Albury Hotspurs SC Under 12 Boys Gold 0-1 Cobram Roar FC Under 12 Boys Black
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With perfect finals weather and supporters buzzing with anticipation, Cobram Roar under-12 Black stepped out with a calm belief that matched the occasion. The nerves were there, but the early intent was unmistakable. Roar came out firing in the first half spending long stretches in the offensive half and creating several scoring opportunities, just unable to find the net early.
Hotspurs had a bit more of the ball and tempo in the second half, but Roar’s defence held firm and refused to break. Eventually our moment arrived - a brilliant couple of passages of play opened the door, with a side pass by Ashton Stanyer, Sonny Nagle finished it off with the winning goal with about nine minutes left. From there, the boys defended their lead well and are well deserved cup winners. A great team effort by all.
Congratulations under-12 Black on a successful season. The success of the season is measured by the growth of each person and how they come together as a team. Congratulations Ridge and Jake as premiership coaches. Not only has your guidance strengthened the character of each member, your dedication and instructions has unified the team.
Cobram Roar FC Under 12 Boys Yellow 3-1 Wodonga Diamonds FC Under 12 Boys White
There are football games, and then there are games that become memories for life. For the Cobram Roar under-12 Yellow boys, Saturday’s grand final at Baranduda Park was exactly that.
After an extraordinary season in which they remained undefeated from the first whistle of the year to the last - finishing proudly on top of the ladder, the Roar arrived at Baranduda Park knowing there was just one thing left to do - finish the job, but standing in their way were Wodonga Diamonds FC.
The atmosphere was electric. The temperature was hotter than the boys were accustomed to, the crowd was bigger, the support from families and supporters was enormous and - with a premiership on the line, the nerves were understandably running high.
But before the boys took to the field, coaches Michael Davies and Fonz Santoro delivered a simple and powerful message; Work for each other, play hard because you love the game and communicate.
From the opening whistle, it was clear this was going to be a fast-paced battle.
Cobram’s fitness immediately began to shine. The Roar controlled possession for large periods, moving the ball around the park and forcing Diamonds to chase.
There were a few nervous moments when Diamonds launched attacks, but goalkeeper Uday Singh was outstanding, showing great composure and control whenever the ball came his way, with the Cobram defence refused to give up any chances. Kai Ramsdale, Amir Mohamed and Bede Schwarz stood firm, making crucial clearances and keeping the Diamonds attack at bay.
Then, in the 16th minute, the gates finally opened. A pinpoint corner routine from Amir Mohamed floated perfectly into the danger zone. Making an early run to the back stick was Frankie Lean whose perfectly timed header sailed beyond the Diamonds defence and goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
Diamonds immediately responded with a long ball from halfway that had Cobram scrambling. Uday Singh came off his line and cleared the danger, producing another important moment for Roar.
Cobram’s midfield was relentless. Wally Hargrave, Billy Daniel and Nate Hemingway covered enormous amounts of ground, constantly pressuring the Diamonds midfield and making those fast runs both forward and back. Their fitness and work rate were proving crucial and the pressure they applied eventually created another opening.
The ball found Frankie Lean on the left wing. Frankie drove forward before finding Wally Hargrave, who continued the move and delivered a perfectly timed through ball to Cooper Daniel, who made no mistake - a great finish from the Roar team’s youngest player.
At half-time, Michael and Fonz didn’t need to reinvent anything. Their instructions were clear - keep doing what you’re doing.
Francois Carstens entered the game and immediately made his presence felt. A versatile, well-rounded footballer, Francois held his ground and continued the Roar’s strong team performance. Up front, Chanel Finai had his opportunity to shine and came agonisingly close when a cracking volley flew off the post - a moment that had the entire Cobram supporter base holding its breath.
Nathanael Sutton produced another outstanding performance, playing in multiple positions and throwing everything into the contest. Strong as a rock, Nathanael never stopped working for his teammates.
On the right wing, Nate Hemingway was tireless. He ran up and down the line all day, providing an outlet in attack, tracking back to help his teammates and never giving the Diamonds defence a moment’s rest. His energy and work rate were a huge part of Cobram’s strong performance.
Then came the moment that would all but seal the championship. A Diamonds goal kick was deflected by Amir Mohamed, falling perfectly to midfield gun Billy Daniel who wasted no time in spotting Frankie Lean on the left wing and delivered a superb through ball into space. In a manner we’ve become accustomed to throughout the season, Frankie unleashed a powerful strike that flew straight past the Diamonds goalkeeper.
To their credit, Wodonga Diamonds never stopped fighting. They continued to push forward and were rewarded in the 51st minute when a corner caught the Roar defence flat-footed.
Suddenly, the final minutes carried even more tension, but this Cobram team had faced pressure all season - they weren’t about to let their undefeated record disappear now.
When the final whistle finally sounded, the scoreboard told the story: COBRAM ROAR 3 - 1 WODONGA DIAMONDS. Undefeated, top of the ladder, grand final champions!
Cobram’s Frankie Lean was awarded best on ground honours by an AWFA Life Member in attendance.
Jackson Hall - injured and unable to play any part of the finals campaign, made the effort to be part of the day’s proceedings and celebrate with his team mates at the end of the game
This Roar team worked for each other, encouraged each other and - most importantly, they enjoyed playing soccer together.
Cobram Roar FC Under 13 Boys 1-5 Boomers FC Under 13 Boys
Cobram Roar under-13s fought hard in their grand final, going down 5-1 after a challenging contest.
The team stepped onto the field determined to give it everything, showing plenty of courage and teamwork throughout the match. Despite falling behind, Cobram continued to battle, working hard for each other and never giving up.
While the result wasn’t what the team had hoped for, reaching the grand final is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the effort, commitment and teamwork they have shown all season.
There may have been disappointment at the final whistle, but the team can hold their heads high. They have had an incredible season and should be extremely proud of how far they have come.
Grand finalists - what a season.
Goal Scorer: Alex Pepper
Wangaratta City FC Division 2 Women 2-0 Cobram Roar FC Division 2 Women
Cobram Roar Division 2 Women fought right to the final whistle but were unable to claim the grand final trophy, going down 2-0 to Wangaratta.
Roar showed plenty of determination throughout the contest and never gave up, continuing to battle until the very end.
Cobram enjoyed a large share of possession and created opportunities, but unfortunately could not find the back of the net. Wangaratta took their chances when they came, scoring twice to secure the premiership.
Despite the disappointing result, Roar can be proud of their effort and commitment throughout the match and the season.
They fought to the end, refused to give up and left everything on the field, a performance that reflects the spirit and determination of the Cobram Roar Division 2 Women.
Bring on next season.