Thirroul faced off against Oak Flats in the WCG Cranes District League Reserve Grade grand final at Win Stadium. Thirroul looked to capture their fourth title in five years, which would also be their third grand final win in a row. For Oak Flats, they made the grand final from the 5th position, downing Coniston, Bellambi and Warilla on their way to the grand final. With both teams in stellar form, the game was shaping up to be a very tight contest.

The match began with both teams being nervous, coughing up possession without building up any pressure. Thirroul had an early penalty shout, but it was waved away confidently by the referee. Thirroul continued gaining momentum, Scott Woods had the first shot on target but couldn’t test Chris Jarman. It was Jordan Cox who almost put the Thunder ahead when he created space for himself with a fantastic touch and hit the ball sweetly but Jarman was up to the task, producing a wonderful save.

Cox once again had a golden chance, but this time he was denied by the woodwork after his header rocketed off the crossbar. Down the other end, Oak Flats failed to find the target, with Nathan Wilson smashing the ball well over the bar and letting Thirroul off the hook.

Thirroul finally broke the deadlock after Simon Ward was taken down inside the area in the 38th minute. With no arguments from the Oak Flats defence, Oscar Pruks stepped up to the spot. He buried the penalty with confidence and gave Thirroul a deserved lead.
The score should have been doubled just before the half through Scott Woods. After a skilful run by Jonathon De Lyall, who zig-zagged past a couple of the Falcons defence before teeing up Woods who narrowly missed the goal when his shot skidded away from the far post. This closed out the half with the Thunder taking the slim advantage into the sheds.

The second half began in a different manner to the first with Oak Flats coming out firing and taking the game to the Thunder. A golden chance for Oak Flats came within the first 10 minutes of the second half. A fantastic ball in found the head of Matthew Grasa who missed a great opportunity to pull his side back level.
Thirroul then had a decent chance at doubling their advantage when De Lyall ran through and found himself in a fair amount of space. Looking up he saw Jarman off his line and tried the outrageous, attempting to dink the keeper but he caught it all wrong, hitting it well over the bar.

Soon after, Thirroul thought they had found their second of the afternoon when De Lyall tapped a ball home from close range, but he was denied as Cox was found to have impeded Jarman while attempting to score himself. This was Thirroul’s last real chance of the half as Oak Flats begun to settle into their game.

Oak Flats were inches away from drawing the game twice in quick succession. The first was through Justin Beregshasy who should have scored but his shot spun away from the goal. Then Matthew Thornton had the Falcons best chance of the game when he found himself free inside the six-yard box. His shot was put wide as Oak Flats just couldn’t find the target.

As Thirroul struggled to get forward the Oak Flats side continued to pressure the defence, but it would come to nothing as they were unable to hit the back of the net. The Thirroul side survived the second half onslaught and captured their fourth reserve grade title in five years and three in a row. Oak Flats fantastic road to the finals ended in heartbreak. Oak Flats Coach Nathan Porteous spoke to us and said that he thought his side were unlucky not to score an equaliser in the second half.

“If we would have played to the standard we played in the second half in the first 45 we would have walked away with a lot more.”
Thirroul Coach Kevin Lewis said that he thought Thirroul should have had more in the first half, but a win is a win.
“We probably should have had four or five in the first half with the penalty and one off the bar but you know I’ll take a one nil win.”

Listen to the full interviews in the link below

Oak Flats

https://soundcloud.com/liam-emerton/fsc-interview-nathan-porteous-oak-flats-coach

Thirroul

https://soundcloud.com/liam-emerton/fsc-interview-kevin-lewis-thirroul-fc-coach

Saturday 22 September 2018 @ Win Stadium 

Full time

Thirroul FC – 1 (O.Pruks)

Oak Flats Falcons – 0

Thirroul FC

C. Wearing, A. Maddock, M.Jones, J. Townson, A.Ward, S.Woods, J. De Lyall, R. Gyngell, O. Pruks, J. Cox, S. Ward.

Replacements

 J.Tobin, N. Orvad, C.Pickthall, A.Dark, J. Simms

Oak Flats Falcons

C. Jarman, M.Grasa, R.Graham, J.Tilden, M. Thornton, L. Condello, J.Beregshay, G.Boskovic, M.Wilson,

Replacements

R. Franks, B.Crandell, C.Fernandez, J. Sovrano, A.Sloss.

Referee - Caleb Blanch

Assistant Referees - Emajen Crawley and Tristan James

Fourth Official - Mick Agim

Report by Liam Emerton, on Twitter @liamemerton