Matches against our local rivals, Rockingham City, are typically intense and competitive, and the three men's state league games were no different.
A large crowd gathered early at Lark Hill, eagerly awaiting the presentation of the Under 18's trophy. However, the Football West representative was running late (not his fault, we should mention), so the trophy celebrations were postponed until after the match. The Under 18's game itself was a hard-fought, scrappy contest. With strong winds affecting all three games, playing good football proved challenging at times.
Although Mandurah controlled much of the match, particularly after the host team was reduced to 10 players, it was a single goal from Sam Lovell that secured the 3 points and capped off a fantastic season for the Under 18's. The trophy was then awarded to the team, and the celebrations truly began.
Rob and Simon's final game as coaches of the reserve team started off on a high note, with an own goal giving Mandurah the lead just 5 minutes in. Rockingham equalized shortly after halftime, but both teams soon found themselves down to 10 men. Mandurah adapted well to the 10-a-side situation, scoring two quick goals from Spadaccini and Odunga, resulting in a 3-1 victory.
Before the first team match, a moment of silence was observed in memory of former state league referee Liviu Katona, who passed away after a long illness. Our thoughts are with Liviu's friends and family during this difficult time.
Despite a lively start to the first team game, neither side managed to seriously challenge the opposing goalkeeper. Griffiths and Terrell both had shots that went just wide, but neither keeper faced any significant saves. The second half mirrored the first in terms of limited opportunities, with Jackson Gardner in the Mandurah goal making a fantastic save to keep the score level. Just when it seemed the match would end in a draw, Jordy Callaghan emerged to calmly finish and score for Mandurah. As time ticked away, the Mandurah crowd erupted in cheers, and when the final whistle blew, the celebrations began.
The attention shifted to the women's team as they faced Hamersley Rovers in an important league match. Despite the chilly and damp Saturday evening, a good number of fans showed up, but the game ended in a stalemate with both teams finishing at 0-0. As a result, Mandurah now sits in 3rd place on the table, trailing leaders AFC Perth by 2 points and just 1 point behind 2nd place Fremantle City.
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