THE Bomaderry Tigers have won the Bolden Blackmore Shield after winning one of the most entertaining Shoalhaven Football grand finals in recent memory against Gerringong.
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After the game ended 2-all at extra-time, Nathan Aldridge’s men won the shoot-out at Ison Park on Saturday 4-2 – handing the Breakers their second straight defeat in the decider via the spot kicks.
After a physical start to the match, in which a number of free-kicks are awarded, it was Bomaderry’s Blake Munila who was handed the match’s first yellow, for a challenge on Andy Lockard.
As the wind picked up in the early stages, it was the Tigers who were on top early, with breeze in their backs – in particular, Brendan Kellett caused numerous headaches down the left wing.
Kellett continued his strong play and forced Breakers goal-keeper Joel Lockard into a sensational one-handed reflex save – the first of many he was forced to make.
Through the first 20 minutes and before the first drinks break, Gerringong only troubled Tigers shot-stopper Scott Fagerlund once.
That trend continued, as Nick Evans, Cameron Warner and Brendan Kellett all threatened Lockard’s goal – with the latter missing a one-on-one against the number one.
Jordan Haddow was then yellow carded to retaliating against a tackle made on team-mate Warner.
Gerringong finally settled and worked their way into the match - being denied the opener through Jordan Lando, after the referee ruled that Fagerlund was impeded during the ball’s cross into the box.
This energized the Breakers, who should have taken the lead when Kane Rowe let a Paul Gaffney shot run, instead of tapping it in.
Minutes later, Fagerlund kept his clean-sheet alive, pulling off a close reflex save on Michael Binney – which looked certain to find the back of the net following a Rowe lay-off.
With all these missed chance, the scores remained nil-all at half-time.
The break obviously revitalized the Tigers, who opened the match’s scoring in the 47th minute.
Jordan Haddow played the left winger Brendan Kellett through, who controlled the ball, stepped around Lockard and calmly slotted it with his left foot.
The Breakers tried to respond, first through Rowe cross before a Nick Astin header – both were dispatched by Fagerlund.
Gerringong were then unlucky not to be awarded penalty when Astin appeared to be taken out by Tom Moffatt in the box.
The Haddow-Kellett combination almost doubled the Tigers lead mid-way through the second half, but the latter couldn’t keep his shot down.
Minutes later, Haddow himself should have scored, as his chipped volley sailed over the crossbar.
Just before the final drinks break, Astin was yellow-carded for collision with Brendan Kellett.
Tempers flared at final drinks break on the back of an altercation between Joel Lockard and Blake Munilla.
Tigers’ Nick Evans had chance to put game to bed three minutes after resumption, cutting in from right but he pushed his left foot shot to right of goals.
Gerringong threw everything they had at Fagerlund’s goal - firstly Jordan Lando sprayed his attempt before Munilla got in front of the competition’s leading goal-scorer’s attempt.
With 15 minutes to play, the Breakers were reduced to 10-men when Astin picked up his second yellow card, for a dangerous tackle.
With the man advantage, Bomaderry’s Haddow started to cause havoc, missing two chances narrowly within 90 seconds of each other – before he was illegally tackled by Josh Maranesi, who earned a yellow for his troubles.
A Dale Russell yellow then gave the Breakers a golden opportunity to equalise from a Gaffney free-kick – which was headed towards goal by Lando and amazingly saved by Fagerlund.
But Fagerlund could do nothing to stop Lando’s header in the final minute, out-leaping three defenders to latch onto a Jake Packham cross.
Before the restart, Gerringong’s Andy Lockard was given his marching orders, for apparently using inappropriate language towards the opposition bench following the goal – reducing the Breakers to nine men for the extra-time period, after the match ended 1-all after regulation.
The heated match continued in extra-time, with Warner being given a yellow for Bomaderry.
On the counter-attack, the Breakers scored against all odds, as Packham cut it back inside across Fagerlund for Lando to score his second and give the minor premiers their first lead.
Gerringong were then unlucky to not extend their lead - Gaffney’s free-kick hit underside of crossbar but bounced out before being cleared off the line.
Brendan Kellett didn’t make most of chance in box – his shot was hit straight at Lockard, as the score was 2-1 at half-time of extra-time.
In dying moments, Gaffney yellow carded for time wasting before Evans suffered the same fate for a collision with Joel Lockard.
The thrilling contest was not done yet, with the Breakers’ Luke Nolan stretchered off the field with concussion, after coping a heavy knock inside his own box, before Dale Russell somehow managed to head the ball into the back of the net, to equalise, following scrappy play in the Breakers’ box.
The final whistle was soon sounded, ending at 2-all, before Bomaderry’s Evans iced the 4-2 win in penalties, thanks to his calmly taken spot kick.
Tigers’ Scott Fagerlund was awarded man-of-the-match and was well supported by Brendan Kellett, Munilla and Haddow, while the Breakers were best served by two-goal hero Lando, Gaffney, Rob Franks, Joel Lockard and Gary Vian.