The Shores United Brown Snakes have won the men’s first division football grandfinal beating minor premiers Ballina on penalties at Crozier Oval in Lismore.
Scores were locked 1–1 at the break ensuring a rousing halftime talk by Snakes coach Dave Burgener who set the scene for the determined Shores team.
Both sides began to bang away at each other like two bare knuckled-prize fighters. The bruising affair continued without let-up, as the classic grandfinal raged on. Once again Ballina were first to strike with a penalty shot.
Just when all appeared lost for Shores and with just three minutes left, some last-gasp mid-field magic put Bruno through out wide.
The Brazilian pounded one from an impossible angle, through a sea of legs, into the left corner.
The crowd erupted in jubilation and the match ended 2–2. Extra time came and went, with the Snakes finishing on top, but it had to go to penalties.
Callum saved a beauty, the second shot for the Ballina boys, and when the fourth Ballina player sprayed it over the bar, it came down to third division super-sub, Caleb, to win it for Ocean Shores. He made no mistake.
The Snakes won a thriller first division grandfinal, sweet revenge after losing it last year.
The Ocean Shores sixth grade didn’t fair so well, losing their grandfinal to the Rovers 3–0
It was a fantastic year from the team after winning seventh grade last year.
