Premier Youth League - Grand Final 2023
Premier Youth League - Grand Final 2023
VALENTINE SPORTS PARK
"A match that will be remembered for the rest of their lives"
Conall Tayler - Kolts PYL Coach
In what turned out to be an absolute full throttle finale to the season, fans were left gob-smacked by the events at VSP on Saturday 26th August 2023. In what can only be described as a match that had absolutely everything including, things very few people would have thought they were likely to see. What unfolded was 90 minutes of pure madness that ended, in the most dramatic fashion, with the raw emotion of success for the Kolts.
The match started at a high intensity as Hills Spirit, still smarting from their 4-1 drubbing 2 weeks prior in the final to the Kolts, looked to change things up by pressing the Kolts up high and with numbers. The Kolts kept composed with skipper Saxon McGlynn and his CB partner Conor Siney remaining composed and playing through the press. The calmness shown throughout the team, on such a massive occasion, resulted in an early strike. Some excellent pressure up top from top talisman, Kyle Allen, saw him press and scare the Hills backline into countless mistakes. The first goal epitomising the fear factor within the Hills ranks and goal threat on the day. 1-0 within 5 minutes which eased nerves and calmed the fans.
The Kolts did not stop there with Kyle Allen creating absolute mayhem for the Spirit backline by being direct and taking them on. The Spirit LB received the 1st caution of the day as he struggled to keep up with Allen all day. A foul came from this play. After some deliberation between midfield maestro Ethan Jones and dead ball expert Dylan Timoney, Timoney took charge of the set piece. Jones made his way to the back post and climbed highest scoring a neat 2nd goal for the Kolts. This was his 1st headed goal of the season. What a time to score it. 2-0
The Kolts were absolutely flying at this stage with their confidence oozing from every passage of play. Spirit truly had no answer and when they did manage to get any way forward, they found a GK in Chris Watters truly possessed and determined. Watters would later be awarded the Man of the Match for his outstanding performance, by his Coach. In what is likely to be his final season with PYL it proved to be the fairytale ending most players dream of.
It was wave after wave as the Kolts were relentless, but they remained in ultimate control. By the time the 30th minute came Kyle Allen had the Kolts 3rd goal and his 2nd of the afternoon. Another sumptuous ball from Timoney, from a corner, saw Allen rise high and bury the chance. Kolts were now entering dreamland as they put in a near perfect performance right up until the final minute of the half. 3-0
With 30 seconds left on the clock a rash clearance from McGlynn saw the ball cleared wide, instead of up the field. The spirit player played the ball directly behind the Kolts backline in the space vacated by the CB’s. From this point onwards, for the remainder of the game, what unfolded was truly unbelievable and something many have probably never witnessed in their lifetime. McGlynn was unfortunate in bringing the Spirit defender down, which was deemed in the box. Red card and a penalty followed. The key player for Spirit, who had been immaculately man-marked for the second game running by Ethan Jones, looked nervous. Having barely touched the ball in almost 135 minutes of football, after being so influential in the Minor Premiership decider 3 weeks back. With mind games being played, before the penalty by Chris Watters and Conor Siney, he simply could not handle the pressure. Watters saved brilliantly in what was truly a game-changing moment. Had Spirit scored right on half-time with the man advantage the game could have had a different outcome. 3-0 to a 10 man Kolts at the break.
Kolts Coach Conall Tayler had plenty to think about tactically. Reverting to a 4-4-1 for second half the Kolts stood firm in the opening exchanges. Spirit’s pressure was increasing and some time-delay tactics from Kolts got punished for Conor Siney. Within a minute of that yellow Spirit scored. A scuffle ensued following the goal with Spirit trying to get the ball out the net. Unfortunately, Siney got involved, with the ref deciding to give him a 2nd yellow resulting in a red card. The Kolts were now down to 9 men with 37 minutes left in the game. Within the space of 7 mad minutes the Kolts lost their captain Saxton McGlynn and one of their most experienced players, Conor Siney. These 2 players were also the 2 CBs at the heart of the backline.
3-1 at the time the Kolts had to think quickly. The atmosphere was frantic and decisions needed to be made quickly under pressure from players and coaches. Coach Tayler instructed his troops to sit deep, in a low block, in 2 banks of 4. Unfortunately, the message was not immediately understood by the players and before they knew it, it was 3-2 with 30 minutes left to play.
The tension on the field and in the stands was palpable. Were the Kolts about to throw away what appeared to be an unassailable lead? Were the Kolts PYL cursed after 6 years of trying? The Kolts stayed firm and fought tooth and nail during this period. Many players put their bodies on the line. Alex Mealey was a warrior as he fought, tackled, headed and cleared just about everything Spirit could throw at them. Michael Easterbrook won just about every header. Josh Sadler tackling courageously. Zach Kelly going into beast mode. Arjan Sandhu as always remained calm and kept everyone levelheaded. Ethan Jones keeping the shape. Carlos Burga fought through pain to make tackle after tackle. Kyle Allen being a defensive beast, something he probably did not know he had! That’s what it took to come out victorious with 9 men.
As the minutes ticked away in what felt like eternity for the Kolts fans, Spirit did not make the extra 2 men count, often looking a bit confused as to how to go about taking advantage of such a massive thing. With 10 minutes remaining the Kolts won a free kick on the hallway line. Coach Tayler instructed Mealey to launch the ball, to the only 2 Kolts players, in the Spirit box. If there was any hope of anything it would be from a set piece for the Kolts.
Mealey played an excellent ball centrally. Kyle Allen tussled and harassed the CB of Spirit. The ball bounced between GK and perennial super impact sub, Adnan Music. The fans stood up. Everyone gasped and held their breath. Where was the ball? Out of the mayhem time literally stood still as Music got a toe to the ball which trickled past the GK and over the line it took what felt like eternity to do. BEDLAM ENSUED! Fans went wild, players could not believe it, the Kolts Coach and bench went running. It was pure joy and relief rolled into craziness. Somehow the Kolts had managed to score a game defining goal with only 9 men having spent the past 25 minutes defending with only 9 players. Spirit looked shell shocked by this. How had they conceded against 9 tired Kolts players? The Kolts defended resolutely until the final whistle.
As the ref blew the final whistle sheer joy and ecstasy was felt by all. Players embracing each other. Some crying and the sheer enormity of what they had just been through. Absolute mental toughness, grit, resilience combined with complete and utter determination is what got this group of players over the line, when it mattered most.
The Kolts belted out their team song in front of a full house and with it, claimed their 1st Premier Youth League Title for the Kellyville Kolts Soccer Club, since the journey began 6 years prior! And what a way to do it!
BLEED
❤️🖤❤️🖤
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