto) as Kev is recovering from his NETBALL injury!!

North star suffered only their second loss of the season on Saturday night as they went down 0-1 at home to Pine Rivers United. The team is currently in seventh spot but with a couple of games in hand are still in with a shout of the leading teams. This Friday sees the team travel to Kenmore KADS for a 7.30pm kick-off.

This weekends fixture, at home to Pine Rivers United, has been changed to a 6.30pm kick-off on SATURDAY 21st June 2003.

Black Friday for North Star at Black Knights - North Star really played like they had not kicked a ball for three weeks and were lucky to go into the half-time break at 0-0. We thought that things couldn't get any worse as we came out for the second half, but they did as the Black Knights scored two goals without reply to end our unbeaten run. "Sir Alex" was unavailable for comment after the game!!

CHANGE OF VENUE!! - Friday nights game against the Black Knights is now a 7.30pm kick-off at Eric Evans Reserve in Bundamba. Perhaps we should now be called "North Star Barbarians" as most of our games have been played on opposition grounds!.

North Star head into this weekends round, with a match against the Black Knights, as the only unbeaten team in League Division One as Pine Rivers United overcame, previously unbeaten, Ipswich Knights 1-0 on Friday evening.

For the third time in four weeks North Star find themselves without a game to play as their match at Eastern Suburbs is called off due to the effects of the weather - Funny isn't it that we can't play our WINTER sport because of the WINTER WEATHER!!! This means we now have three catch up games to play - two at home against Centenary United and Inala Cubs and one away to Easts. Next week, weather permitting, we are at home to the Black Knights, from Ipswich, kick off 6.30pm.

On a cold night in Ipswich the top two sides played out a scoreless first half with both defences dominating the play. The second half continued in much the same way until North Star broke the deadlock in the eightieth minute. A Nick Iles corner was floated into the box, the Ipswich defence couldn't clear and Rod McDonald was on hand to put the loose ball into the back of the net. Minutes later North Star were denied the opportunity to go 2-0 up when the referee missed a clear handball offence on the Ipswich goal line. Two minutes from time Ipswich equalised when a through ball somehow got past three North Star defenders, leaving an Ipswich striker with a clear run on goal and the advancing Andrew Jones unable to keep the ball out of the net. Both sides remain unbeaten with Ipswich in first place on 20 points and North Star second on 15 points having played one game less. Next week North Star are at home to Inala Cubs - kick off at 6.30pm.

North Star's match against Centenary United, scheduled for last Friday night, was postponed due to the O'Callaghan Park ground being too wet. This week sees a top of the table clash between the only two unbeaten sides, Ipswich Knights and North Star. The game is to be played on Friday night at Eric Evans Reserve in Bundamba, kick off at 7.30pm.

Friday nights clash with FBFC Samford certainly saw a game of two halves. North Star played the whole of the first half seemingly unable to string more than two passes together without giving the ball away. FBFC took advantage of this and on the half hour mark managed to survive a blatant offside call and go one up. Two minutes later they increased their lead following some slack defending. The teams went into the half time break with the score at 2-0. North Star coach, "Sir Alex", must have put something in the drinks at half time because the team began the second half with some superb attacking football (the guys actually realised that they can still play without the intimidating presence and non-stop running of midfield general Andrew Hauck). On 55 minutes Brett "Morty" Mortimer shot from the edge of the box and Oleg Krasnichkin guide it into the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Ten minutes later North Star were back on level terms when a cross from the right found Nick Iles , who with his back to the goal turned and hit the ball into the back of the net. Almost immediately North Star had a great chance to go 3-2 up when Pete Martin missed a sitter right in front of the goal - when asked about the miss, Martin said ....

" The last time Guppy put me up front I scored 2 goals, the next week I was back in the defence - I wasn't going to make that mistake again!"

Despite North Star creating numerous chances in the last twenty the score remained at 2-2, which still leaves North Star at the top of the table unbeaten and on 14 points. This Friday evening North Star entertain Centenary United A at O'Callaghan Park - kick-off at 6.30pm

Not only did North Star have to contend with a change of venue, but also a delayed kick off due to Colin turning up late with the soccer gear. North Star spent most of the first half warming up and their night certainly lit up in the 44th minute when a Capalaba goalmouth clearance was met by Mark "ANGRY" Boulton who smashed the ball into the back of the net from 25 metres. An entertaining second half saw Capalaba pile on the pressure and despite the referee missing a controversial penalty appeal, when sweeper Kevin Douglas flattened a Capalaba striker in the box, North Star managed to hold on to a 1-0 victory which keeps them at the top of the table.

Tomorrow nights home game against Capalaba has been changed to a 7.00pm kick off AT John Fredericks Park, Capalaba.

A Friday night trip to Taringa Rovers, remembered more for the torrential rain, saw North Star draw first blood midway through the second half. Dave Boyd converted a penalty, after Nick Iles had been chopped down on his way through on goal. Despite creating more chances, North Star let The Fairley Arrows back into the game ten minutes from the end, conceding a soft equaliser. The game finished 1-1.

North Star kept up their winning ways last night with a good 3-0 win over Grange FBC. Two first half goals, a header from Nick Iles and a delicate chip over the keeper by Dave Boyd, put the lads on their way to a comfortable victory. The second half saw plenty of chances at both ends but only one was put away, when Dieter Werner, surrounded by defenders hit, a sweet left foot shot into the back of the net. North Stars next game is a trip to Indooroopilly on Anzac Day to take on The Fairley Arrows - the game kicks off at 7.30pm.

North Star Masters have another home game this Friday night, kicking off at 6.30pm against Grange FBC. Don't forget that next weekend there will be no games due to the Easter break.

Some great goalkeeping by Andrew Jones helped North Star to an excellent 2-0 victory over Kenmore KADS last night. Kenmore had all the possession in the first 20 minutes but after soaking up the pressure North Star came back into the game. On 30 minutes Kevin Douglas had the ball in the back of the net but the ref had already blown for a penalty - Mike McEvoy stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the left hand corner of the net. Five minutes later North Star were 2-0 up when Andrew Hauck score from a retaken free kick in the box after the Kenmore keeper had picked up a back pass. With some resolute defending and a superb double save by keeper Andrew Jones ten minutes into the second half, North Star managed to keep Kenmore scoreless and hold on for their second successive victory.

Following last weeks good 3-1 victory at Pine Rivers United, North Star Over 35's team start their 2003 home fixtures with a big match on Friday night against last season's competition winners, Kenmore KADS.