Zoe Askew
Sale’s soccer addicts finally got their fix with the recommencement of the Go 7s summer soccer competition despite the blistering wind and drenching rain last week.
Finishing round two tied for second on the ladder, the Purple Cobras and Dusty Trims kicked off round three, both equally eager to assert their superiority and claim the higher ladder position.
After 40 minutes – which at times saw tempers flare – Purple Cobras and Dusty Trims drew the match 3-3.
The undefeated Four Leaf Clovers took on The Boys in Blue, winning 2-0, in spite of losing a player early on due to injury.
Four Leaf Clovers exhibited strategic knowledge, versatility and ball skills, justifying their spot at the top of the ladder.
Following the loss, The Boys in Blue dropped from fifth to the sixth position on the ladder.
Not Quite Ajax defeated Barely Athletic 4-2, claiming the crown as the highest-scoring team in round three and securing second place on the ladder.
Barely Athletic put in a gallant effort, conceding only four goals in the 40 minutes despite numerous attempts made by Not Quite Ajax.
The bottom of the ladder team Game of Throw Ins forfeited against the De Vines in round three, which saw the De Vines climb from sixth to the fifth position.
Just shy of a hat-trick, current leading goal scorer Charlie Cockell booted in two goals, scoring his total goals scored to an impressive number of seven over three matches.
Also kicking two goals in round three was Callum Matthews. Matthews is closing in hot on Cockell’s goal-scoring lead with a current total of five goals scored.
Following the 2020 soccer season cancellation due to COVID, Sale United Football Club (SUFC) secretary, Darleen Richardson and newly-appointed SUFC senior men’s coach Anouk Meereboer organised the Go 7s tournament in December 2020 as restrictions had eased across the state.
The 2020 Go 7s tournament served as the perfect transition to allow juniors finishing the Twilight Soccer competition to keep playing over the summer holidays.
For senior players, it offered an outlet to refine their ball skills and develop fitness before the pre-season.
“This is the second year we have run a Go 7s tournament; we will continue to run the competition next year because it’s just a great way to play fun, social soccer,” Meereboer told the Gippsland Times.
Meereboer is working tirelessly to organise the competition and is hopeful more volunteers can join her next year to further grow the event.
“The more people that can volunteer, the more people can play, and the better it is. We have the facilities, the system and structure are already in place, now we want the numbers.”
