Warilla Wanderers became WGC Cranes District League Reserve Grade Champions with a 3-0 victory over Helensburgh Thistle in the Grand Final. Goals from Stewart Robertson and Steven Hockey set up Warilla's win, with a late own goal adding to Helensburgh's miserable morning. Robertson was named Man of the Match.

The scoreline made it look much easier than it was, as Helensburgh piled players forward towards the end of the match, conceding two late goals to end their Grand Final dreams. 

Helensburgh keeper Matt Wardle kept his team in it early on with fine saves from Marc Lee and Robertson. 

Thistle took time to settle but once they did Dave Taylor looked a threat with his set-piece efforts and Adam Thompson came close.

Helensburgh right back Mattias Samuelsson volleyed over from inside the box and it was the unlucky defender who then sliced a clearance minutes later straight to Robertson, who fired a right foot shot past Wardle to open the scoring for Warilla.

It was the turn of Wanderers keeper Ken Nguyen to take centre stage as Helensburgh pressed for an equaliser at the start of the second half. He pushed away yet another free-kick from Taylor and then watched as Luke van Zyl fired over when he might have hoped to hit the target. 

Thistle put on more firepower late on as they continued to press. Hayden Garrard came closest in the 85th minute when he turned in the area and saw his left foot shot slide inches wide of the upright. 

But it was Warilla who doubled their lead moments later as they broke quickly, with Ricky d'Egidio finding Hockey in space and the Wanderers sub picked his spot well.

Still Helensburgh threw everything forward, with keeper Wardle going forward several times to bolster the attack. 

But in another break, and in the slippery conditions at the other end, it was the unlucky Ryan Dorahy who slid the ball into his own net to give Warilla a 3-0 lead in time added on.

Player-coach Richard Zamora said after the match he could thank the depth of his squad for achieving what they had today without top scorer Andrew Shiaxiates (suspended after receiving two yellow cards). "It's always been really tight against Helensburgh and they came at us in the second half but once we'd ridden out the first 10 or 15 minutes we were confident we'd go on to win."

Story by Simon Duffin and Photo courtesy pf Fotosportz