Shoalhaven Senior Soccer – First grade grand final
Illaroo 2
Shoalhaven Heads Berry nil
ILLAROO has completed a stellar season in the Shoalhaven Senior Football first grade competition taking out the grand final 2-nil over Shoalhaven Heads Berry yesterday.
The games were moved to Shoalhaven Heads after Saturday’s scheduled matches at South Nowra were postponed and what a difference 24 hours can make, with players greeted with summer like conditions compared to the bleak, rain-driven wintery afternoon the day before.
The win gave the Roos the treble in 2008 having already won the FA Cup and the Competition Championship.
It was a funny start to the game, there just didn’t seem to be the intensity you would expect in a top grade grand final.
The sides seemed to be feeling each other out and it took until the 30th minute until the first real attack on goal and Nick Gallagher showed why he is the league’s leading goalscorer, making no mistake.
Gallagher was on the end of a good through ball from Jamie Thomas and he made no mistake, slotting the shot past Heads’ custodian Adam Arnott to put his side 1-nil up.
Thomas almost added to the tally shortly after, but Arnott was up to the challenge and pulled off a good save.
Minutes later the Roos had the chance to go further ahead, when Gallagher crossed the ball from the left, which fell to Thomas in front of an open goal, but he mistimed his attempt.
The game was held up for about 20 minutes right on half-time after Thomas Simnadis and Sam Leedham clashed heavily during a 50-50 challenge.
Both players were treated, but it appears Leedham suffered a broken right leg.
He was eventually moved from the field and transported to hospital by ambulance.
The final two minutes of the half were played out in a somewhat subdued manner and the Roos went to the break 1-nil up.
The Heads came out full of running in the second half, in fact inside the first minute a Scott Komel shot went over the bar.
The Roos weathered the storm and went further ahead in the 55th minute when Daniel Frew was on the end of a Chris Stanley corner and the ball ended up in the net.
There was some confusion and the hint of an obstruction by Frew on Heads’ keeper Arnott, but the goal was awarded.
Heads really picked up the pace of the game there was some fierce battles and referee Tim Goodsell worked hard to keep check on the match.
The Heads took control for about a 10 minute period and peppered the Illaroo goal, hitting the crossbar twice and forcing Roos’ keeper Paul Maiolo to pull off a couple of first class saves.
Gallagher could have put his side further ahead in the 66th minute when he positioned himself well after a good through ball, and chipped the advancing keeper only to see his shot cannon into the far post and rebound into the field of play.
Despite Heads taking the game to the Roos the competition champions did enough and hang in to complete the double of the premiership win.
Illaroo coach Scott Goodger said it was great to win all three titles.
He admitted it wasn’t a relief.
“We had the side to do it, we said all year that we would,” he said.
“We were always confident, not over confident or arrogant, but we had a good side out there, today’s the icing on the top.”
He paid credit to Joey Leedham and Jamie Thomas for their leadership.
“They were all good, they all played well, but Joey and Jamie led from the front,” he said.
“A good team effort.
“Very happy, three titles was good after last year – we got the competition championship and were probably a bit flat come finals time, so it’s probably good to get the monkey off the back with a grand final this year.
”It would have been heartbreaking not to win it.”
Shoalhaven Heads coach Bruno Komel said the Roos deserved their win.
“They were better on the day and it was their day today and that’s the way it goes,” he said.
“It’s always tough to lose on grand final day, I was a bit disappointed with Arnott getting knocked out on the ball down there, but these things happen, you can’t do much about that.
“But it was a great goal Nick (Gallagher) scored first up.
“A little bit of lack of discipline at times, but the boys tried and worked hard and it’s been a good season.
“At the end of the day you work all year to get to the grand final and we were here, but Illaroo deserved to win it they were much better than us.”
Illaroo 2 (Nick Gallagher, Daniel Frew) d Shoal-haven Heads Berry nil.
CHAMPS: Above, Illaroo celebrate its 2-nil grand final win over Heads.
YOU Beauty: Right, Illaroo captain Joey Leedham with the Bolton Blackmore Shield.
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