Ben Anderson, Jade Buckman, Mel Bruce, Ben Turton, Shannon Purton, Mathew
Klopper and Scott Brown.
Bayer Neverlosen capped off a successful season defeating CSA 2-0 in a thrilling Mixed Indoor Soccer grand final last Wednesday night at the youth centre.
The competition’s leading female scorer Mel Bruce slotted home the winning goal for Bayer Neverlosen five minutes from full-time to clinch the title win for her side who finished the season undefeated.
Bayer Neverlosen stuck to their regular game structure for the grand final and looked to strike CSA on the counter attack.
To CSA’s credit they came into the match with a new game plan and played very disciplined football.
In the first half Bayer Neverlosen looked the team most likely score.
They were creating the better chances with Bruce, Shannon Purton and Jade Buckman peppering the ball at CSA’s goal.
Neverlosen’s defence restricted CSA to shooting from distance.
CSA’s best chance of scoring came right on the stroke of half-time but Sarah Barber’s shot was saved by Neverlosen’s goal keeper Matthew Klopper.
The score remained 0-0 going into the second half.
The game opened up a bit more in the second half as both teams pushed for a goal.
Neverlosen continued to create good opportunities but they were flaunted by CSA’s goal keeper Dean Dunne.
Dunne’s goal was seemingly impenetrable and frustrated the Neverlosen attackers to keep his team in the contest.
CSA, roared on by a boisterous substitutions bench, started to gain the ascendancy mid-way through the second half and was looking dangerous.
Nathan Chembe, Akwasi Amponsa and Barber were putting Neverlosen’s defence under stress however none could land the fatal blow.
With five minutes remaining in the match and the scores still locked at nil-all, the game looked like it was heading into extra time.
However that quickly changed when the ball looked like it was heading over the sideline.
Buckman, who was being shielded by CSA’s Pat Dillon, swooped on the ball keeping it in play and sprinted down the court.
Buckman drew CSA’s goalkeeper off his line and neatly passed the ball off to Bruce who slotted home the match winning goal for Bayer Neverlosen.
Presentations followed the grand final with CSA’s Dean Dunne named Player of the Grand Final.
The Male Best and Fairest player of the season was Josh Brown (Wii Not Fit) and the Female Best and Fairest honour was shared by Allanah Burton (Peakaroos), Sarah Barber (CSA) and Beatrice Villata (Wii Not Fit).
The Male Leading Goal Scorer was Akwasi Amponsa (CSA with 10 goals for the season); and Female Leading Goal Scorer was Mel Bruce (Bayer Neverlosen with a total of 9).—contributed
