United take home trophy
United take home trophy
By Damen Francis
19 Sep, 2011
Latrobe Valley Express
http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/united-take-home-trophy/2296537.aspx?storypage=1
http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/united-take-home-trophy/2296537.aspx?storypage=1
Gippsland Soccer League grand final day 2011 was one to remember for Churchill United Soccer Club, with the Rams victorious in three of the four grand finals.
Fortuna 60 had won the prized seniors league title, but it was runner up Churchill that stole the grand final trophy with a 4-1 win courtesy of some clinical second half finishing in front of goal.
"We've been chasing that cup since probably 2005 when we won it, so it's great to finally get our hands on it again," Churchill captain Jamie Robson said.
"I think we go back a couple months when we still had a sniff of the league and I don't know what's changed, something has just clicked and we've started scoring goals and started really playing well as a team."
After a cagey opening period the match came to life 10 minutes in as Taylor Jackson blazed a volley over the bar, while at the other end Robson's last ditch challenge denied Hayden Tanti a one on one with Rams goalkeeper Jason Sands.
A fascinating battle materialised in midfield with talented young players Joel Pirotta of Fortuna and Nathan Lugton of Churchill going head to head.
Fortuna was also without the services of midfielder Owen Kelly, who was ruled ineligible for having not played enough games throughout the regular season. Fortuna 'keeper Josh Witherow made the first real save of the match, keeping out Nathan Osborne's glancing header with his feet.
The Orangemen produced several chances of their own but it was Churchill that broke the deadlock as Lugton's low strike was parried by Witherow and Dade was on hand to bundle the ball home at the second attempt.
The score remained 1-0 at the break and Robson admitted his team was determined to press its advantage in the second half.
"After the league match when we were 2-0 up and Fortuna came back... to get a draw 2-2 draw I guess the message was to remember that feeling after the game and try to put a few away and put the result beyond doubt," he said.
The Rams almost did just that immediately after the restart, but leading scorer Luke Cheney's volleyed effort trickled agonisingly wide.
At the other end Cameron Dunne's deflected cross fell to Shaun Pickett, who dragged his shot across the face of goal.
Moments later Churchill did double its advantage as Stephen Maselli's free kick eluded a crowd of players before Cheney tucked the ball past Witherow at the back post.
The Orangemen responded with their best chance of the match, as Andres Nilo's powerful strike fell to Hayden Tanti, but the Fortuna winger's tame follow up was claimed by Sands.
The missed opportunity proved costly as Lugton collected a pass, beat his man and guided his shot past Witherow to make it 3-0.
Fortuna was handed a lifeline as Cameron Dunne's stunning 25-yard strike found the top corner, but Robson sealed the win three minutes from time, heading home from another excellent set-piece delivery from Maselli to end the match 4-1.
It was an inauspicious start to the day for the Rams, with Warragul getting the better of them in the second division final 2-0.
However, things were back on track for Churchill in the women's final, where the Rams completed a perfect season with a 2-0 win over Tyers Lightning.
First half goals to Caitlin Hall and Lani Murdoch were enough to hand Churchill its 20th win from as many matches for season 2011.
The club's reserves team followed that up with a dominant 6-0 victory over Newborough-Yallourn United.
"It's been a great day for the club, it didn't start off too well with the second division getting beaten but after that we got the women's, the reserves and obviously us," Robson said.
"I guess the development of our junior players has gone a long way; a lot of young guys in that side that have come through our junior ranks so a lot of that will go down to our junior coaches and our development side of things." All is not lost for Fortuna 60 as the club now turns its attention to next weekend's cup finals, where it will contest the second division Nan Bosma Cup and the seniors Battle of Britain Cup.
Last Modified on 03/02/2012 13:30
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