‘September 11 this year saw a memorable clash in the U14 North Division 3 semi finals. The game between 1st place Westside and 4th place Whitford ended with a last minute goal, seeing Whitford progress to the grand final, next was 2nd place Joondalup a team that has denominated the competition for most of 2011, against 3rd place Wembley Downs a newcomer to finals football. In the 3 prior match ups this season between the teams, Joondalup has been the stronger side beating Wembley convincingly 9-2, 5-1 and 3-1.
The Wembley team took to the pitch with a battle plan to neutralise Joondalup’s 6’- 0” tall marquee striker, a player that had terrorised the competition all season with his speed and ball skills. The first half of the semi-final was a closely fought contest, with both teams launching raids on the opposition goal mouth and some gritty tackling in the midfield and defense. Half time saw a 0 – 0 score line, with the Wembley team sensing they could pull off the upset of the competition and the Joondalup coach exhorting his team to grind Wembley into the ground. The second half was an equally tough encounter with the Joondalup playmaker now roaming the pitch in an attempt to get away from his marker, while the Wembley team continued to raid the Joondalup goal mouth with shots bouncing off the woodwork. The referee blew full time to end a nail biting game with a 0-0 draw and both teams congregating on the centre of the pitch for a penalty shoot out.
The first penalty was taken by Wembley’s captain Jobah Howell, who drilled the ball into the back of the net, followed by Joondalup’s marquee player who unleashed a pile driver at Wembley’s Keeper, Richard ‘Killer’ Ballam. To the screams of parents and team mates ‘Killer’ Ballam, pulled off an unbelievable save stopping the Joondalup bullet dead in its tracks and setting his team mates up for success. The remaining penalties became a see sawing battle down to the wire with Joondalup kicking to stay in the match, when ‘Killer’ Ballam again worked his magic and gloved the ball perfectly.
The Wembley team went wild, final score 3-2 and Wembley Downs U14 Division 3 are through to the grand final on September 25
