Cobram Roar FC Division 1 Men 6-4 Albury City FC Division 1 Men
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Due to this fixture being a washout earlier in August, Cobram travelled to Wodonga on Thursday evening to play top-of-the-table Albury City FC.
Light drizzle before kick-off resulted in fantastic playing conditions under the lights, in what was seen as a ‘free hit’ for Cobram against an Albury side who had only lost twice throughout the season.
The game started brightly, with both sides displaying some neat passing and build-up play - Cobram being rewarded first when Kieran O’Donnell got on the scoresheet in the seventh minute.
Momentum shifted throughout the first half, with Albury scoring two goals to go into the break 2-1 ahead.
The second half started in Albury’s favour, with a quick goal seeing Cobram fall behind 3-1, a score line that lasted barely seven minutes, after Jake Kalz’s blistering pace and a Henry Siumae strike brought the scores level.
Cobram then took the lead through another O’Donnell goal in the 55th minute to make it 4-3, an advantage that lasted just four minutes, when Albury drew level again to make it 4-4.
Cobram’s intent and patience, combined with Albury going down to 10 men, then resulted in some extra space and opportunities to exploit. With Cobram’s English contingent of Jamie England, Adam Gatcum and Billy Marshall all having to come off the field due to injury, a concerted effort to refocus and reshape bore fruit in the 83rd minute, when O’Donnell completed his hattrick and added Cobram’s fifth to create a little bit of breathing space on the scoresheet.
The excellent result was secured by one of Cobram’s young talents, Dante Zito, as he latched on to a lose ball just outside of the Albury area and unleashed a shot that went across the keeper and face of the goal and into the side netting, much to the delight of the travelling support.
Albury Hotspurs SC Under 12 Boys Gold 1-0 Cobram Roar FC Under 12 Boys Black
The under-12 Cobram Roar Boys Black faced ladder-leaders Albury Hotspurs on Sunday in a hard-fought contest.
Cobram battled hard for possession throughout the match, matching their higher-placed opponents for large stretches of play. With only one substitute available, the boys showed real grit and determination to go the distance.
The Cobram Roar goalkeeper was outstanding, making countless crucial saves to deny Hotspurs and keep the game alive. Albury Hotspurs ultimately broke through in the final minutes to secure the win.
While the score line favoured Hotspurs, the united team performance from Cobram Roar was something the whole club can be proud of.
Albury Hotspurs SC Under 12 Boys Yellow 1-5 Cobram Roar FC Under 12 Boys Yellow
Cobram Roar under-12 Yellow have wrapped up their home and away season in style, defeating Albury Hotspurs FC 5-1 in their final game of the regular season.
Hotspurs came out strongly and showed just how much they had improved since the last meeting between the two sides. They created a couple of nervous moments early on, but Cobram settled into their rhythm and produced a fantastic first half.
Frankie Lean opened the scoring for Cobram before Nate Hemingway doubled the advantage, sending the Roar into half-time with a well-earned 2-0 lead.
The boys came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and lifted their intensity even further. Cooper Daniel found the back of the net before Nathanael Sutton added two more goals to put Cobram firmly in control at 5-0.
Hotspurs managed a consolation goal from the penalty spot after a foul in the box, but it did little to take away from what was another outstanding performance from the Roar.
The final whistle confirmed a 5-1 victory and, more importantly, saw Cobram Roar under-12 Yellow finish the home and away season top of the ladder and bring home the flag.
A special mention goes to Chanel Finai, who was awarded best on ground for his determined effort. Chanel put in a tremendous shift for the team and was relentless from start to finish.
A huge shout-out also goes to coaches Fonz and Michael, whose commitment, guidance and belief in the boys has played a massive part in such a successful season.
And of course, a massive thank you to all the parents and guardians who have contributed so much throughout the season - from getting the boys to training and games to cheering them on from the sidelines. Your support has been a huge part of the team’s success.
What a season it has been for Cobram Roar under-12 Yellow: unbeaten, six goals conceded in total, top of the ladder and flag secured. Now….BRING ON THE FINALS!
Albury Hotspurs SC Under 13 Boys Black 4-2 Cobram Roar FC Under 13 Boys
Albury Hotspurs SC Under 14 Girls 3-1 Cobram Roar FC Under 14 Girls
Cobram Roar under-14 Girls travelled to Albury for the final round of the season, taking on a determined Albury Hotspurs side in a tough and competitive battle.
Cobram made the perfect start, opening the scoring through a well-taken shot from Matoaka Kemper. The girls worked hard to build on their early advantage, but struggled to maintain momentum as the game progressed.
Hotspurs were awarded a penalty, which they converted to level the scores before half-time.
The second half continued to be a hard-fought contest, with Hotspurs managing to find the back of the net again to take the lead. Cobram continued to battle hard, but a third goal from another penalty ultimately sealed the result for the home side.
Despite the disappointing 1-3 result, the girls showed plenty of determination and effort throughout the match.
Albury Hotspurs SC Under 14 Boys 0-2 Cobram Roar FC Under 14 Boys
Cobram Roar under-14 boys have finished their home-and-away season in style, recording a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Albury Hotspurs away from home.
The Roar boys produced a strong team performance to secure all three points in their final home-and-away fixture, capping off a season in which the team has continued to grow and improve.
With a few key players missing from the line-up, the Roar were forced to make some changes, with several under-13 boys stepping up to help the team. The younger players played an important role and contributed strongly to the team’s successful performance.
Two goals were enough to seal the win, with Cobram maintaining their composure and discipline throughout the match. At the other end of the pitch, a determined defensive effort ensured Albury Hotspurs were unable to find the back of the net.
The 2-0 result was a fitting way for the Roar to close out the regular season and gives the team plenty of confidence heading into the finals.
After finishing the season strongly, the under-14s will now turn their attention to the business end of the competition, with their finals campaign beginning next Sunday.
With momentum on their side and the team playing some of their best football of the season, the Roar boys will be looking to carry that form into finals and make their opportunity count.
Goal scorers: Domenic Siciliano (1), Ben Padman (1)
Wangaratta City FC Under 16 Boys 0-1 Cobram Roar FC Under 16 Boys
Cobram Roar’s under-16 boys finished their home-and-away campaign in style, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wangaratta FC.
The Roar forwards enjoyed a strong day in attack, with Bosco Su finding the back of the net in the first half to give Cobram the lead. From there, the team showed plenty of determination and discipline to protect the advantage.
At the other end of the pitch, the Roar backline stood firm. Mattias Burns and AJ Burrows were outstanding in defence, helping keep Wangaratta’s attack at bay and ensuring the Roar held on for a valuable clean sheet.
The final whistle brought a well-earned 1-0 victory and a fitting end to the home-and-away season for the young Roar side.
A huge thank you also goes to Steve Burns, who stepped in as coach for the team’s final home-and-away game. His support and guidance were greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to the entire under-16 squad on a terrific team effort and a fantastic way to finish the regular season.
Albury Hotspurs SC Division 2 Women 3-2 Cobram Roar FC Division 2 Women
Cobram Roar Division 2 Women fought right to the end against Albury Hotspurs, eventually going down 3-2 in a hard-fought contest.
The Roar found themselves 2-0 down early, but showed tremendous character to fight their way back into the match. Roar produced a superb comeback, scoring twice in just eight minutes by Holli Cameron to bring the Roar level at 2-2.
From there, Cobram continued to fight and refused to give up. The Roar controlled much of the possession and continued to apply pressure as they searched for the goal that would put them ahead.
Despite dominating possession for long periods and creating opportunities, Cobram was unable to find the decisive goal. Hotspurs eventually struck again to make it 3-2.
The Roar continued to battle until the final whistle, showing plenty of determination and never giving up despite the result.
While the final score was disappointing, the fightback from two goals down and the team's ability to control much of the game provided plenty of positives to take forward.
The Roar can take plenty of confidence from their never-say-die performance and will be looking to turn that around heading into the finals next week.
Albury Hotspurs SC Division 3 Men 5-1 Cobram Roar FC Division 3 Men
Albury Hotspurs SC Division 2 Men 3-0 Cobram Roar FC Division 2 Men (via forfeit)
Albury Hotspurs SC Division 1 Men 8-1 Cobram Roar FC Division 1 Men
After securing an impressive Thursday night victory over league leaders Albury City, Cobram Roar travelled back across the border to take on Albury Hotspurs in their final home and away match of the season.
With their quarter-final position already confirmed and their finals opponent locked in, Roar had the luxury of resting a number of regular first-team players and giving opportunities to some of the club’s younger squad members.
The young Roar side faced a tough challenge against a fifth-placed Hotspurs outfit and, despite going down 8-1, showed plenty of character and determination throughout the match. The players worked tirelessly from start to finish and never stopped competing against a more experienced opponent.
Roar’s only goal of the match came from John Fula, but it was the celebration that caught the eye of the crowd. Fula marked the moment with an impressive running backflip, adding a bit of excitement and flair to an otherwise challenging afternoon.
For several players, it was their first taste of Division 1 football, and the experience will prove invaluable as they continue to develop. The opportunity to test themselves at this level will only help strengthen the depth of the Roar squad moving into the future.
With the home and away season now complete, all focus turns to the quarter-finals next week as Roar prepare for another exciting finals campaign.