Great junior soccer grand finals

The Narrabri Junior Soccer grand final day was held on Saturday at Gately Fields.

The two competitive grand finals played were the under-12/13s and under-14/18s competitions.

Narrabri’s CSD and Wee Waa’s Kenway and Clark battled it out in the under-14/18s grand final.

That match was incredibly tight for the opening 20 minutes with both sides unable to get a foothold in the game.

But on the 22-minute mark CSD’s Cody Shepherdson put the Narrabri side into the lead.

Cody’s strike was fitting of a grand final, it was hit with venom and screamed into the back of the net.

That was the lone goal of the half with CSD taking a 1-nil lead into the break.

After half-time CSD’s goalkeeper Josh Taylor made a terrific save to deny Kenway and Clark an equaliser.

Under-12/13s runners-up Karen Carter side - back row, Grace Westman, Travis Ryan, Noah Teer, Tom Ryan, Ian Burney, front, Mia Crocker, Kaitlyn Cahill, Darcy Gleeson, Sam Elms. Absent, Billie Tout, Koby Grey. Under-12/13s runners-up Karen Carter side - back row, Grace Westman, Travis Ryan, Noah Teer, Tom Ryan, Ian Burney, front, Mia Crocker, Kaitlyn Cahill, Darcy Gleeson, Sam Elms. Absent, Billie Tout, Koby Grey.

Under-14/18s grand final runners-up Kenway and Clark - back, Alice Haire, Jacob Hopman, Tialas Crocker, coach John Hopman, Charlie Young, Kirrley Johnston, Makayla Hopman, Dylan Ryan, front, Julianna Hopman, Brock Radburn, AJ Hopman, Makenzie Jones, Caitlin Coutts-Smith and Letoya Ryan. Under-14/18s grand final runners-up Kenway and Clark - back, Alice Haire, Jacob Hopman, Tialas Crocker, coach John Hopman, Charlie Young, Kirrley Johnston, Makayla Hopman, Dylan Ryan, front, Julianna Hopman, Brock Radburn, AJ Hopman, Makenzie Jones, Caitlin Coutts-Smith and Letoya Ryan.

Under-14/18 grand final winners CSD - back Lily Kelly, Will Ryan, Josh Taylor, Brayden Mackenzie, Eden Westman, Dylan Thompson, front, Grace Hardy, Clayton Johannesen, Bodee Scott, Marlin Ryman and Jake Bussell. Absent - Cody Shepherdson and Clariese Ryman. Under-14/18 grand final winners CSD - back Lily Kelly, Will Ryan, Josh Taylor, Brayden Mackenzie, Eden Westman, Dylan Thompson, front, Grace Hardy, Clayton Johannesen, Bodee Scott, Marlin Ryman and Jake Bussell. Absent - Cody Shepherdson and Clariese Ryman.

Under-12/13s champions Delta Ag - back, Arylee Arnold, Katrina Murray, Andrea Brown, Riley Sampson, Oscar George, Callum Wales, Pat Lindsey, front row, Laine McCauley, Jack Leslie, Joshua Went and Ben Murray. Under-12/13s champions Delta Ag - back, Arylee Arnold, Katrina Murray, Andrea Brown, Riley Sampson, Oscar George, Callum Wales, Pat Lindsey, front row, Laine McCauley, Jack Leslie, Joshua Went and Ben Murray.

Soon after Grace Hardy put CSD two goals ahead when she made an incredible run.

Grace picked the ball up behind halfway, ran through several defenders and scored a scintillating solo goal, putting her side up 2-nil.

The Wee Waa side kept its head up but was unable to find the right finish and a short time later Cody had his second of the contest.

Cody kept the ball in play after a long through ball looked destined to roll out of play.

Cody’s pure speed allowed him to keep the ball in, and then shoot from an acute angle.

The ball bounced off the inside post and into the goal, sealing CSD’s victory.

But it was not all despair for Kenway and Clark side.

The team was able to produce a consolation goal through Jacob Hopman with only two minutes of the match remaining.

The under-12/13s grand final was competed between the Karen Carter side and the Delta Ag team.

After a very close 21 minutes the Karen Carter side struck first.

Karen Carters’ Sam Elms was taken down in the penalty area and awarded a penalty kick.

Sam stepped up to the plate and scored the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way.

But that was the only joy of the afternoon for the Karen Carter team.

Four minutes later Oscar George tied the game. Oscar drove through the opposition’s defence and struck the ball sweetly.

Just before the half time whistle Riley Sampson put his mark on the match with fantastic goal.

That goal made the half time score 2-1 with Delta Ag turning around a 1-nil deficit.

The opening of the second half was very close with both teams having half-chances to score.

But eventually it was Pat Lindsey that put Delta Ag up 3-1 with 25 minutes remaining. That is how the result stayed with Delta Ag winning 3-1.