Tneal Seidel of Sebastopl Vikings and Janelle Harris of Forest Rangers in action during the BDSA senior women’s preliminary final at Morshead Park at the weekend. PICTURE: JEREMY BANNISTER
WARRNAMBOOL will meet league champions Sebastopol Vikings in this Saturday night’s Ballarat and District Soccer Association senior men’s grand final.
The Rangers secured a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over last year’s champions Ballarat in Sunday’s preliminary final at Morshead Park.
Ballarat held a 1-0 half-time lead, before goals from Dylan Johnstone and Emmanuel Akang secured the visitors’ success after the break.
Warrnambool coach Luke Mackenlay said it was a big result for the the club, and was particularly satisfying given Ballarat had beaten it in last year’s grand final.
“It was a big feat, especially coming from behind,” Mackenlay said.
Warrnambool will come up against a Sebastopol side chasing the coveted league double.
The Vikings were convincing winners of the league title, and progressed to the decider with a qualifying final win over the Rangers.
“It’s going to be an exciting day. There’s lot of respect through both teams and I think the final really worked out the way it should have,” Mackenlay said.
Meanwhile, Forest Rangers progressed to the senior women’s grand final after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Sebastopol Vikings.
The two teams were locked 3-3 after full time, with the Rangers progressing 5-3 after the shootout.
Forest will meet North United White in this weekend’s grand final, played as a curtain-raiser to the senior men’s clash at 3.30pm.
PRELIMINARY FINALS
DIVISION 1
Warrnambool 2 d Ballarat 1
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
Forest Rangers 3 d Sebastopol Vikings 3 (Forest 5-3 on penalties)
OPEN DIVISION 2
not supplied
OPEN DIVISION 3
North United Black 3 d Ballarat White 1
UNDER-17
North United 1 d Ballarat 0
UNDER-15
Warrnambool 5 d Forest Rangers 2
OPEN UNDER-13
North United Purple 2 d Vic Park 1
UNDER-13 GIRLS
North United 2 d Sebastopol Vikings 1
GRAND FINALS
SATURDAY
At Morshead Park synthetic pitch
DIVISION 1
Sebastopol Vikings v Warrnambool, 6.30pm
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
North United White v Forest Rangers, 3.30pm
OPEN DIVISION 2
Sebastopol Vikings v not supplied, 12.30pm
OPEN DIVISION 3
Maryborough v North United Black, 9.30am
SUNDAY
At Morshead Park synthetic pitch
UNDER-17
Warrnambool v North United, 3.30pm
UNDER-15
Vic Park v Warrnambool, 1.15pm
OPEN UNDER-13
North United White v North United Purple, 11.15am
UNDER-13 GIRLS
North United Black v North United White, 9.30am