WILLOWBURN KEEPS PRESIDENT’S CUP HOPES ALIVE.
FOOTBALL: Patience paid off for Willowburn in the end, keeping their hopes of making the premier men’s President’s Cup alive.
Despite having a one-man advantage for the bulk of the contest, the Magpies had to come back from one goal down to secure a 2-1 victory over Rockville at Captain Cook Reserve.
Rovers goalkeeper Hayden Chalmers was given a red card in the 10th minute for a challenge gone wrong.
However it was Rockville that struck first, with Maysar Qaso scoring in the 22nd minute.
“I always had confidence that we’d have them at the back end. The way we train is to play for 90 minutes,” Willowburn coach Jamie McMillan said.
“There was a little bit of panic, because after they went down to 10 men, they lifted like they were playing with 12.
“We took the foot off the gas, and it wasn’t a disadvantage for them. They were playing strong football.”
After a halftime chat, the Mapgies stuck to their guns and were able to take full advantage of their situation.
Connor Wockner tied things up after 76 minutes, before nailing the matchwinner six minutes from time to seal a crucial three points.
“All it was about was getting back to our style of play, looking to play expansive football and trying to exploit the overlap,” McMillan said.
“We started dominating possession towards the back end of the second half and it was only a matter of time before we found the back of the net.”
The win moves Willowburn into third spot, remaining one point behind both St Alban’s and West Wanderers with one round left before the President’s Cup.
St Albans were lifted by a Mannyx Smith hat-trick to a 6-1 defeat of Gatton, while West Wanderers were held to a 1-all draw with the visiting Warwick Wolves.
The premier ladies division saw some big scorelines across the park.
Melony Baker netted a hattrick for the Lady Hawks as they downed West Wanderers 8-0.
Brooke Baldwin also scored three as Highfields bounced back with an 11-0 defeat of Gatton.
The hat-trick club was joined by Sophie Fuller of Willowburn as she helped her team to account for Chinchilla 8-0. Steffi Wilson had three goals for Rockville, while Maddy Lockwood scored 10 in Rockville’s 15-1 win over USQ.
STANDINGS MEN
St Albans 13, West Wanderers 13, Willowburn 12, Rockville 10, Warwick 9, Gatton 7, Stanthorpe 1*, Highfields 0* * A game in hand
WOMEN
Willowburn 15, Rovers 12, Lady Hawks 12, Highfields 12, Rubies 7, USQ 6, Chinchilla 6, Gatton 1, Warwick 0, West Wanderers 0