Football Matters with Cyclops

Not a good final weekend of the season for the Panthers. The Premier and Reserves both played Brothers in Grand Finals and unfortunately lost both of them. In the afternoon match the Reserves lost 0-2 and in the evening the Premiers lost 1-3. And that is effectively the end of the season, except for the Colts who play Edge Hill Utd in the Crad Evans Trophy in Cairns on Sunday.  

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Premiers – Ayr Anzac Club

After an incredible finals run, the Panthers headed into the Grand Final against a Brothers side we had been unable to beat throughout the season. The opening half was an even affair, with both sides battling for control in what was always going to be a physical contest. Neither team was able to find the breakthrough, sending the game into half time locked at 0–0.

Brothers struck early in the second half to take a 1–0 lead and leave Burdekin chasing the game. The Panthers continued to fight and were eventually rewarded when, with ten minutes remaining, Antoine scored an equaliser to set up a huge finish.

With the game looking destined for extra time, Brothers found a decisive goal with just two minutes remaining to regain the lead and then quickly added a third goal.

Despite pushing until the final whistle, there was no way back, with Brothers claiming the Grand Final 3–1. A heartbreaking way to finish the season, but a huge effort from the group to fight their way through the finals and come within minutes of taking the Grand Final to extra time.

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Reserves – Burdekin Tyre Service

A special day for the Burdekin with both Reserves and Premiers contesting Grand Finals. The Reserve game was always going to be a good contest as previous encounters this year with Brothers had shown that the Panthers could match them.

It was quite a windy start slightly favouring Brothers. A large portion of the first half was spent defensively but despite that there were several good chances created that didn’t result in goals. Both teams had opportunities, but it remained nil all at half time.

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Despite the even score the Panthers were confident of victory and resumed the second half with renewed effort. Burdekin went through a good patch of dominance and had more chances to score and really should have had a lead by halfway through the second half, but the first goal could just not be found.

The pace and energy of the game was taking its toll on both sides, and the contest was destined to go to extra time. As an additional challenge the Panthers were reduced to ten men with a Red After an incredible finals run, the Panthers headed into the Grand Final against a Brothers side we had been unable to beat throughout the season.

The opening half was an even affair, with both sides battling for control in what was always going to be a physical contest. Neither team was able to find the breakthrough, sending the game into half time locked at 0–0.

Brothers struck early in the second half to take a 1–0 lead and leave Burdekin chasing the game. A heartbreaking way to finish the season, but a huge effort from the group to fight their way through to the finals and come within minutes of taking the Grand Final to extra time. Despite this the team kept fighting and making chances.

Extra time had about five minutes left before Brothers with a quick counter that created a one-on-one with the keeper and scored. This didn’t stop the effort and determination of Burdekin and they pushed harder.

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An altercation resulted in another Red Card, and the Panthers were playing the last few minutes with nine men. Even with this, the team pushed and in the last minute of extra time Oscar Licciardello scored with a header in a goal mouth scramble.

The Burdekin supporters went into a frenzy, but it was ended with the linesman raising the flag for a dubious offside call. Ecstasy was replaced with despair and the game was lost.

Then with the game going into injury time Brothers broke away and scored a second goal. The Reserves team gave their all and should be rightly proud of their performance and their season. It was a mighty effort without the final reward.

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Colts – Astute Finance

The Burdekin Colts, as Minor Premiers now travel to Cairns on Sunday to play Edge Hill Utd  in the Crad Evans Trophy.

Quote the of the Week is from Dutch Star Yohan Cruyff on signing for Barcelona “For the next three years I am not a man, I am not a footballer, I am an Industry”.

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