Thistle Snatch Grand Final Prize In Penalty Shootout
Grange Thistle 0 Southside Eagles 0 (After extra time. Grange Thistle win 3-2 on penalties) HT 0-0
Played at AJ Kelly Park
It took 120 minutes plus a penalty shootout for Grange Thistle to beat Southside Eagles but they were fully deserved winners after dominating for long periods in the Capital League 1 Grand Final at AJ Kelly Field on Saturday evening. In the shoot-out, both keepers saved a penalty but when Eagles blasted one way high over the crossbar it was time for Thistle to celebrate. Just on the half hour mark the first genuine opportunity of the game arrived and Matt Tubbs was on hand to produce a stunning low save from close range when it seemed a goal was inevitable. It was a fair representation of the game up to that point with very little created in and around the penalty area by both teams. That theme extended through the second half as neither side was able to produce any coherent strings of passing and the game deteriorated into an arm-wrestle of long balls and tame set-pieces. But extra time was a different story and both teams came close to winning the game. Firstly, Jalen Rucker came off the bench for the Eagles and out sprinted the defence before shooting straight into goalkeeper Zac Symons. Minutes later, Matt Hornby finally directed a header from a corner on target but it was desperately cleared away off the line by an Eagles defender. As a spectacle, events on the field didn’t reach any great heights but the closeness of the scoreline brought the noisy sets of supporters from both clubs into the game. For Eagles, Tom Schafer was brilliant in the middle of the backline. It’s a tough task keeping out the burly and skilful Matt Hornby but he definitely kept his end of the bargain with a brave display. In fact, defensively they couldn’t be faulted at all, but it was at the other end of the park where they were troubled. The loss of Ethan McCoy to injury was a blow which left Josh Falco with too much work to do up front.
Thistle will wonder how they didn’t score. Caleb Mayberry and Nathanael Mayberry created plenty of opportunities but entries into the final third were limited, particularly with Tubbs looking unbeatable between the sticks, twice denying Caleb Mayberry with nonchalant ease. Next season, the Flight Centre Premier League beckons for Thistle and if they can continue to play the well-disciplined style they produced today, they have every chance of success. Only the most hardened of opposition supporters would suggest the better team lost. Grange deserved their win even if they went about it the hard way.
FBMedia Player Of The Match: GK Matt Tubbs - Southside Eagles
It will hurt to have lost that game for Tubbs because he did everything he could to keep his side in the game but ultimately it was out of his control. Apart from great saves, his sweeping was critical.
Team line-ups
Grange Thistle: Symons, Parke, R.Hornby, Bailye, Clayton, Taylor, Dimovski, N.Mayberry, Xinis, C.Mayberry, M.Hornby. Subs: Backstrom, De Cosse Brissac, Eigl, Pereira, Somerville. Southside Eagles: Tubbs, Mengotti, Schafer, Porch, Taylor, Goudge, Maclot, Bretag, Cowden, Falco, McCoy. Subs: Foy, Roulston, Rucker, Spall, Thomas.
FB Media Match Stats.
Possession: 1st Half 49% - 51% / 2nd Half 57% - 43%
Overall Possession: 53% - 47%
Shots on target: 9 - 2
Shots off target: 10 - 5
Free kicks: 9 - 13
Offside: 3 - 0
Corners: 19 - 7
Yellow Cards: 0 - 1
Red Cards: 0 - 0
Referee: Martin Krenes
