Intermediate Boys intense battle at State Soccer finals

SCHOOL SPORT VICTORIA – STATE FINALS

SOCCER – Intermediate Boys

The SSV State Soccer Finals action was at its peak on Thursday 31 August at the Darebin Sporting Complex in Thornbury. The boys played three pool games initially, with the hope of qualifying for the finals later in the day.

In the first game, the boys took on Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College (MMC) in a closely contested match, with both teams showing attacking prowess. Daw Lar broke through for the first goal of the match at the 4-minute mark, which was a great reward on the back of some clinical passing and teamwork from defence to attack. However, MMC responded with an equaliser late in the half as the teams went into the break 1–1.

The second half saw both teams continue to attack with Will Chalkley, in particular, causing all sorts of grief for the MMC midfield as he hit the post on a couple of occasions. Other players also had shots at goal, but all attempts unfortunately went wide. MMC then pounced on a small error in defence late in the second half to score the winning goal. It was a great game, however, with the boys showing that they could match it with the best.

Game 2 was against the highly regarded Maribyrnong Sports Academy. The boys knew that they were under pressure but were determined to show that they were not to be taken lightly. It was a brilliant match filled with end-to-end action with both teams displaying outstanding defensive skills, denying each other many scoring opportunities. Maribyrnong however did manage to hit the back of the net twice in this game, showcasing their clinical finishing ability while CMC’s relentless efforts and teamwork made this game memorable. Despite the loss, the boys played exceptionally well and should be proud of their teamwork throughout the game.

Game 3 against Doncaster Secondary College was the final match for the CMC boys, and they made every minute count. It was an intense battle that ended in a thrilling 1-all draw. Doncaster took the lead early in the match, as they capitalised on a defensive error, but the CMC boys did not back down and kept pressing forward whenever they could and defending when required. The boys found the equaliser late in the second half on the back of a beautifully executed free kick by Jack Nuttall. It was a great team-lifter, and the boys were delighted to be back in the game. Although the remainder of the match was a tense affair as both teams fought to win, it resulted in a 1-all draw. Despite this, it was a good way to end the day.

Congratulations to the boys on a fantastic day, and also on a terrific campaign from local, to regional to state level. To qualify for the State Finals was a credit to every team member. The finals day ultimately delivered a mix of emotions with a narrow loss in Game 1, a spirited display in Game 2 and a hard-fought draw in Game 3 and the players showcased their resilience and determination against tough opposition.

Special thanks to Graison Jelbart for coaching the boys. His expert advice and messaging to the players were exceptional, and the boys really appreciated and valued his mentorship. Thanks also to Marg White for attending the day with the boys.

TEAM: Archie Short, Solomon Bu, Jack Nuttall, Harry Morrison, Hsar Ler Htoo, Will Chalkley, Billy Dearricott, Oliver Robins, Aloysius Coughlan, Ethan Pope, Will Rainey, Jack Kelly, Graison Jelbart (Coach), Daw Lar, Saw Ta K’Yaw, Ehdoh Soe