Under-10s' soccer final win

The Umina United Eagles under-10A soccer team won its grand final against East Gosford 2-1 on Saturday, September 10, at Pluim Park, Lisarow.

Coach Jack Guinta said it was a "deserved victory to a team that has been the bench mark over the past few years and winning this grand final was the ultimate accolade it could have received".

"The boys were upbeat as we knew that we were playing a team that has never defeated us," said Mr Guinta.

"Our pre-game talk was about playing to our potential and having composure on the ball in front of goal," he said.

"Our boys started well and I thought we had the better of play in the first half."

The team's first goal came from Darcy Coleman who out passed and dribbled past the East Gosford defence to slot the ball past the keeper with a neat right foot shot into the back of the net.

"In the second half, a change in tactics from East Gosford saw them playing the long ball forward and chase more so than what they were doing in the first half," said Mr Guinta.

"This allowed them to bypass our indestructible midfield for a little while and eventually created the chance they were looking for where our defence failed to clear the ball only for the East Gosford number 12 to score a great individual goal to level the score at 1-all.

"Our defence continued to soak up what East Gosford was throwing at them with their long ball tactics.

"With two minutes to go, the ball was played out from the back to our midfield on the right hand side and, with a switch of play to the middle of the park, the ball came to Darcy who dribbled it towards the left hand side of the box.

"With a wonderful left foot strike, he beat the keeper and won the Grand Final for his Umina team with one minute remaining."

Email, 14 Sep 2011 Jack Guinta, Umina United Eagles