The Tarrawanna Blueys stormed Bulli FC in the Under 18 Division 1 Grand Final today thanks to a double from Blueys man of the match, Sam Miranda and a spectacular goal by Wesley Van Kempen at Crehan Park, Cringila.

Tarrawanna Coach Beau Cropper was delighted after the match, “we were full of confidence at the halftime break but we had to tweak a few things to ensure we finished the game off, the boys did that and we finished the game off well.”

“It was won today out there by pressure, by forcing them into mistakes. That early goal came off pressure, that’s all it was. They were always a chance to come back, it’s a Grand Final, we stuck solid to our game plan and ensured we closed out the game.”

The form team of the Under 18 competition all season, the Blueys took just 38 seconds to register their first goal. Bulli defender Henry Jenkins miss timed a back pass to goal keeper Ben Roberts for the ball to be swooped on by Sam Miranda, who side footed into an open net giving the Blueys a dream start.

A stunned Bulli were almost two goals behind on the scoresheet moments later when Miranda dangerously strolled unmarked into the box behind some lacklustre defence, only to be denied by an advancing Roberts who flung his body at the ball to spoil the attack.

Down the other end, Bulli’s Ben McMechan showed composure to fire a shot past a number of bodies for the ball to be skipped inches wide past the right hand upright with Bluey’s custodian Jacob Fuller scrambling across the face of goals.

Bulli’s Damien Grew threatened the Tarrawanna backline on numerous occasions early on but was unable to penetrate a solid defence lead by Blueys Cooper Smith and Lachlan Donnelly.

In the 20^th minute, Tarrawanna’s Miranda guided a pass across the face of goal to Jackson Dent to spray his attempt wide from the six-yard box when it was certain he would score with only Roberts to beat. The Blueys with their tails up, again came close just minutes later when Dent turned into the provider as he swung a ball across into the box from the right for Miranda, who skewed his header to the feet of Luca Gaudiosi. Guidiosi blasted his attempt, also wide from within the six-yard box.

In the 34^th minute, the Bulli faithful came to life when a dazzling run by Eden McCall saw him beat a number of defenders, as he darted into the box digging deep into his bag of tricks producing several step overs that opened up the Blueys defence. Cooper Smith wasn’t to be fooled as he came across in cover to deny any potential invasion.

The lethal Bluey combination of Dent and Miranda were at it again before the half time break with Miranda setting up Dent to be denied by Roberts to win the Tarrawanna side a corner. From the resulting set piece, the ball was bent in towards the back post and into the net by Wesley Van Kempen as players from both sides stood still in awe of what just happened giving the Blueys a two-goal advantage leading into the half time drinks break.

The Tarrawanna outfit commenced the second half like they finished the first half. It was all one-way traffic after the break and the Blueys had their third goal of the afternoon when an unmarked Miranda was on hand to finish with a neat header past a helpless Roberts.

With the heat well and truly on Bulli after such a dominate display by the Blueys, Miranda was unlucky not to have a hattrick in the 49^th minute when he scuffed his attempt at the back post with an open goal awaiting.

Bulli attempted to restore some pride when substitute Josh Carter fired a long range shot that drifted well wide of the target. It was by pure luck that Bulli didn’t find themselves further behind on the scoreboard. Some heroics by Roberts in goal for Bulli kept his side within any slender hope of a remarkable comeback as he was on hand to deny raid after raid from Tarrawanna front men Miranda and Dent. Substitutes Stefan Visnic and James Gliguroski also had opportunities go begging with shots on target in the second period.

In the 67^th minute, a Bulli free kick was floated into the box towards the back post by Gaudiosi towards Grew. Grew was out leaped by Miranda who headed the ball clear to safety.

Good goal scoring chances were few and far between for the Bulli outfit as they were totally dominated across the pitch by a much more experienced Tarrawanna Blueys outfit with the match finishing in favour of the Blueys to record a three goal to nil white wash to be crowned the 2017 Under 18 Division 1 Grand Final Champions.

Bulli coach Michael Grew was full of praise for his Grand Final opponents, “they started off really well, and were probably a bit too strong across the park to be totally honest. Our kids just didn’t seem to play our usual way but that’s mainly due to how Tarrawanna set up, they played really well.”

“They had a lot of experienced players in their team and it showed out there today, congratulations to them.”

The result caps off a remarkable season for the Blueys as they claim the 2017 double after being awarded the League Champions silverware earlier in the season.

 

Report by Ryan Banks

MATCH DETAILS – SUNDAY 24^th September 2017 @ Crehan Park, Cringila.

Under 18 Divison 1 Grand Final

Tarrawanna Blueys – 3 (Miranda 1’, 44’, Van Kempen 38’)

Def

Bulli FC – 0

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Sam MIRANDA (Tarrawanna Blueys)

Referee Brodie Merchant

Assistant referees: Annaliese Phipps, Damien Dennelly

4^th Official: Stuart Derbridge

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia