The eagerly anticipated final in the Youth Cup between Wollongong United and Woonona Sharks began predictably with both sides keen to stamp their style upon the game, Woonona playing width and aerial whilst United kept it central and on the deck. United were enjoying a lot of success down the inside corridors exploiting the space left centrally by the Sharks' wider players.

Early chances to Zac McLaren and Jackson Brooks inside 5 minutes set the tone for the first half, Woonona on the back pedal and United parking themselves in the forward half. They hit the lead early on with Jackson Brooks rising to meet a dinked free kick into the box and bump it over Kyle Booth in goals.

United could easily have had a handful of goals had their finishing matched the quality of their build-up play. Jessie Davies had a heavy touch inside the box and nobody rose to meet a cross with Booth flailing. Brad Acev found himself free down the right wing before shooting across goal, however McLaren was unable to get on the end of it at the far post.

Woonona weren't without their share of chances, however the defensive strength of Wollongong shone through, lead by captain Jackson Brooks. The Sharks were forced to go around the sound defensive unit rather than through it. Aidan Breslin was let loose down the left wing but elected to pass instead of shoot, and Caleb Russell hitting a close shot into the body of Ristevski after a slick passing move involving Joel Beattie and Russell.

Booth and his defence had a tentative few minutes approaching the half, having to put his body on the line to snatch possession from McLaren, David Kotrc forced into a sliding challenge on Davies inside the box and Breslin needed to clear a Zac Mazevski shot off the line.

Their efforts were rewarded in stoppage time - Brooks fouling Russell on the edge of the box, verging on a penalty. Daniel Loe teed up the free kick at the far post, causing Ristevski to parry, as Kyle Del knocked home the rebound to bring scores level at the interval.

After the break, Woonona came back with a renewed energy, beginning to take the game to United. 9 minutes in and they were robbed of a great team goal by a spectacular save from Ristevski, a one-two between Russell and Beattie saw the former shoot across his body, the United gloveman diving wrong-footed to throw a foot out and bundle the shot wide of the upright.

Chances were at a premium in the second half, with barely a shot or header to be seen during the third quarter. Woonona began to feel they were really in with a shot of grabbing the win as full time approached.

With 15 left to play, it was all the Sharks - Loe had a penalty shout waved away, Liam Storkey turned his man but failed to get a shot off, Russell hit his own man with a shot and Mellor shot tamely from 25 yards.

Much against the run of play, it was United who grabbed the all important third goal, Jake Leighton receiving the rebounds of a corner, volleying from 20 yards with a wicked deflection sending Booth the wrong way and left to watch as the ball trickled over.

Woonona continued to look stronger despite going behind, as Del drew another goal-line clearance from the United defence, as Russell blazed the rebound on target, miraculously saved by the recovering Ristevski.

United managed to hold on until the end as they claimed the Cup, tentatively hanging on at the back and 'parking the bus' for the last few minutes after the goal.

Wollongong coach Icko Atanasoski spoke of how the match was the 'typical game of two halves. We should've put more than one away before they grabbed their equaliser.

"We haven't taken out the League yet, but obviously to go through our season so far with only 1 loss and 2 draws in Cup and League, we are delighted in our position at this point in the season.
The result gives us confidence to push forward, it gives the club a boost on the whole and some impetus going forward for the rest of the year."

Woonona coach Geoff Foster was pleased with his teams efforts, saying "we were happy to make it to the final of the Cup but the next step for us is to qualify for the semi-finals.

"It shows that that between us and Wollongong, both have very strong squads and it just matters about who shows up on the day. It is the luck of the bounce that separates us today."


Sunday 31st July - Crehan Park
Referee - B. Herbert
Assistants - E. Crawley, T. Arnold, N. Ryan

Wollongong United 2 - Brooks 9', Leighton 87'
Woonona Sharks 1 - Del 45'+2

Wollongong United - Ristevski, Cakarovski, Webster, Brooks, Lynch, Leighton, Chaplin, McLaren (Pupovac 68'), Mazevski, Acev, Davies
Subs - Simonoski, Pupovac, Adnum, Nickle, Roe

Woonona Sharks - Booth, Kotrc, Breslin, Bresgrove, Mindzas (Mellor 29'), Day, Del, K. Foster (Storkey 76'), Russell, Loe, Beattie
Subs - Mellor, Mardon, Storkey, B. Foster, Ashton

Report by David Atherton (@daveatho5)
Photo by Pedro Garcia