Gators Cruise Past Annerley For Grand Final Spot
The Gap 4 (Spelta 35', 63' pen, Wheeler 60', Gillespie 87') Annerley 1 (Raftery 72')
HT 1-0
Played at Walton Bridge Reserve
The Gap put aside their disappointment at losing to Acacia Ridge in the Major Semi-final and eased past Annerley 4-1 in the replay of their washed out preliminary final at Walton Bridge Reserve on Tuesday evening. Jamal Spelta was first to score for the Gators when he met an excellent cross on the end of the best build-up of the first half and slotted home from ten yards. In the 60th minute, Marc Wheeler had a shot from outside the box which skidded through a bunch of players and into the net before eventually being awarded after an offside flag on the play. Three minutes later Spelta made it 3-0 from the penalty spot and the game was effectively over although the Stars pulled back a goal from substitute Ben Raftery which added some interest until a goal at the far post from Jamie Gillespie ended all hope. Annerley were always going to be the underdogs going into this game and they did their best to stifle the Gators, particularly in the first half where both teams conjured limited genuine opportunities. But the best team most definitely emerged victorious, it just took a while for them to wind up. They won the battle of the middle of the park which eventually was enough to get over the top of their opponents in dangerous areas. Next weekend, the Grand Final at AJ Kelly Field kicks off at midday which will test both teams but another match-up against Acacia Ridge is a justified ending to the year.
FBMedia Player Of The Match: CB Cormac Molloy - The Gap
This game was tight and Molloy ensured his side controlled the contest with error-free defending and excellent distribution.
Team line-ups
The Gap: Sutherland, O’Rourke, Molloy. Dobson, S.Rohdmann, Tully, Wheeler, Discombe, Chapman, Nose, Spelta. Subs: Cleary, Gillespie, MacDonald, A.Rohdmann. Annerley: Sandstrom, Staunton, Otigbah, Savage, Valenti, Winters, Launchbury, Singhateh, Carney, Barbieri, Bailey. Subs: MacLennan, Miller, Mosch, Raftery.
Referee: James Sherry
