MINOR SEMI FINAL
Berkeley Vale 5 – 3 Kanwal
Despite a late collapse where Kanwal pulled back three consolation goals, The Wombats’ quest for back-to-back Premierships remains alive after an experienced and clinical performance in the 2025 MPL Minor Semi-Final.
The opening stages of the contest saw both teams turn the ball over frequently as neither side had a real grasp on possession nor controlled the game. Both sides set up high, not allowing the opposition much time on the ball which made for very few chances early on.
Berkeley Vale slowly got into their rhythm of possession-based football, enjoying more of the ball in the opposition’s half which led to a promising free kick on the edge of the area.
Nick Trengrove stepped up to the ball and rifled home a thunderous shot that the Kanwal keeper couldn’t parry away, breaking the deadlock for his side with a 1-0 lead after 25 minutes played.
Three minutes later their advantage was doubled after a bounding run from Ashton Hurley saw him connect with Jakeb Brownlow as Brownlow put him in on goal. Hurley elected to cross the ball to the unmarked Kyle Harvey who tapped home from close range.
Berkeley would have to wait until 15 minutes in the second period to get their next goal. It would be Jakeb Brownlow this time on the scoresheet, finding himself on the end of a magnificent ball from Conor Fitzpatrick as the striker only needed one touch before placing the ball into the bottom corner.
Brownlow added to his tally midway through the second half after Scott McGinley won the ball back in the opposition’s half and played Brownlow in on goal.
Still with plenty of work to do, Brownlow was able to beat a crowd of three defenders inside the box, finding enough space to get a shot off that found the bottom right corner.
Five minutes later it would be a hat-trick for Brownlow. Fitzpatrick again provided the assist after some silky feet down the right. Conor played a ball across the box as Brownlow reacted quickest to fire home for his third of the night, giving the Wombats a 5-0 lead.
With only five minutes to go and their season coming to an end, Kanwal didn’t give up and were rewarded after Cal Dunkerley was played into the box by an outstanding solo run by Rorey Rizzi-Lutgerink.
Dunkerley crossed first time to the back stick where the unmarked run of Logan Moore met the ball and tapped home into an empty net.
Almost a minute later, Moore was on the scoresheet again as another cheap turnover from the Wombats saw Kanwal transition with pace, finding Moore in behind the backline as he finished one-on-one.
Scoring their third goal inside the space of eight minutes, and their final goal of the season, captain Kaelan Burke stepped up from the penalty spot and fired the ball into the side netting, but it would be too late for the Bulls as they go another season without a Finals victory.
“We are obviously pleased with the win which keeps us around for another week which is most important, but also thought that our improvement in energy compared to previous weeks and taking our chances this week was the highlight,” stated Mark Pratt.
“Kanwal are always a tough opponent and never give up, commiserations to Ryan and the Kanwal boys.”
Ryan Walker commended the opposition on getting the job done. “Congratulations to Pratty and Gumps on the victory. I thought we worked hard but unfortunately for us, Berka players turned it on and we’re too good for us on the night.”
Match Official – Preston Lorusso
MAJOR SEMI FINAL
Budgewoi 1 – 2 Southern & Ettalong
The Lions book their place in the MPL First Grade Grand Final for the first time since 1997 thanks to a late goal by Jacob Lepre as Matt Page and his men are off to the biggest game Central Coast Football has to offer in two weeks.
It was a fast start for the Southern squad who opened the scoring after just three minutes played. A ball out wide to Sam Webb was delivered into the box first time where Jack Ellwood was able to evade his defender and flick the ball into the goal to give the Lions the lead.
Entering the game with Stuart Adams out for the remainder of the year and Charlie Entwistle on the bench navigating an injury, Budgewoi’s injury toll went from bad to worse with Josh Swadling having to be substituted with a hamstring issue early in the fixture.
Budgewoi veteran Ben Glachan replaced Swadling, and despite their squad numbers taking another big hit, it wouldn’t be long before Budgewoi fired back and got the game on level terms.
A well-worked play from the right-hand side saw Chris Lennon unleash a powerful low-driven shot at goal. Southern’s keeper was able to save the shot, but parried the ball into the path of Jai Kelly who reacted quickest to tap home for the equaliser.
The match settled into a back-and-forth encounter with Southern enjoying more chances on goal but a determined Budgewoi backline was able to keep the Southern attack at bay, particularly Nathan Denton, who was a standout in between the sticks for Budgewoi.
Continuing to throw himself around, giving the Budgewoi backline no time to rest, Jack Ellwood was fouled on the edge of the box giving set-piece specialist Jacob Lepre a great opportunity on goal.
Lepre’s shot was heading into the goal but was denied by a fingertip save from Nathan Denton as the half-time whistle sounded not long after as both teams took to the sheds.
Halftime saw the introduction of attacking wizard Charlie Entwistle as Budgewoi looked for more success going forward.
Constantly being a threat from corners, Southern has a great opportunity to reinstate their lead early in the second half as a ball was whipped in and found Jayke Browne free in the box.
Browne’s header came agonisingly close to finding the side netting, but it whispered just past the post.
Budgewoi worked the ball up the other end as Lennon was able to beat the offside trap and get a shot off on goal, however, Alex Wardle was able to comfortably claim the ball as both goalkeepers were on top of their game throughout the entirety of the match.
The contest was one fitting for the two best teams from the winter season as it was fast-paced throughout the entire match with plenty of quality from both sides showing why they earned the first and second position on the ladder.
With time running out and the game looking certain to go to extra time, an uncharacteristic error from Liam Sterrett saw him air swing a clearance as the ball from Sam Webb found Jacob Lepre who placed the ball into the bottom corner of the goal in the 88th minute, sending the Southern bench and supporters into celebration.
Budgewoi threw numbers forward in the hopes of salvaging an injury-time equaliser. They threw everything they had at the opposition, emptying the tank and almost producing a miracle, but it would be Southern’s night as the Lions reigned supreme and etched their name in the 2025 MPL Grand Final.
“Credit to Southern, they deserved the win today. We weren’t at our best, and they wanted it more,” spoke Haydn Appo.
A proud Matt Page reflected on the result as he now looks to have two grades enter the Grand Final. “It was a game fitting of a major semi-final. A real battle for the full 90 minutes.”
“The first half, both teams tried to impart their game on the other. We got the ascendancy with the early goal, and they came back into it with the equaliser.”
“In the second half, both sets of players seemed to be feeling the effects of the fast first half and the game opened up a bit. Both goalkeepers showed their quality when called upon, but I felt we probably edged it in chances created and deserved to win the match.”
“We know the job is far from over, but the guys have earned the chance to recuperate with a week off and now we can concentrate on the second grade prelim this Saturday, where we face a formidable Budgewoi ressies side.”
Match Official – Luke Dunkerley