MAREEBA finished its season on a high note, hammering Rebels 5-1 to capture the Crad Evans Shield premier division soccer title in Townsville on Saturday.
The Bulls put the pain of the previous weekend’s 8-0 FNQ Football grand final loss to Marlin Coast behind them to outclass the Townsville premiers.
Mareeba coach Tony Panetta was thrilled with the Bulls’ effort.
"They played brilliantly, the whole team," Panetta said.
"Everyone did their job, it was fantastic.
"We didn’t want to be remembered for the thrashing we got (against Marlin Coast) and we showed what we can do."
Panetta said Alex Plowman and Anthony Mete were outstanding for the victors, the latter scoring twice.
Robert Pendenza, Steven Cater and Paul Ruiz added Mareeba’s other goals with Anthony Gabiola scoring Rebels’ lone goal.
Also victorious was the Stratford ladies team which outgunned Wulguru 3-1.
Two goals to Natalie Melvin and one to the outstanding Monique Ward put paid to Wulguru, as did a save by Stratford goalkeeper Antionette Daylight off a penalty shot.
Stratford mentor Patrick Lapsley, who retired from coaching after the match, said his side had dominated the match throughout.
"If (Wulguru) had scored off their penalty, they would’ve been up 1-0 but I still think we would’ve come out in front because we were the better team allround," he said.
"The girls played excellent, every one of them."
The game was also retiring co-captain Mary-Ellen Cox’s last with the club.
"(Cox) had a great game and pulled off a brilliant sliding tackle in the penalty box and nullified the danger," Lapsley said.
The result was not so good for the Marlin Coast under-16/17 side which went down to Townsville’s under-18 premiers Warriors 4-0.
Marlin Coast coach Hans Klipp said his charges would learn from the experience.
"The (Townsville) boys were just a bit older and bigger," he said.
"But our boys will learn a lot from it and they now know that to step up to the next level they have to be more physically involved and be quicker."
Klipp said two of his side’s smallest players, Josh De Nittas and Peter McGrath, had been his best, taking the challenge up to their larger opponents.
"Being smaller players, they have already learnt to play without fear," he said.
"They played with a lot of heart."
Two other results went the way of FNQ teams with Marlin Coast defeating Brothers 3-1 in reserve division and Leichhardt outclassing Idalia Rovers 4-1 in second division.
The combined Redlynch/Leichhardt under-17 girls team lost to Rebels 4-1.
