Junior soccer side has memorable season

Woy Woy Football Club's 13A soccer side has completed a "season to remember" in the Central Coast competition, according to club secretary Ms Anne-Maree Tonkin.

The team were named league champions as minor premiers by nine points while also winning their grand final.

"With the bulk of the side being together since under-10s, this success has been years in the making," Ms Tonkin said.

"After going through the regular season only losing one game, scoring 45 goals and conceding only 13, the team continued its form into the major-semi final winning against a strong Kincumber side.

"Two weeks later at the grand final, the team scored in the seventh minute and continued to repel a gallant Wyoming side to come out winners by one goal to nil."

Ms Tonkin said the key to the team's success was that its members played as a team and not individuals, "from our goalkeeper Alexander Jarrett to our defence Nathan Balneaves, Bradley Jaggers, Shaun Swinfield and Gregory Holmes".

Ms Tonkin said the team's "hard working midfield" consisted of Joshua Martin, Matthew Ball, James Evans, Kyle Rendall and James Caban.

"Obviously the hard work done by our defence and midfield resulted in our forwards finishing off the great teamwork with Dylan Boardman, Jake Raw and Ben Commins scoring 32 goals between them," Ms Tonkin said.

"Zachary Boyd and Jordan Jarrett from our under-12's have been helping us out due to injuries," Ms Tonkin said.

"This experience playing up one grade will no doubt help their own games in the years to come."

Ms Tonkin said all League Champions in Division A then competed in a State-wide knockout competition called Champion of Champions, which involved 27 other associations.

She said that the Woy Woy 13A side travelled to North Richmond recently to play against the winners of the Nepean Association, the Colo Cougars, and after a "strong game" they won two goals to one.

The second round was played one week later at South Granville against Baulkham Hills.

Ms Tonkin said that with a strong defence and "tremendous teamwork", the team won three goals to nil.

"This win puts us into the quarter finals of this knockout competition which is a tremendous achievement for a local Peninsula club," Ms Tonkin said.

"This group of 12- and 13-year-old players is a credit to their parents who have showed such valuable support on and off the field and their behaviour and sportsmanship make the committee of Woy Woy Football Club very proud.

"This is no doubt one of many highlights in the club's 42-year history, with this team being successfully coached by the club's president Leigh Martin and managed by the club's registrar Tim Holmes."

The team's next game in the NSW Champion of Champions Tournament will be against Manly, to be played at Pluim Park, Lisarow, on October 7.

Press release, 26 Sep 2007 Anne-Maree Tonkin, Woy Woy Football Club