THE Huskisson Seagulls needed extra-time to claim the reserve grade premierships on Saturday, defeating Culburra 3-2 at Ison Park.
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The match started physically, with both teams trying to assert themselves in the first 10 minutes with first real chance falling to Culburra’s Jerome Wellington.
Ater the Seagulls failed to clear the ball in the box, the Cougars attacker pushed his shot to the left of the post.
In the first 20, the Cougars, who were minor premiers, appeared the most likely to score but execution lacked at pivotal times.
Minutes after the first drinks break, the Seagulls scored - Riley Barry was played in by a through ball before he found team mate Luke Reid with a cross field pass.
The pass caught the Culburra goal-keeper Jason Flugler out of position and Reid slotted the ball into an open net.
Five minutes later, the Seagulls doubled their advantage.
Sam Duffy whipped in a dangerous ball from the left side before Adam Quinn back-headed it into the net, from four metres out.
Culburra got back into the when a regulation shot by Joel Van Rossum was fumbled over the line by Huskisson goal-keeper Chris Tweed - to make it 2-1 in the shadows of half-time.
The Seagulls then led 2-1 at the main break.
Eight minutes into the second half, Tweed redeemed his earlier error, blocking a one-on-one with Culburra’s Simon Watts, to keep his team in front by one goal.
The game’s intensity stepped up three minutes later, with a contentious free-kick against Culburra – which disgruntled the Culburra fanatics.
This was exemplified by Culburra’s Wellington receiving the match’s first yellow card just before the final drinks break.
Minutes after the final resumption, a clash between Culburra’s Flugler and Huskisson’s Matt Paynter almost led to a third for the Seagulls – but the ball was cleared off the line by the Cougars.
Three minutes later, it was the Seagulls turn to scramble, clearing the ball off the line, after a Tweed save, following a low cross from Watts.
With five minutes to play, Culburra equalised when Wellington pulled it across the goals and put it on a platter for Justin Butler, who smashed it home for 2-all.
Watts and Watling both given yellows in tense finish to regulation – moments before Culburra are again forced to clear it off their own line.
It finished 2-all at full-time, meaning an extra 10 minutes each way.
Culburra started stronger, as an early chance fell to Taylor – belting one from distance before being saved from Tweed.
But it was the Seagulls, against all momentum, who scored from a free-kick, off the boot of Duffy – his kick missed everyone and bounced in the back of the net.
Culburra then changed their formation to three at the back and chased an equaliser, pushing numerous chances wide before the end of the first half of extra-time.
The Cougars continued to chase that elusive equaliser in the second half but the Seagulls defence held firm to secure the reserve grade title.
Best for Huskisson were Reid, Duffy, Tristan Watling, while Watts, Josh Rooney and Wellington tried hard for the Cougars.