THE Wreck Bay Sharks have won the Shoalhaven District Football Association third grade premiership on Saturday, defeating Huskisson 2-1 in the grand final at Ison Park.
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Despite minor premiers Wreck Bay dominating most of the early exchanges, it’s Huskisson who hit the front after eight minutes
Seagulls’ Sam Taylor hit a left footed bullet, from well outside the box, giving Sharks goal keeper Jordan Roberts no chance.
In the next 12 minutes before the first designated drinks break, due to the hot conditions, Wreck Bay pressed for an equalizer, on the counter attack, but struggled to execute the final necessary pass.
After the first break, Seagulls keeper Jacob Harvey pulled off a strong reflex save, after Wreck Bay produced a handy cross and header on target.
After 30, Seagulls very unlucky to not double advantage – an exchange of passes between Taylor, Nick Gelle and Kolby Lane forced Wreck Bay’s stopper Roberts into another strong save.
Roberts couldn’t hold the ball and Gelle was there for rebound, which somehow doesn’t find the back of the net, after a scramble between the two sides.
With seven minutes to go, Wreck Bay finally scored in the counter attack.
A through ball from Clayton Moon put Jarred Sturgeon into one-on-one with Huskisson’s keeper Harvey, with the former sliding a left-footed toe-poke into the back of the net.
That made it 1-all with six to go in the first half – which is how it remained at the end of 40 minutes.
In the first two minutes, Wreck Bay appeared certain to score but they couldn’t get a shot away, due to the scrambling defenders from Huskisson.
The heat started to take real effect on both sides - as they struggled to execute that final pass or shot to put them in front.
But just before the referee whistled for the drink break, in the 59th minute, Sharks’ Lewis Arichald hit a right-footed screamer, past Harvey – to put his team in front for the first time in the match.
In the final 10, with Huskisson chasing the game, both teams had chances to score in the end to end action – firstly Braidon Campbell from Wreck Bay and Huskisson’s Shaun Ward from a free-kick.
But neither side could score – handing Wreck Bay the Shoalhaven Football third grade premiership.
Best for the Sharks in the win were Archibald, Moon, Campbell and Shaun Hobbs, while Huskisson were best served by Taylor, Nelson Bradley, Lane and Angus Skeels.