MARGARET River will host all Leeuwin Naturaliste Junior Soccer finals at Western Oval on Saturday, September 20 with the public invited to watch.
Last weekend's games decided the Football Margaret River Waves would go on to finals after beating St Josephs' Glory, while the FMR Raiders lost out to Cornerstone Giants. FMR Warriors are also set to play finals.
U13 FMR Waves 1 defeated St Joseph Glory 1 4-2.
By Gary Leigh
THE pressure that comes with cup games often makes them tense affairs and this was no exception.
My pre-match line-up was wrecked minutes before kickoff when goalkeeper Jai Stanley injured a finger in the warm-up. Thankfully, regular keeper Taj Thomas showed up in the nick of time and Stanley was repositioned for a great game in left midfield. Although controlling most of the first half, Waves lacked composure, the enormity of the occasion getting to some players. They conceded a goal from a corner but kept their patience.
Travis O'Shea went close with a shot across the Glory goalmouth; Sam Leigh's free kick just brushed the Glory wall for a corner. The half ended with Waves trailing by one goal and all I needed to say was, "Calm down and start taking a couple of touches." The Waves did exactly this and started to fire.
Sam Bosich played a delightful through ball to Jim Wotherspoon, which should have been the keeper's ball but Wotherspoon had other ideas. Palming the ball away, he had his first and second shots blocked by the keeper but like a dog with a stick, he wouldn't give up and finally slammed the ball in to level the score 1-1.
Waves were now on top. Sol Garland was first to the ball many times in defence and the calmness of Callum Stevenson in the backline was something to behold.
At one point Glory was awarded a penalty when Janaya Beddow's strength was too much for the Glory winger, a knee clash bringing him to the ground. We held our breaths as the penalty was sent high and wide of the goals, relieving the Waves, but could we capitalise on this?
With 10 minutes to go, Angus Downding placed a shot just over the bar. Caleb Smirke made a great run down the left wing to win a corner, which was met by Bosich but his header also went over.
Bosich took another chance but scuffed his shot only metres out. A winning goal was not to be and we faced the dreaded penalty shoot out.
Waves elected to go second and watched Glory miss two of their first four penalties before goalkeeper Thomas saved another. Callum stepped up to take the fourth and decisive penalty; it went like a bullet. I thought the ball hit the post, but it hit the back stanchion and ricocheted out as fast as it went in.
The Waves were clinical from the spot, scoring all four penalties to give them an unassailable score line.
Thanks to Andy Longmore and Hamish White for officiating.
The final now beckons, with Waves to face arch nemeses Dunsborough on Saturday.
U15 Cornerstone Giants defeated FMR Raiders 6-2
By Andy Longmore
RAIDERS headed into Saturday's semi-final full of confidence after a string of good performances.
All that was on players' minds was a spot in next week's finals, but the Cornerstone Giants are a big, physical bunch and from kick-off they put the FMR boys on notice. To FMR's credit, they rode the early pressure and began a good passing game.
Unfortunately Cornerstone took the lead with an unlucky goal turned in by keeper Jykia River and they soon added another.
FMR continued to work hard and were rewarded with a nicely taken goal from striker Nick Gaman to bring it back to 2-1.
Though Raiders had beaten Cornerstone earlier in the season, it seemed the opposition were not going to let it happen again as they scored again to boast a 3-1 lead at the break.
Second half saw the Margaret River boys give their all but they were no match for the stronger, older and more powerful Giants.
The dream ended with the final whistle and a 6-2 win to Giants.
Next year Raiders will compete in the same division and I'm sure people will be talking about them all season.
Thanks to all players and supporters for a fantastic year.
