Last Saturday September 17 saw the Bendigo Amateur Soccer League (BASL) junior season come to and end with wet and windy Grand Final games at Epsom Huntly Reserve.
Of the eight teams from Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club who made the post Championship Super Cup – three arrived at the Grand Finals last weekend.
In the first kick off of the day for Castlemaine Goldfields FC U14 Girls Matildas Gold faced off against Championship winners Spring Gully Renegades in a 1st v 2nd match-up. Having already faced off in the qualifying final, won by Gully, this was always going to be a tough game against the stand out team of the Championship season, but the Maine girls had the experience of a victory in Round 7, Gully’s only defeat of the season, to draw strength from. In the end a spirited display saw Matildas Gold come up short as Gully took the win 4-1.
This group have had a massive season under coach Liam Lynch and even in the face of defeat their spirit shone through in celebrating Kirra Soraghan’s late second half goal with a team cheer that could be heard all around Epsom Huntly Reserve. Well done on taking home both the runners-up spots in the League Championship and Super Cup!
CGFCs second game of the day saw U12 Matildas Green face off against Epsom. Again the GF was a 1st v 2nd match up with the ‘Green Beans’ Championship having sown up the Championship undefeated with a 100% home record including two wins versus opponents Epsom.
The girls went in to the game after a confident win the previous week, but also very aware of how Epsom, playing at home would be keen to finally get a result in their third game, of the season.
A tight and competitive game saw Epsom take a narrow 1 nil lead from a deflection in the first half. The second half saw Castlemaine’s Mia Bishop denied by the post before Epsom scored a second breakaway goal with the ‘Green Beans’ pushing hard for an equaliser.
Both teams have had amazing seasons as the two stand out teams in the U12 Girls comp and it was fitting that the teams shared the spoils after their third meeting this season. Congratulations to coaches Tony Cormack and Calum Brydon in guiding the girls to winning Championship and the Super Cup runners-up spot in their first competitive season.
The last of CGFC’s games to kick-off saw U14 Gold face off against Spring Gully Ranges in yet another 1st v 2nd match up. Gold headed into the game off the back of a 100% win record in the Championship. However a spirited second half display from Spring Gully saw the U14s record their narrowest win of the season to triumphantly take out the Championship and Cup double with a 3-2 win.
First half goals from Morgan McClure, Joaquin Demaria O’Sullivan and Finn Girbon were enough to secure the flag and a 100% record for the whole 2022 season. Well done to coach Ween Reid and the whole squad on their Championship and Cup double and the ‘Invincibles’ 100% record for the season.
Congratulations finally to Joaquin Demaria-O’Sullivan who was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ medal.
All three teams should be immensely proud to have made Grand Finals with players, coaches, managers and supporters doing the club proud on the day. Thanks to Epsom FC, for hosting the finals and Bendigo Amateur Soccer League for such a great season.
Thanks again to everyone who has played a part in this the biggest junior season in the club’s history, we can’t wait to see you all back in 2023! #GoTheMaine