Preliminary Final
Kahibah FC 0-1 Belmont Swansea United
Kane Woolston’s second half goal saw Belmont Swansea United advance to the grand final after downing Kahibah 1-0 on Sunday.
It was a hotly contested fixture involving many chances, spectacular saves and a large crowd at Kahibah Oval.
It was almost constant action throughout the match, starting with a Belswans onslaught during the first 20 minutes.
A Cameron Sullini half volley from outside the penalty area after 10 minutes appeared destined for the top left corner, with the rocket forcing a super save from the in-form Kahibah goalkeeper Scott Carter.
As the first half progressed the Rams warmed into the game as the home fans got more involved after every goal attempt.
As Belswans' control dwindled towards the end of the first half, Kahibah dominated in chance creation during the last 15 minutes.
Kahibah shot plenty of close calls astray but the best opportunity came with the last kick of the first half with Asher Beasley dribbling past the Belswans defence into a one-on-one situation. But his shot was read well by goalkeeper Daniel Bryant ending the half 0-0.
The second half kicked off with both sides quick to create chances. This theme would continue until the final whistle, with goalkeepers Carter and Bryant standout performers.
Soon after a couple of shots rattled the post from Cameron Lodge and substitute Brendan Hall, Belswans striker Woolston found the opener, with super-sub Hall the creator.
Kahibah continued their attack on the Belswans defence and thought they had found an equaliser right at the death. Jasper Sambrook cracked a volley from just inside the penalty area and had a perfect flight on goal but an incredible save from Bryant left Kahibah stunned and the game ended with a narrow 1-0 win for Belswans.
Despite the close game, which could have ended with either team winning, Kahibah coach Mat Moncrieff can be pleased with an abundance of positives to come from the preliminary final.
"Very disappointed by the way the goal went in and I'm not happy about that decision at all but that's football,” Moncrieff said.
“You get some go your way and some don't go your way. The last time we played Belswans, we had a lot of luck. This week, we got none of it, no rub of the green.
"Disappointed the way it happened but we’ve just got to cop them on the chin, move on and learn from them.
“But apart from the first 20 minutes, I thought we were the better team and deserved to win the game. But we wish good luck to Belswans and hope they do well next week. But we are still a bit shattered.
"We definitely put on a good show for [the crowd]. Both teams created some chances and got them excited a little bit. Just a bummer that we couldn't get to sing that song in the end and go onto the big dance but it was a really good day for the club and I'm sure everyone that was there had a good day."
Kahibah have been the most improved side in this year’s competition. Finishing eighth last year, the Rams managed to move up five spots to third and one game from a grand final. While Moncrieff was over the moon with this achievement, the club still have greater ambitions they wish to fulfil in the near future.
“We came from eighth last year to third this year and we didn't go out in straight sets in finals,” Moncrieff said.
“We gave [the competition] a little bit of a shake but for a club where we want to be it's not good enough. We want to be winning trophies.
"We made a huge step this year but we've still got a little bit to go to get where I, the committee and the club want to be.
"We just move on and wish New Lambton and Belswans all the best of luck next week."
It will be the fifth grand final in seven years for Belswans, proving their consistent dominance in the competition.
"I'm very proud of the players and the club to win the match today in pushing all three grades into the grand final next Saturday at Edgeworth,” Belswans coach Mick Stafford said.
"I think we started as the better side and we created some good chances. And again, [Scott] Carter in goals was superb [for Kahibah] and nullified that. Around the 30-minute mark, we got dragged into their style of football, which killed the game off a bit.
“We spoke at half-time about opening the game up a bit and I think once we started to do that, we got back on top and eventually broke them down and got the winner.
"It was a good team effort. The defence was solid again, that's the sixth clean sheet in seven games for us. But the key moment was our impact off the bench today. Mark Finlayson came on and Brendan ‘Baz’ Hall made his first appearance of the season and made an immediate impact. He really turned the game and helped create the goal.
"We've been here before. This is the fifth time the group has been [in the grand final], so I'm pretty confident I know that we know what to do.
“It's about making it enjoyable for the players and the club. We're not going to reinvent the wheel in two training sessions. It's just getting everyone fit, motivated and ready to look forward to enjoying the grand final experience this weekend."
Additionally to the on field display, Belswans supporters flooded Kahibah Oval in numbers to support the club’s top grade in a game that had importance extending beyond another potential grand final appearance.
"We're a very well-supported club throughout the grades and the community is fully behind us,” Stafford said.
“Today we were playing in memory of a first grade player Bryce Williams, who tragically lost his life during the week, so that was extra motivation for the boys and the community to get behind us and get the win for the club and for Bryce.
"It was a good atmosphere [in the sheds]. The message was clear. We're not going to celebrate too hard because the job is not done yet. We've learnt that lesson before. So again, enjoy the win, look forward to the week and focus on what will be a very tough game against essentially the best team all year which is New Lambton.
"I'd like to congratulate Mat and his Kahibah team on their good turnaround in a season and he should be proud of his efforts as well as their players."
