22/01/25: Kestrels 3-1 ARU II

The Kestrels came into the match fired up for the first competitive fixture of the year in an away-turned-home game at Queens. After two disappointing friendly results warming up to the new system, Abhi-ball was in full flow in the first half. ARU were no match for the overload in midfield, with Joe, Monkman, Aidan and Julien knocking it around and switching play with ease. After a few good looks from Dom and some dangerous runs in from Stan and Noah, the breakthrough finally came with a tidy finish from Monkman off an Aidan through ball. 1-0 at half time. The second started off with some more dominant play, with Aidan winning a penalty and Dom converting coolly. With no answer in sight, ARU resorted to hoofing balls down the pitch for BBL to scoop up. Tobias, Ethan and Toby were rock solid throughout with mostly nothing getting through at the back, bar one unlucky play allowing ARU to get one back on their only look of the game. The Kestrels managed the game professionally from that point onwards, knocking it around the back and keeping possession, leaving their keeper with nothing better to do but express his frustration by ranting about some of the kestrels’ fashion choices. An incisive Alex ball down the line had Stan in, who took advantage of some ARU offside confusion to smash a third top corner. 3-1 Kestrels final result, and a great team performance all-around.

Goals: Dom Watts, Charlie Monkman, Stan Knight

Assists: Alex McDonald, Aidan O’Donnell (2)

✍️: Julien Horwood