Wagga City Wanderers' junior women's teams had their premiership aspirations halted last Sunday, but all three put up a fight in their sudden-death semi-finals in Canberra.
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The under 17s, coached by Drew Jenkins, went down 4-3 to Canberra United in a see-sawing game.
Goals to Tootsie Lamb (who finished with a team-high seven for the season), Maree Matthew and Holly Banton kept them in touch and a Piper Scott chance in the final minute almost sent the game to extra time.
Darren Surian's under 15s also lost 4-3, to Woden Weston, after going two goals up early. Woden Weston was the only team to beat them all season (1-0 just last week) and finished a goal the better again. The league-leading goalscorer, Tamara Cochrane, finished with a double to go to 17 for the season. Amelia Walker was the other to find the back of the net, with her first goal of the year.
The under 13s (coached by Tia Lyons) went to extra time before being knocked out by Belconnen United. A Brooke Emms double (11 for the season) had the teams even before Belconnen capitalised on some Wanderers lapses in extra time to win 5-2.
While it's disappointing not to have a team there on the last day of the season, the Wanderers organisation was pleased with the efforts of all three teams to go so close.
"It's a credit to our coaches and our programs that there's such consistency across the board with our young grades," Wanderers' Gary Lyons said.
"To back up this year and get every one of those junior teams in the finals is a fantastic effort."
Lyons believes the junior grades are the best gauge of how the club is travelling, given all clubs are fielding home-grown juniors. He said it can prove a more level playing field than the senior women's comp which is just one rung below the elite W-League, meaning clubs often attract top talent in search of opportunity.
Wagga City Wanderers men's team has qualified for finals. The NPL Youth teams (boys) play their final round of games this Saturday, with no finals scheduled for the boys in the coronavirus-shortened season.
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