PROCTOR PARK CHALLENGE | 2022

The South Coast Flame youth girls’ teams travelled to Bathurst to compete in the Proctor Park Challenge. It was a great experience for the girls that concludes preparations ahead of the start of the FNSW Youth Girls’ League Two competition this weekend.

U14 Girls | Group Stage

The under-14s were dealt a tough hand of group fixtures and began the competition with a narrow 1-0 defeat to Hills United. The girls bounced back in game two putting in a strong performance in a 1-0 win against Mid North Coast. Sunday’s matches started with a very early start again Albury Wodonga where Flame was edged out 1-0. The final game of the tournament saw the side face a high-flying APIA Leichardt outfit. Despite going conceding two first-half goals which sealed the result for APIA, Flame kept their opponents scoreless in the second period; a valiant effort. The girls can be proud of their first hit-out together and have laid the foundations for a promising season ahead.  

U15 Girls | Quarterfinalists

The under-15s started the competition with a 1-0 win against Albury Wodonga thanks to a superb long-range effort from Samantha Shallcross. Flame backed up this result with a 3-0 win against Wentworth Falls Warriors thanks to a brace from Zali Wallace and a goal to Shallcross again. Flame made it three-from-three with Indiana Garvan and Shallcross finding the net in a 2-1 win against UNSW.  It was a hard-fought match against Canberra Olympic in the quarterfinals with the Flame taking the lead through Maddy Steel early on. Olympic equalised late in the second period meaning the game headed to penalties. Unfortunately for Flame, it wasn’t to be with Olympic scoring all five of their penalties to send the Flame out of the tournament. Despite the disappointing end to the tournament, the girls hold their heads high; heading into the season full of confidence and belief. Samantha Shallcross and Maddy Steel were particular standouts for the side. Sam was lethal in front of goal this weekend, scoring some fantastic goals and leading the line well. While Maddy Steel showed her quality in every game, controlling midfield both with the ball and without.

U16 Girls | Group Stage

The under-16’s were given a tricky set of fixtures to negotiate in the group stage. The girls faced a well-drilled Canberra Olympic side in the opening round with Flame earning a point in the dying embers with a long-range freekick from Ava Parry. Blacktown Spartans were next up for the Flame. South Coast showed great resilience throughout the match but unfortunately succumbed to a 2-0 defeat despite keeping the scores level in the second period. The girls finished off their tournament with a match against UNSW FC. It was an entertaining match with both sides throwing caution to the wind. Flame displayed superb character to draw level in the match after going two goals down, however, their opponents nicked the game in the second period prevailing 3-2.  Although the results may suggest otherwise, the girls can consider themselves unlucky. They did the club proud in a very challenging group.