Nancy Girls and Broome City are Champions

Broome City claimed their first B Liga title in a thrilling penalty shoot out win against a courageous Pearl Coast Pirates. City eventually won a game for the ages 4-3 on penalties after the sides were level at 3-3 at full time.
Broome City had careered into the final playing some fantastic football and started the final at a frenetic pace. Ryan Thorpe blasted home the first before the majority of the capacity crowd had found their seats. The experienced Andy Baker began to gain control of the midfield for the Pirates and the game became a hard, tough battle, with neither defence giving anything away. Just before the interval some terrific team passing saw Steve Rath presented with a simple tap in and at 2-0 Broome City appeared to have done enough.
The pulsating Richard Brunger urged his Pirates on at the break, but it was City’s Jono Falconer, who looked the most likely to provide another goal. Chances were rare for both teams, but when Andrew Sutherland failed to clear Pirates pounced through a long throw from Andy Baker. Vinny Bellotti was on hand to bundle the ball home. With midfield dynamo Thorpe struggling with injury Pirates began to get on top. But when Falconer was fouled Brendan Hunt blasted a free kick low into the bottom corner to send the City faithful wild. At 3-1 all but those in black thought the game was over and the title secure.
Suddenly City resorted to panicked clearances to the sideline allowing Pirates to fire long throws into the box and use their tall timber to advantage. The pressure mounted and in an amazing finish Ken Goatley tapped in a corner and young gun Matty Sheridan blasted low to complete a wonderful comeback. At 3-3 and with penalties to come the momentum had shifted dramatically, and a record third title in four years seemed in the offing for the men in black.
The game was but the entrée however, the main dish was about to be served. Bellotti slotted the first penalty comfortably to give Pirates their first lead of the night. Young star, Narravatte blasted over to increase the City nerves. Gallichan was ice cool as was man of the match Brendan Hunt who slotted City onto the score sheet. The game turned again when Sheridan missed. Sutherland scored and City were back in it again at 2-2. Baker eased Pirates nerves with a typical calm finish, but an exhausted Thorpe had his shot saved by Colwell. Pirates were one kick from the trophy. Up stepped captain Brunger who couldn’t deliver and City had a lifeline. Facundo showed some latin flair and nerves of steel to slot cooly. The shoot out was into sudden death. Up stepped one of the most experienced players in BSA history, Ken Goatley. On any other day a penalty kick would be like a walk in the park to the big man. But this was not any ordinary day. His shot cannoned off the post and the noise reverberated round the Father McMahon Field. It was left to John Musekiwa, adorned in purple boots, to finally seal the victory. His deft chip into the top corner was the perfect way to end a momentous game and give Broome City their first B Liga title.


Nancy Girls are the inaugural B Liga Women’s Champions.
The red and whites showed true championship qualities to overcome valiant Shamrocks 5-1.
The result was just rewards for a professional and disciplined team performance. Whilst Nancy Girls strike force of Jess Richards and Alissa Byron regularly steal the headlines it was a miserly defence that built the platform for the win.
Tara Bilston and Julia Marley were brilliant denying Shamrocks superstar striker Frazer Armstrong a chance to shine. When Armstrong did break free Nancy Kennedy was heroic in the goals denying Shamrocks any chance of getting back into the game.
Both sides made nervous starts, but Shamrocks had the better of the early possession and made their intentions known, with Jannah Lott making her presence felt with some physical challenges. Lexi Tang Wei made some trademark one-shoed dashing runs down the left, but Nancy Girls held strong.
Byron and Armstrong both had half chances to put their side in front, but it was hard working midfielder Rosie Stark who pounced with an opportunistic strike to give Nancy Girls the lead at the break.
The goal must have given the team confidence. They started the second half positively, and Jess Richards fired home a second from a long throw to give her side some breathing space. But Shamrocks had earned their place in the final and were not about to give up. Back they came with greater determination; for once Armstrong was able to break free but sprayed her shot wide. Seconds later she turned provider laying on an inch perfect pass for Tiffany Labuc to score. Suddenly, at 2-1, it was game on with Shamrock’s pushing forward at every opportunity. Once again Bilston and Marley were up to the task, and when Byron blasted a half chance into the roof of the net Nancy Girls had one hand on the trophy. Armstrong and Melena Cole-Manolis each had opportunities to bring Shamrock’s back into it again, but it wasn’t to be.
Byron completed a brilliant hat trick to seal the game and make history by becoming the first ever women’s team to lift the trophy, and deservedly so.
B Liga Awards 2010



B Liga 2010
Emerging Talent
ANGELA PETHICK
TROY HUNTER

B Liga 2010
Golden Boot

Alyssa Byron
Frank Britton and Jamie Lane

Referee of the Year
RUSSELL DEIKS

Captain’s Awards

Broome Heart – Rebecca Adcock
Nancy Girls - Alissa Byron
Shamrocks – Lexie Tang Wei
Troppos - Angela Pethick

Pearl Coat Pirates – Matty Sheridan
Hagan’s Heroes - Mike Dawson
Racing Guantanamo – Rob Viskovich
NDFC - Marty Hayes
Broome City - Jamie Lane

El Presidente Award (volunteer of the year)
Gaz Vickery


B Liga 2010
Player of the Year

Lexi Tang Wei
Frank Britton

FINALS PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Tara Bilston
Brendan Hunt.

CHAMPIONS

Women’s champions – Nancy Girls
Men’s champions – Broome City


By Mike Doyle- El Presidente

FINALS

Our Grand Finalists have been decided,

Mens : Broome City V Pearl Coast Pirates
Womens: Nancy Girls V Shamrocks

Wishing the Finalists all the best this coming Wednesday night, all members are encouraged to come down and give support to the teams and the Broome Soccer Assosiation. See you down there for a great night of soccer entertainment.