TWO heavyweights of the North Coast Football junior competition faced off as the Sawtell Scorpions and Bellingen Bats 14 girls played off in a potential grand final preview.

The second placed Scorpions won 1-0 against a Bellingen side who had already clinched this year’s minor premiership.

Bellingen Bats had beaten the Scorpions 1-0 the last time they played, while the Scorpions won their first meeting of the season 2-0.

The two clubs sit well clear at the top of the 14’s girls ladder, with Bellingen Bats having won 13 of their 14 matches, while the Scorpions have 12 wins and a draw from their 14 games.

Their latest match saw an even contest in the first half with the Scorpions having numerous chances in the closing stages of the first half, but the score remained 0-0 at the break.

Bellingen started the second half strongly, creating the better chances and controlling possession.

The minor premiers were getting on top in the second half, but the Scorpions defence remained resolute to keep the match locked at 0-0.

The Scorpions needed someone to step up and break the deadlock, and Zari Dixon duly obliged with her strike in the box chipping the keeper for the match winner.

Sawtell Scorpions coach Simon Portus praised the top two teams of the competition.

“It’s definitely been us two at the top and it’s been us two all year,” he said.

“They won the minor premiership and this was a friendly, and there is not much between the two teams.

“It’s been close between us all year and we are very even teams.

“We are both excellent teams that have good close games against each other.”

The Scorpions coach tipped his hat to the strength of the Bellingen juniors.

“It’s really awesome to see Bellingen doing well in the juniors and they have a great culture,” he said,
“It’s good to see what Bellingen is doing, they are doing some amazing things.”

Portus shared with News Of The Area a key factor to why his side was so strong.

“One of the things that changes in the girls is there is a two-year gap between 12s and 14s, so we have kept the older girls together as they have more time to get good at their skills and more continuity playing together.”

The coach lauded the efforts of the young Scorpion who scored the match winner.

“It was great for Zari to have her first goal of the season, and it’s her first year of playing too.”

Portus said his Scorpions side had what it takes to beat the minor premiers in a big game.

“For sure we can beat them in a grand final or in the finals, but like I said to the girls it’s about making the most of those important moments.

“It’s about taking opportunities and I said to the girls it’s just moments you have to take, coming down to moments.”

 

By Aiden BURGESS