The Zone Field at Taree hosted the soccer elimination final on Saturday, September 9 between 2017 premiers, Bulahdelah Bullets and 2016 premiers Gloucester Scorpions Drifta 14s.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Drifta dominated the first few minutes after kick off, with the opposition’s keeper having to save some early attempts.
Joseph found an opening within their defence, and lobbed through to Aiden who made a breakaway finding the back of the net.
Bullets returned fire, scoring their first within the next few minutes with more attempts following on, though Isaac, Jack and Will were quick to defend and Josh saving some stellar balls.
Midfielders Zeke, Lane and Harrison combined and passed some through balls to enable Joseph to put us in the lead.
Hard tackling Hayden put his body on the line causing a penalty kick for the Bullets though they were unable to convert into a goal as the ball sailed over the cross bar.
Space was created among the Bullets backline and Aiden took the opportunity for a long range shot skimming past their defenders and into the net just before the half time whistle.
Heading back onto the pitch, Drifta still never felt on top despite leading 3-1 as the Bullets had five subs on the bench, Drifta with only two sets of fresh legs, and illness plaguing many of the team, ploughed on and battled their hearts out.
The Bullets came back strong, providing Beau plenty of action in goals, deflecting all but one of their attempts.
Kayden, Josh and Kelly worked the ball well up front creating scoring opportunities, only to be blocked by the oppositions defense.
Drifta’s defenders covered goals from a Bullets corner kick but an unfortunate own goal was created from a deflecting header and levelled the score 3-3.
Drifta, determined not to have a repeat of last week’s nerve wracking extra time and penalty shoot out, regained the lead within the next 60 seconds with a cross ball passed from Aiden to Josh who snuck the ball into the net.
Celebrations were heard across the park as the full time whistle blew with a 4-3 win, as the realisation of playing in the grand final next week struck home.