Defensive Resilience on Display in Goalless Draw Against East Enders FC
On Tuesday the 29th of January we took on East Enders FC in our second game of the 2025 AFL season. In a game that was dominated by both defences we were ultimately made to settle for a share of the spoils in what turned out to be a 0-0 draw.
The first 45 minutes saw us having long periods of possession but without being able to create any real clear-cut chances. However, we did manage to get some efforts on goal, most notably a header by Jauron Gayle in only the 3rd minute of play which was saved on the goal line by the opposition custodian, and a Jordan Deans long range shot half an hour later which was again well saved.
The second 45 minutes was a much more even affair with both sides being able to create some goal scoring opportunities. Early into the second half, we had our young goalkeeper Shemor Browne to thank for being alert to the situation when he acted like a sweeper to rush from his goal to clear away a long ball over the top before the East Enders attacker could get to it! A few minutes later we had a chance of our own after some good link up play between Kemari Gumbs and Jauron Gayle found Jordan Deans on the edge of the box who shot wide of the target.
The best moment of the game came in the 73rd minute when the former Uprising player, Defari Francis unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of our box, the ball looked destined to go into the roof of the net only for Shemor Browne to remarkably tip the ball over the bar! Our young GK was again called into action just five minutes later, this time with a more routine save.
The final ten minutes of the game saw little by way of goalmouth action but for a shot close to the end of time from Tre Gumbs which went narrowly wide of the target.
So, two games in and we have one win and one draw with no goals conceded in 180 minutes of football, a great start to the season and we will look to build upon this good form in our next game which takes place on Sunday the 2nd of February against Eagle Claw.
Uprising Line-Up:
18) Shemor Browne, 3) Asharn Hodge, 7) Delani Francis, 11) Nathaniel Gumbs, 29) Joel Orosco, 4) Jaiden Fleming, 5) Tre Gumbs, 8) Jordan Deans, 10) Matthew Brown, 16) Kemari Gumbs, 13) Jauron Gayle:
Subs: 15) Ea-Rhon Rogers, 20) Fidel Lim-Brooks, 34) Kenan Lloyd,6) Denny Derrick, 35) Noah Gumbs, 23) Rene Thomas