9-11s GRAND FINAL 2022- City vs Glory

This was finals gameplay at its best with each player giving their all for their team, generating a high energy, seesawing match that thrilled spectators right up to the exciting conclusion.

From the outset, City took the game to Glory, putting pressure high up the pitch and City Captain Euen McIlroy ricocheted a shot off the crossbar within the first couple of minutes.  Harlem Moore and Max Chitarra worked hard for Glory in the midfield but City's Mila Fitzpatrick and Nia Postans clamped down the wings and their backline was braced by Tyden Forrest, whose skills have developed impressively over the course of this season.  His uncompromising style of defence noticeably thwarted numerous plays from the talented Glory forwards.

Just before half time, a breaking ball in Glory’s defence fell to Euen McIlroy, who slotted home in cool fashion to put City 1-0 up.

Glory came out of the half time break with fresh impetus and within a couple of minutes found an equaliser through Glory's ubiquitous Captain, Spence Pokela.

The next ten minutes was end to end football, arguably the best quality of the whole season.  Referee Alex Paxton controlled the match in a tense atmosphere, and let the game flow well.

Suddenly, a contested ball landed at the feet of McIlroy again, and he scored his second of the day to take City 2-1 up, with 10 minutes remaining.  The atmosphere was reaching fever pitch, and within 5 minutes Pokela found the corner of the City goal again.  In the dying minutes of normal time, City’s Conor Sinnott fired a half volley shot from long range which deflected off the woodwork and kept the score at a 2-2 draw, forcing two 5-minute halves of extra time.

In the second half of extra time, McIlroy thrust a toe at a loose ball on the threshold of the goal line and punched it between a Glory defender's feet to find the back of the net- to the uproarious elation of his team and supporters.

With only a minute left on the clock, Pokela launched a blistering counterattack for Glory in a desperate attempt lock up the scores again. His trademark pace and deft ball-handling skills saw him beat City's backline and open up an opportunity to strike on goal.

In what proved a match winning play, City GK Saxon Loader reacted instantly and intelligently by charging out to meet Pokela, executing a textbook slide tackle to unbalance the striker and allow City’s defence to shore up and dispose of the ball.

The final whistle sounded shortly after, bringing with it wild scenes of jubilation alongside frustration and disappointment, with City taking home the winners' Cup for the 2022 season.