A stellar season for the U12 Port United Wolves was capped when they won the Football Mid-North Coast Zone Championship. The Wolves, who were crowned Northern Champions, took on the undefeated Southern Champions, Tuncurry Forster Tigers. The sides couldn’t be split at full-time and then extra time, the scores locked at 0-0, with the Wolves taking the title 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
The Wolves’ finals cam-paign got off to a nervous start as they went down 2-1 to the well drilled Kempsey Saints side. They bounced straight back though, winning 2-1 against Camden Haven Red, despite only having 10 players, due to others being unavailable. Next on the list was the previously undefeated Camden Haven White side who were the only side to defeat United during the season. A great team performance saw the Wolves come away with a 5-1 win and a deserved Grand Final berth.
In an epic Grand Final, the Wolves came away with a last gasp win against the Macleay Valley Rangers. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead into the break before a long range effort from Stephen Sichter levelled the score just after half-time. Both teams tried hard, with the crowd on the edge of their seats, but the scores remained level. With two minutes left in golden goal extra time, another long range effort from Thomas Horder won the match. Horder was also named player of the match.
Coach Les Tregier said, “I’m very proud of the team. They grew each game as a unit and as friends and it was really great to see the boys play each week, smiling, laughing in games and just enjoying their football.” He added, “I’d like to thank all the players and their parents for the season, as well as Port United, the best club on the coast, for a fantastic season. And a special thank you to everyone who was there in support at the Grand Final against Rangers.”
