Cup Finals - 14 September 2024
Margaret River really turned it on today. With 5 games on and four FMR teams in the running to win each age group’s trophy, the scent of anticipation (and sausages) was in the air and expectations were high!
With the sun high in the sky, two games that went in to not one, but two lots of extra time and came down to the wire (well done Sharks and Blaze) and some fireworks (RIP BBQ), FMR put on a show!
We also have two newly minted LNJSA Life Members! Congratulations to Andy Longmore, long, long time FMR Club member, Coach and all round legend, and Gary Leigh, who in a big day, had the U12 finals, and not one but two life Memberships bestowed on him as he was also announced as FMR’s latest Life Member.
Thank you to LNJSA, all the Clubs that came along, even if they weren’t in the finals, and to all the players who turned up and turned it on. Some excellent games out there today. Lots of talent in the Association.
Thank you to everyone involved in the season - Coaches, Managers, Ref’s, anyone who ran the lines, or worked in the canteen keeping everyone fed and watered! Big job, big day and one we won’t soon forget as we brought home not one but two Cup trophies and also made a clean sweep of the Fairest and Best in the LNJSA Competition!
U13 Winner: Kalani Nesbitt Runner Up: Declan Carlessi
U14 Winner: Chloe Willsher
U15 Winner: Archie Berry
Youth League Winners: Fynn Lange and Taj Prendergast
U12 Wyverns - Cup Runners Up
Wyverns v BCFC Flames
What a long way the Wyverns have come. At the start of the season, they were a new team, with only a couple of them having any soccer experience. It’s a fitting bookend that they played the Flames in the finals, as they also met them in the first game of the season. Back then they lost 24:0, it was a rough one, yet the boys all turned up the following week to Coach Gary's surprise. They wanted to learn and make sure that score would not happen again. Over the course of the season, Coach Gary Leigh has moulded them in to a well oiled machine and they were keen to take home the Cup.
The game on Saturday was one of the Wyverns best game played. Kaahu, Banjo and Sam were an amazing defence, the Flames were confused. Michael and Benny shared goalkeeping and both did an amazing job at stopping the strong attacks. Nigel scored an epic first goal with a great team support. You could feel the relief and determination in the team.
The score at half time was 1:1
Unfortunately in the second half, the Wyverns were given a penalty and this brought the score to 2:1 The boys kept their heads up and for most of the game the pressure was on the Flames but in the end we lost 4:1
Awards went to Tommi for his great support and actions, Benny for being a tough and brave player and goalkeeper. Remi received a special mention for really stepping up this game. Arturo a reliable and strong player was also key to the Wyverns' growth this year. Coach also mentioned that Alby, Milo and Ryal had really come a long way this season and was looking forward to 2025.
Everyone really stepped up to work as a team for this final and you could really see the great work the team had been working on. Well done to all the players. You should be really proud of what you have achieved this year and how far you have come. I look forward to seeing what you can do next season!
U13 Rockets - Cup and League Runners Up
Rockets v Cornerstone Chooks
Well didn’t the weather turn on for the 2024 LNJSA Cup Finals!!! With bacon and eggs bubbling and sausages sizzling in the background, the Rockets took to the pitch with one ambition in mind, trophy time! 🏆.
Their opponents, the Cornerstone Chooks, have really hit their mark towards the end of the season to take out the League and really show that they were the team to beat. However our FMR Rockets are no strangers to finals day and were not getting caught up in the stats.
From the whistle the Rockets were looking sharp. Clean ball passing and movement across the pitch was exactly as trained by Coach Jason. We held good possession and field position and had a number of chances early on. The Chooks though were up for the challenge and kept a strong backline making it hard to penetrate and get a clean shot on goal.
While both teams were looking for space, it was the defensive lines and fight in the middle that kept a lot of the ball centre field. The Rockets were looking to get an early lead but again, with every blast or line break, the Chooks had an answer to keep things scoreless.
Right towards the end of the second half, individual brilliance was the difference with a skilful run by the Chooks strikers and a little bit of a lucky bounce, they found the back of the net via a cracking strike and took a 1-0 lead.
Halftime oranges, a Coaches pep talk and a packet of snakes were set out to motivate the Rockets for a second half comeback. Tried and tried they did, but again, the strong defence of the Chooks pushed the Rockets wide and smothered almost every attempt to get the ball into that goal. Pressure was building a few nervous plays were coming into things, making it hard to get the equaliser.
The seconds were counting down, the Chooks were making some smart tactical changes and doing a great job of protecting their lead. The Rockets kept at it to the final whistle but just couldn’t quite link things together to get their prize.
Although it wasn’t a cup win for our Rockets in 2024, they have achieved amazing things as a newly formed team under a new coach this year and secured runners up in both the league and Cup.
Well done guys! You are an amazing bunch of kids and we are all extremely proud. Thanks to Coach Jason and your dedication to the team, the boys all loved their season.
Until next year! GO ROCKETS 🚀
U14 Sharks Cup Winners
Sharks VS Dunsborough Wanderers
The Sharks met the Dunsborough Wanderers in the U14 Cup Finals. Benji opened the scoring for the Shark's in the early minutes of the game, giving them the boost they needed to get into the game. (Unfortunately, an injury put Benji in goals for the remainder of the match.) Dunsborough quickly returned the favour. Not long after, Rainer found himself in space if front of the goal, and smashed it past the keeper to edge the Shark’s back in the lead. Dunsborough retaliated once more and it was 2 goals each at half time.
Kai leapt into action early in the second half, with a very well executed goal, but yet again Dunsborough came back with a goal of their own. The teams were drawn 3 goals each as the match headed into extra time. Dunsborough had several chances in the first 10 minutes of extra time, but the Shark’s dug deep and managed to keep themselves in the match.
Finally, in the final 2 minutes of extra time, an extraordinary shot from Felix. Taken from well inside the Sharks defensive half, the ball soared what felt like almost the length of the field, floating just out of the Dunsborough’s keeper reach. The ball hit the back of the net with a swoosh, the cheers erupted, everyone bit their finger nails for the longest minute of their lives until the final whistle blew and the Sharks had claimed the cup, 4 goals to 3!!
The roar of the crowd was heard in the busy canteen as the Sharks celebrated their well deserved victory!
U15 The Blaze - Cup Winners and League Runners Up
The Blaze v DTFC Jets
Talk about a nail biter. Expectations were high for a great game as the top two on the ladder battled it out for the Cup. Playing on the big pitch, both teams were playing to win. The ball spent equal time in each half. Both Keepers doing a great job keeping the score to nil all. Dunsborough Keeper made a great save off a corner. Not to be outdone, Jarrah made a brilliant dive and save in our defensive half.
Lisa was fouled which gave us a free kick. Archie took the shot and it was a beautiful kick that looked like a sure thing, but it the top bar. The whistle blew with the score still nil all.
In the second half, Duns had more momentum. Jarrah got to work making some brilliant saves, and our defenders were having to put in a lot of effort as the ball spent a lot of time in our forward half. Duns had a free kick that was expertly blocked by Stirling, who also picked up the rebound and kicked it forward. Scarlett pushed hard and gave Lisa a chance, but it was saved by the keeper. After some hard work getting it up to our forward half, Scarlett had a shot later, but that was also saved.
I was too busy watching to make my usual notes, but everyone on the pitch was working hard, playing their position to perfection. Charlie, Oliver Milward, Jay, Asha playing down the line. Ollie Lawrey strong in the middle. Ethan weaving through the opposition, Charlotte giving no quarter to the Duns attack, Poom using his body to pass through the defenders, Matty coming on to the pitch hot and nearly scoring a goal and Digby, still healing from a fracture, cheering from the sidelines.
Duns had a good chance but a scramble by defenders and Jarrah kept it out. Phew! The tension from the crowd increasing as the minutes counted down. William and Archie kept the ball out and the ones that did get passed were saved by Jarrah who was diving all over the place!
The whistle blew and it was still tied at nil all. Bring on Extra time! With the clock counting down, FMR bounced back and had the momentum with the ball in our forward half. We had two chances but shots went straight across the goals. Still nil all after the first 10 minutes.
The next lot of extra time was much the same until 3 mins left when Stirling banged a goal in, and the crowd went wild! With little time left on the clock, Duns weren’t able to claim a goal and victory was ours! Boy did the Club song sound good at the end of the match.
We must say a big thank you to Coaches Myles and Fran for giving of their time to our kids this season, and Manager Mel. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
With that, our season comes to a close, but FMR will be back in 2025 ready to do it all again! If anyone is keen to join, keep an eye on our socials for information on Summer Soccer. You don’t have to be Ronaldo, Messi or Beckham to join. Come down and have some fun!