Morning Star Staff
The Whites clipped the Red Devils 3-2 in Under 11 McDonald’s youth boys soccer action at Marshall Field.
The action was fast and furious with the Whites jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first half.
Cormac Gibson put a corner ball into Kalyb Makarenko-Dunlap, who in turn fed a nice touch to Cole Toponce for the finish.
The Red Devils made it 2-1 when some great work by James Petreny in the corner resulted in a pass to Gibson, who got off a shot but was turned aside by the keeper. Kalyb Makarenko-Dunlap was there for the rebound and levelled the score.
The Whites pulled ahead late in the half for good on a beautiful direct kick top pigeon hole.
Cole Toponce and James Petreny shared the two-way player of the game awards, while Daniel (The Rock) Jassi was brilliant defensively.
A U10 girls match had Creekside Park rolling with orange and red on Saturday. When the smoke cleared after the fiery fray, the Red Dragons and Candy Crushers made peace with a 2-2 draw.
Valiant defending by Fianna Gough and Arwyn Thomas kept the Red Dragons at bay early on.
Quick touches by Lauren Cunningham and Madison Vranesic set the table for Jasmine Soon, who counted for the Candy Crushers with a cannonball.
At the other end, keeper Aida Dempsey came up with the save of the game, robbing Holly Magnus on a breakaway. Soon, Sophie Winstanley sent another through ball for Magnus, and she scorched the tying goal.
Early in the second half, the Dragons nosed ahead, as Magnus flicked Lauren Cooke’s toothsome pass high into the net.
Aida Dempsey, now at forward, swiped a Dragon goal kick and evened the score with a firm boot inside the near post.
The fire-breathers in red threatened to snatch victory, but the Candy Land defence held, thanks to game-saving plays by Erica Lovelace and Sophie Challen.
