YOUTH GRADE – 1-0 Win: The youth grade boys were coming off mixed results the week before with a crushing win against an understrength Coniston, and a narrow loss to top of the table Thirroul. From the outset the boys looked good with the ball however the long and high ball forward from Oak Flats was causing some problems for the Uni defence. Ultimately it was a great first time strike from Chris Arnold about ten minutes from time that gave UOWFC the points and an important step further up the ladder.

RESERVE GRADE – 0-3 Loss: The ressies squad has been decimated in the mid season through a number of serious injuries, unavailability and some recent red cards. As a result coach Brendon Fotheringham had a tough task in trying to get a competitive formation on the field. An early injury to Trung Than didn’t help matters and youth grade captain Matt Shannon had to come on after having just played a full youth grade game. Always one to give his all, Matt ran himself into the ground and gave the ressies boys some hope. Unfortunately Oak Flats were too good on the day and ran out 0-3 winners. A few questions to answer and hopefully some more bodies on the park in coming weeks for the reserve grade boys. The season isn’t lost yet but there need to be some wins on the board in coming weeks! Man of the match was George Franco in his first game as a central defender.

FIRST GRADE – 1-3 Loss: First grade came up against an Oak Flats side that was at the pointy end of the table, however for the first 10 minutes you wouldn’t have thought that as Uni pushed hard and looked much the better side. Slowly Oak Flats started to assert themselves and the crown were on the edge of their seats for a game that was looking to be a great arm wrestle. Unfortunately long time servant of  UOWFC Grant Newman was involved in a near-last man tackle that gave him a yellow card and possibly could have been a red. A few minutes later and another lunging, mistime tackle saw his second yellow and UOWFC down to 10 men in the 31st minute.

The boys fought well and held out Oak Flats however couldn’t hold on. Oak Flats went up 0-2 with a couple of good goals, the second in particular was a classy finished into the top corner from a low cross. To their credit the Uni boys didn’t drop their heads and came back at Oak Flats, with Ross Graham getting an opportunistic last touch to make it 1-2 and give UOWFC hope. But another good finish from a route one ball to the Oak Flats striker made it 1-3 and that was the game. Man of the match was Craig Hood with a great defensive effort again.