ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Yoogali FC celebrate their well-earned win in style yesterday. Pictures: Bec Goullet
YOOGALI Football Club stripped defending premier Griffith City of its title after a close 1-0 win in the reserve grade grand final yesterday.
YFC coach Richard Watts said it was a huge victory not just for the team but for the club and all its supporters.
"It was great it means a lot to the club to get a win," he said.
"It was a very close game and it could have gone both ways and they've (GCFC) got a lot of good players but we held strong and came away with it."
Yoogali looked good early on, with the men in yellow camping in front of Griffith City's goal and creating a lot of chances.
But GCFC's defenders were on fire from the first whistle and continued to shut down Yoogali's every move.
Despite the missed opportunities, Yoogali kept their heads and were soon rewarded when Brian Grogan went one-on-one with City's 'keeper Bryce Mannweiler, opening up the goal and finding the back of the net at the 30-minute mark.
Ten minutes later Yoogali had the opportunity to extend its lead when awarded a dot shot but Mannweiler was able to deny them.
The brilliant save lit a fire under Griffith City's attackers, but despite possession evening up, GCFC's usual success in front of the goal had deserted them and Yoogali maintained their lead going into the break.
At the second half whistle both squads came out of the box firing and there was little to separate the two.
With a number of free kicks being awarded to both teams it seemed only a matter of time before one of them found the back of the net, but goals continued to be elusive.
As the clock wound down, Griffith City threw everything they had at Yoogali for a chance to take the game into overtime but it just wasn't their day and YFC managed to hang on to claim the title.
Watts said it was a great effort by the squad to hang on to such a narrow lead for much of the game and praised their performance during the match.
"They threw everything they had at us towards the end but we managed to hold strong," he said.
"Domenic Zirilli was excellent today, the way he defended and kept the ball away and our 'keeper Daniel Lico, who is only 16, saved us all year he is one of the players for the future for YFC."
GCFC coach Angelo Cirillo praised his squad's efforts on the field yesterday and throughout the year.