United were the 2024 ESA 14-16s Mixed League Champions. The team was coached by Grant Shipp. Photos: Michelle Clarke
LOUISE PEARN
The girls 9-13 division started off the important final round of matches of Esperance Soccer Association matches for season 2024 on Sunday.
Redbacks were trailing Atletico by one point in the league, as they faced City and Atletico matched up against Glory. Glory came out firing, playing aggressively with some really fast attacking runs from Georgia Toop, Isla Toop and Ruby Carmichael.
Peyton Dunn was brilliantly consistent in central defence for Glory. Mariah, one of the youngest and smallest Glory players, had a great game clearing the ball from the right back position. Glory lead for most of the game, going into half time winning three goals to two.
Atletico’s Isla Massenbauer responded with a goal from distance to put the wind back in Atletico’s sails. A final fourth goal came from Atletico’s Lucy Fleeton after a well-worked team play, leaving the final score a draw at four-all.
Attention turned to the final minutes of City versus Redbacks that saw Annabel Fleeton and Freya McLean-Schilling the scorers for City as Izzy Jones pulled a goal back for Redbacks.
The results meant Atletico were the league winners for the 9-13 girls 2024 season.
The 9-11 league winners were already decided last week, with Rovers 14 points clear of second placed Redbacks with a really strong start that continued throughout the season.
In the 12-13s division, Redbacks had already made a convincing league win being ten points clear of second placed Atletico. Sunny Petrie was kept busy on his debut as referee with plenty of decisions to call as he oversaw Redbacks playing City.
Hugo Synnott played up a division to help out City and had their first chance on goal with a great through ball from midfield, he just couldn’t find the final touch as he was charged down by Redbacks keeper, Alex Hay.
An unfortunate handball lead to the first penalty struck by Moore and placed well into the left corner, beating Spence Pokela in goals for City. Moore had a couple of other striking opportunities derived from midfield workhorse Cian Whiting.
Euen McIlroy scored a lovely goal for City after a period of sustained pressure. Michael Nguyen continued the pressure when a free kick was awarded from close range. He looped the ball over the Redbacks’ wall but couldn’t quite dip it in time to find the back of the net.
Cian Whiting responded with an incisive strike for Redbacks, which had the referee and linesmen temporarily baffled, as it hit the side netting and bounced back into pitch, but unfortunately was not inside the goal.
Another penalty was awarded to City but it couldn’t be converted, leaving the final score Redbacks two, City one.
In the 14-16 division the League winners United played TDS. The midweek Stephen Bell cup winners, City, faced Glory for the last time. Many players were nursing injuries from the season and the hard fought mid-week cup matches. Glory overpowered a depleted City side to win four goals to nil.
Immediately after their games, all leagues champions raised the winners cups in their full playing kit to cheers and a crowd of photographers.
The Association would like to thank all its volunteers, parents and players for an exciting season and our wind up is this Sunday to celebrate players achievements.
Our four country week teams continue to train, ready for the Perth-based competition taking place on September 23 to 27.
Louise Pearn is the Esperance Soccer Association President.
