RESERVES

Apollo v Naracoorte

Apollo and Naracoorte played out yet another incredibly tight grand final with Apollo this time claiming the win.

After a heartbreaking 1-0 loss last season to Naracoorte in the final, Apollo came out determined to avoid a repeat in 2023.

However, Naracoorte had early control of the match and created some excellent chances.

Eventually it was the reigning premiers who opened the scoring through Mcdonald Nehanda.

Nehanda beat the Apollo keeper with an incredible bicycle kick to give his side the lead.

It looked as if Naracoorte would have the lead at the break, but on the cusp of half time a mistimed tackle gave Apollo a penalty and a chance to equalise.

Cameron Wallace stepped up to the spot and converted the penalty with ease.

In the second half Apollo showed why it finished the season on top of the ladder, as it started to gain control of the game.

Apollo was struggling in the final moments and as the final whistle approached it seemed that it may go to penalties.

Apollo’s Billy Pearce stood up and beat the keeper in a one-on-one to deliver the winner for Apollo.

Pearce was named man of the match after an excellent performance which got his side over the line in the biggest game of the season.

Apollo is now back atop of the throne in the Reserves after an excellent season which saw the best team win.

Under 17

Blue Lake v International

Blue Lake claimed an incredible grand final victory over Blue Lake in the Under 17s as the Rangers completed the difficult feat of an unbeaten season.

The first half did not go to plan for the minor premiers at all as the underdogs International came out firing.

International spent the first half in all out attacking, however Blue Lake’s defence was excellent and was able to hold out against the pressure.

Eventually Charlie Kirby broke through and found the back of the net to give International the lead.

Six minutes later a through ball to Ned Heywood gave him a one on one with the Blue Lake keeper.

Heywood delivered the ball to the bottom corner with ease and doubled his side’s lead going into half time.

Blue Lake needed to stand up in the second half to prove why it was undefeated up until this point and stand up it did.

The Rangers came out firing and Meereh Htoo was too hard to stop for International as he scored the Blue Lake opener in the 47th minute.

International was now under pressure as it clung to a narrow 2-1 lead.

The danger man was once again Meereh Htoo as he scored his second for the match in the 53rd minute to level the match.

International now required another goal to grab the lead back, however Blue Lake was on a tear and eventually netted the ball again to take the lead.

Moo Bya Say’s long-range shot delivered a crushing blow to International as it now found itself behind for the first time.

Blue Lake hung on for the rest of the match, with both teams going close to scoring again but neither could finish.

The final whistle blew confirming an incredible Blue Lake comeback victory against a hard fighting International team.

Two important goals from Meereh Htoo saw him win the best on ground award after a match winning performance for Blue Lake.

Under 16

Gambier Centrals v Apollo

Gambier Centrals dominated the grand final to run out premiers in the Under 16s.

The Lions went up against Apollo and were the favourites to win, as the match started off on the worst possible foot for Apollo as Centrals opened the scoring in the first minute of play.

Czara Kumbhare was the opening goal scorer for Centrals and delivered an early blow to Apollo’s confidence.

The Lions continued to dominate the match and in the 19th minute doubled its lead thanks to an Alita Huyser strike.

Jasmine Siemon scored the first goal of the second half to extend Gambier Centrals’ lead to 3-0.

Apollo needed to find a goal soon otherwise it would be game over, however the next goal went to Centrals with Chloe Bullock’s 52nd minute strike beating Apollo’s keeper and sealing the win.

The Lions claimed an impressively dominant win over Apollo who will be disappointed with the result but look for improvement next season.

Under 14

GAMBIER Centrals v Blue Lake

Gambier Centrals has claimed the under 14 premiership after a determined win over an inform Blue Lake side.

Both sides had excellent chances early, the first shot to be converted into a goal was from Ben Imani in the 15th minute.

James Butler offered Blue Lake’s response levelling the match 1-1 in the 27th minute.

The scores remained level until the half time break, and shortly after Centrals once again found the lead.

The goal came in the 48th minute with Flynn Gray’s strike giving his side the advantage.

And three minutes after Gray’s goal Centrals sealed the match with Cody Beimans delivering an incredible strike from outside the box to put his side 3-1 up.

In the remaining minutes Blue Lake created some golden chances to score but Centrals’ goalkeeper Callum Feetom was excellent under pressure, winning several one on ones with the Blue Lake attackers in the dying minutes.

Ben Imani’s incredible performance, which included the opening goal, was recognised with the man of the match award.

Under 13

Gambier Centrals v INTERNATIONAL

A high scoring grand final occurred in the under 13s with Gambier Centrals claiming the 2023 premiership after a fantastic attacking performance.

Centrals only took five minutes to deliver the first blow of the match with Chloe Bullock beating the keeper to give her side the early advantage.

Bullock then doubled her side’s lead in the 20th minute and completed her brace.

Emmy Jeffery then took Centrals three in front with an excellent strike in the 22nd minute.

Jeffery then scored again in the 33rd minute to take Centrals to a comfortable 4-0 lead.

International showed some fight back with Ashlyn Cornolo scoring a brace with goals in the 37th minute and again in the 46th.

With the scores at 4-2 International had hopes it could take the match to penalties with two more late goals.

Jeffery continued to dominate and sealed her hattrick, destroying International’s chances with a 59th minute goal.

Jeffrey’s incredible performance was recognised with the player of the match award.

Centrals’ incredible season paid off with an excellent grand final win.

Under 12

Centrals vs Blue Lake

Blue Lake caused an upset to claim the 2023 under 12s premiership with an impressive 4-1 win over the minor premiers Centrals.

Blue Lake opened the scoring in the sixth minute, with Riley Stagg the goal scorer for the Rangers who then doubled his side’s lead in the 25th minute.

Stagg’s brace gave Blue Lake a handy 2-0 lead at half time, Centrals would require a big performance in the second half to get back into the match.

Ben Sullivan got one back for Centrals with a goal early in the second half and gave his side hopes of a comeback.

William Smith was subbed back onto the pitch and had an immediate impact for his side, scoring a goal in the 48th minute to fight off chances of a Centrals comeback.

Riley Stagg then scored his hattrick in the 59th minute to seal the match for Blue Lake with a 4-1 win.

William Smith was awarded the man of the match award for an excellent performance in the grand final.