Pindan Storms crowned Broome Soccer Association junior term 3 champions in nail-biting grand final

Broome Soccer Association minor premiers Pindan Storms completed their stellar season with a close grand final win over the Roebuck Bay Mudcrabs over the weekend. Facing off under the Friday night lights at Father McMahon Oval, and coming off the back of a two-week rest period due to school holidays, both teams were straight into the game from kick-off, intent on not bottling their chance of glory. Much like a similar, but slightly-higher profile premier-league game between Liverpool and Manchester City on the weekend, it was back and forth stuff between the Broome junior league’s best teams, with chances a-plenty for both sides. But it was the brick-wall goalkeeping on both sides, from Mudcrabs’ Lily Murray and Storms’ Mathew Olejnik, that was the highlight of the day, with strikers on both sides frustrated and unable to take opportunities, 0-0 at the halftime break. Smart defending, swift dribbling and accurate passing in a fast paced second half gave the Storms a few more shots on goal, with prolific goalscorer Riley Lee-Hunter finally able to net a goal past the formidable Lily Murray, putting Storms ahead by one. Desperate to claw their way back, the Mudcrabs continued to ply pressure, with Zac Moyle central to his team’s valiant efforts. But it was the tireless defending of Henry Skewes which saw the Storms hold off the Mudcrabs to claim victory and lift the coveted Junior soccer trophy. In the third-place playoff, an undermanned Broome City faced off against the Chinatown Dragons. Luckily for City, the Dragons were able to supply some deadline-day loanees, and both teams able to field a full-side. The Dragons were first on the scoresheet thanks to a Beckham-esque free kick from Clinton Taylor McCoy, but it wasn’t long before a long-range screamer for City drew things level again. The game continued in a tit-for-tat fashion, with Carlos Dann-Glauser scoring a late equaliser to see the Dragons draw it back to 2-2 and see the game go to a penalty shootout. It was the Dragons who were able to handle the pressure of penalties in the end, scoring all five of their changes with Broome City managing just three to see the game finish Dragons 2-2 City (Dragons 5-3 City on penalties).