Both sides scored more than their fair share of goals this season, but the high-scoring affair many were expecting never eventuated.

In the end, a second half goal to Manyana captain Mitch Butel was enough to see his side home for a 1-nil victory.

After failing to get on the score sheet in last week’s preliminary final, Culburra’s Corey Ryan looked more determined than ever to find the back of the net.

The striker certainly kept the Manyana defenders on their toes in the first half, but despite a number of chances, he was unable to come up with the killer blow.

Culburra looked the more likely of the two to open the scoring in the first half, but thanks to some tough defending and some great saves from Manyana keeper Matt Ringland, it remained nil-all at the break.

Manyana received a boost in the second half, with the introduction of leading goal-scorer Rohan Daley, who made his return after picking up an injury in the final round of the regular season.

While Daley’s presence seemed to lift his side, he was unable to help them find the elusive goal, as were other usual suspects Billy Zappas and Brandon Perosh.

With the game well into the second half, both sides were desperate to break the deadlock and it was Manyana who finally seized the opportunity.

Several Manyana players found themselves in a prime position to score, but none could get a proper shot away, so the ball was played back to Butel in the midfield.

Perhaps deciding it was time to take matters into his own hands, the Manyana skipper was well outside the 22-yard box when he took, what at first appeared to be a rather ambitious shot at goal.

The crowd watched on, almost in slow-motion as the ball stayed up in the air for an eternity, before somehow going over keeper Scott Merivale’s head and landing in the top left-hand corner of the goal.

Even Butel needed a moment to realise the ball had gone in before racing over to be greeted with hugs and high fives from the roaring Manyana fans in the crowd.

The goal certainly swung things in Manyana’s favour, but Culburra showed they weren’t going to give up easily.

With fatigue setting in, Culburra threw everything they had in the final 10 minutes and shortly before full time it appeared they were rewarded for their efforts.

For a brief moment it looked as if the game would head into extra time when a Corey Ryan header found the back of the net.

But the Culburra players' and supporters jubilation' soon turned to disbelief when Ryan was ruled to be offside.

It was a tense final few minutes as the game reached a conclusion, with Manyana holding on for the win.

With Manyana coach Matt Tooley unable to take his place due to work commitments, reserve grade coach Wayne Pennington and team manager Ian Barrett were left to take the reigns.

Pennington credited the win to a gutsy effort from the whole team.

“They played really well, they followed our game plan, but the guts they showed and to get up off the ground how many times they did was just unbelievable,” he said.

Pennington and Barrett said it was tough to single any players out but there were some who deserved special mentions.

“We probably kept players out there that maybe should’ve come off, but they did us proud,” Barrett said.

“Tim Dixon got tackled heavily three or four times early in the game, but he kept getting up and hung in there.

“Our goalkeeper Matt Ringland made two or three really great saves to keep us in the game.

“He was very nervous before the game, but I reckon he did a great job.”

Culburra coach Tony Gauci was obviously disappointed with the result, but said sometimes you have to take the good with the bad.

 “There was too much stop/start and we couldn’t really get any momentum,” he said.

“It’s just one of those things, it was frustrating, but I couldn’t really fault anyone.

“The aim of the game is to put the ball in the back of the net and in the end, we just couldn’t do that.

“But I can’t complain too much, we won the minor premiership, so we still got something.”

Gauci said Aaron Mason, Corey Ryan and brothers Kieran and Jayden Witt were their best players.

Gauci will now step down from coaching and wanted to thank all their fans, as well as Ian Cockburn and Ray Tweedie from the association for their support.