SPC regains soccer title

AS Grand Final -“ August 10, 2016

St Patrick’s College 4 d Ballarat Clarendon College 0

Goal Scorers: Will McLoughlin 2, Ben Hutchins 2

Best: Miles Baker, Ben Parish, Trent Moodley, Will McLoughlin, Josh DeVoogel, Brayden Baker, Henry Wines, Branden Lauton

As a coach I could tell by 11:20am that College would not win the BAS Championship this year and that the trophy would cross the road to St Patrick’s College. The steely determination and attention to detail was obvious in Wilding 101 from the team that attended the pre-match meeting.

And so it was from the first kick off when captain Miles Baker speared a ball with purpose to the left wing and we began our first of many attacks on College. Trent Moodley, who has put in an enormous effort over the last month for the team, delivered to Ben Hutchins and his first strike in anger just missed the bar. Brandon Lauton showed great skill cutting between defenders and gave off to Jake Selby whose shot went across the goals and was just missed by the advancing Hutchins. We had missed the purpose and direction of Brayden Baker in the semi and his cross drew an extravagant bicycle kick from Josh DeVoogel which didn’t miss by much. A statement had to be made and College received it with dread as they threw eight alongside the keeper quickly into defence.

Attacks continued to come from Jake Selby on the left and centrally from Brayden Baker who missed with a long shot from 30 meters. College had their one chance with an interesting free kick, but Henry Wines stopped it dead.-

Jake Selby again centered to Hutchins and his shot drew a high save from the keeper. Trent Moodley who had already been very threatening off the right wing drew the first blood as his smart play gave Ben Hutchins the ball with only one defender and he was able to control, turn and defeat the advancing keeper for 1-0.

College managed a corner against us and their main threat headed cleanly – but over the top.-

Our backline looked silky clean and Jude Jeandet often converted turnovers into attack, regularly finding Miles in the centre. Miles gave off to Jake Selby and his drive looked through but was stopped inside the 18 yards. He doubled back and soon delivered a purposeful drive across the attacking line at Ben Hutchins. The ball was feigned over his shoulder, arriving at the feet of Miles Baker and his return set up Will McLoughlin who made it 2-0. You can’t capture this goal on paper but those present may well remember the six clean passes leading up to the final stanza producing a remarkable team goal for the memory.

Ben Parish saved a last man one-on-one and Jack Gaffney’s first encounter in the match could well have resulted in a penalty for us in the box. Brandon Lauton put on a dazzling display doing a 360 and appearing ghost-like in the box before the hordes arrived to stop his advance.

The second half was mundane to begin with but certainly the game lost its edge after Will McLoughlin delivered a 35-metre beautifully struck thunderbolt for our third goal.-

Replacements had their time as Denis Wanjiku appeared with time on his hands in defence and bustling Jack Gaffney caused all sorts of dilemma to the tired College defence. Tom Lannen was busy and he melded into a defence that utilised the surety of keeper Henry Wines who made zero mistakes in the game. A great chase by Mitch Ralston saw their captain incapacitated and the finale halted by half a dozen minutes. The coup de grâce was delivered after another Mitch Ralston movement ended in an angled high shot deflecting off the high bar into none other than our leading goal scorer in Ben Hutchins who delighted in smashing the ball into the back of the net to complete the 4-0 victory.

Early in the year the stage was set with a call to enjoy the school soccer season, play an attacking and pleasing 3-4-3 structure and attack whenever possible -“ this Grand Final assured that strategy a success. Congratulations to Captain Miles Baker, Vice Captains Jake Selby and Brayden Baker and the St Patrick’s College Senior Soccer Squad 2016.

The team for the Grand Final was as follows:

Henry WINES-

Marco FARRELL – – – – – – – – – Ben PARISH – – – – – – – – – Jude JEANDET

Brayden BAKER

Trent MOODLEY- – – – – – – – – Miles BAKER- – – – – – – – – Brandon LAUTON

Josh De VOOGEL- – – – – – – – – Ben HUTCHINS- – – – – – Jake SELBY-

Jack GAFFNEY – – – – – – Will McLOUGHLIN- – – – – – Denis WANJIKU

Mitch RALSTON- – – Tom LANNEN – – – – – – – – – Ryan SCHORBACK