Association Cup winning Workers FC U13 took minor premiers Marulan in a thrilling grand final on Saturday. Workers went into the match slight favourites after their thrilling extra time win against Marulan two weeks earlier.
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However, Marulan had won three times against Workers in the regular season.
The match started just the way Workers wanted, with some early chances falling to the feet of the lethal Workers striking duo of Lachlan Turner and Lachlan Handley.
The game speed was exceptional, Handley broke through a gap after receiving a great ball from Riley Tozer. He took his chance and slotted it past the goalkeeper.
Marulan started to throw everything at Workers’ defence, but with the two speedy girls in Brylee Walsh and Charleen Grant on the back flanks and Josh Latham and Bas Cohrt in the centre of the line it was difficult to break through. Marulan had a couple of chances before half time but Workers keeper Mitch Latham wasn’t tested.
In the second half Workers didn’t have to wait long for their second goal. A piercing through ball from the captain Hayden Grant allowed Handley to beat the Marulan defender and smash home his second goal.
Marulan kept chipping away at the Workers defence and were awarded a penalty from a hand ball inside the 18 yard box.
Marulan’s captain Cox-Barlow took it, but Mitch Lathan dived left and denied Marulan the goal.
With 10 minutes to go Marulan intensified their attack, but Workers countered with a series of great passes and space opened up for the captain to strike from well outside the 18 yard box. The shot gave the keeper no chance.
It wasn’t long before the U13 Player of the Year, Lachlan Turner, received the ball near half way and decided to take on the Marulan team, as he has done all year. He neatly slotted the fourth goal for Workers to take his tally for the year to over 60 goals.
The final whistle went followed by the roars of the Workers FC supporters.
The U13 team had worked so hard all season reach their coaches lofty expectations and play an entertaining, unselfish football.
The Marulan players have been stiff competition all year and we can expect some great battles next year between these two rivals.
The under 13 Workers FC team are: Hayden Grant (C), Thomas Barrington, Bas Cohrt, Jerome Doodeman, Ethan Francis, Charleen Grant, Lachlan Handley, Tayla Hogan, Mitch Latham, Josh Latham, Riley Tozer, Lachlan Turner, Brylee Walsh and Zac Willoughby.
Hayden Grant capped off a great day, when was named the Mike Ferris medalist for Best on Ground.