VALENTINE Sports Park was treated to an all mighty National CP Football Championships grand final as NSW, featuring Callala Bay’s Ben Atkins, took out its 14th title, defeating Victoria 3-nil with each goal coming in extra-time after scores were locked nil-all in normal time.
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Ace Blues star David Campbell kicked things off with the opener during the first half of extra-time with a looping cross come shot that took Victorian keeper Cosimo Cirillo by surprise.
His goal sparked crazy celebrations as NSW asserted their authority on the match.
The second half of extra time saw Ian Menzies men pile two more goals as Connor Marsh laid an inch perfect pass to Jack Williams who slotted the ball beyond the Victorian keeper that all but assured the Gold Medal was staying in NSW.
It was literally game, set and match as Marsh banged home the third with a quality finish after great build up play by Harrison Dowdell that sent the Blues fans into raptures.
Prior to NSW lifting the trophy, a number of key individual awards were handed out at the official closing ceremony with NSW’s Connor Marsh and Victoria’s Benjamin Roche winning the Golden Boot Award, while NSW claimed the Goalkeeper of the Tournament via Chris Pyne.
Western Australia’s Connor Bunce took out the Young Player of the Tournament while NSW’s star man David Campbell was rewarded for his amazing performances throughout the campaign being crowned the Player of the Tournament.
Prior to the gold medal match, Capital Football stunned Western Australia by taking out the bronze medal winning 3-2.
Bunce opened the scoring for Western Australia before Taylor Harvey equalised in the 46th minute.
Christopher Minutillo then had Western Australia back in front in the 50th minute but their lead only lasted a minute as Harvey added his second for the match.
With a minute before full-time and the game heading to extra time, Cameron Gudgeon was the talk of the nation’s capital as his goal was enough to send the bronze medal Capital Football’s way.
It was yet another successful Championships with NSW once again dominating proceedings as the Blues showed yet again their superiority.