By BRIAN STOCKWELL
OVER 35 Noosa Lions have defeated Coolum to book their eleventh soccer grand final appearance in a row.
The minor premiers outplayed the second-placed Coolum side to take the game 4-1.
Noosa’s finals hopes got off to a good start on Friday night, with two wins in the first versus second play-offs including the Over 35 men.
Not to be out-done, the most youthful of Noosa’s senior sides, the Coastal Women Blue team, handed premiers Cooroora their second defeat of the season in their semi-final clash.
A cross from Ellie Jones to striker Danielle Bishop-Kinlyside saw Noosa score the only goal of the game.
Coach Ben Amson described stand-in goalie Renay Clarke’s efforts as one of the best he had seen in women’s soccer, after the team defended repeated onslaughts from the determined Cooroora side.
The good times kept on rolling on Saturday with the Noosa U14 division one side coming up against their opponents Maroochydore in the last two grand finals.
After early scoring to both sides, Noosa gained dominance, handing the Buderim their biggest defeat in two years. Noosa’s 7-3 victory sees them head straight to the grand final as well.
Meanwhile, four other junior sides, the U12/1, U13/2, U14/1 girls and U 17/1s all won their battles in the third plays fourth finals seeing them progress to the major semi-finals next week.
The U 17/2 and fourth divisions will also get a second chance at a grand final birth next week-end after narrow losses.
The weather in Caboolture for the Premier Reserves and Premier Men’s semi-finals was atrocious with constant rain, conditions were slippery, but good drainage meant the games went on.
The Reserves went down 2-1, seeing an end to what has otherwise been a good season for this team which blends some old hands with some fresh new talent.
Despite the conditions, the Premier Men’s clash with Maroochydore saw some spectacular goals.
Unfortunately for the Lions fans, the first three of these were to Maroochydore.
However, Noosa’s first goal was quickly followed by an opportunity from the penalty spot which inexplicably sailed over the top of the nets.
The mood in the Noosa supporters’ camp at this stage was as bleak as the weather, but on the field not even a fourth goal to Maroochy could dampen the players’ spirits.
In what is the best comeback for several seasons, Noosa brought two additional strikers on to chase the target down.
The Noosa crowd found their voice at 4-3 and young and old alike went in to raptures when with five minutes to go they drew level.
With three minutes to go, Paul Arnison slotted his second long range shot into the back of the net to seal the victory and the chance to play in the major semi next weekend.
