GSSA 2024: Rovers crowned men’s division one cup champions, division two and three settled in stoppage time

A fast-starting Rovers finished a brilliant season with some cherished silverware after defeating a determined Bayswater in the Great Southern Soccer Association men’s division one cup final on Saturday night. Rovers did all their damage in a commanding first half scoring two goals, which both came from the head of prolific striker Justin Bielecki in the hard-fought 2-0 victory. In a half where chances were thin, Rovers took just four minutes to snatch the lead after Bielecki coolly nodded home his first before a brilliantly placed header across the Bayswater keeper 20 minutes later. Bayswater were starved of possession throughout the game with Rovers central midfielder Joseph Iaruel owning the midfield and winning the match ball for his performance. The second half was vastly different from the first, with both sides firing their shots, only to be met by determined shot-stoppers at either end. Despite the two-goal deficit, an inspired Basywater outfit bounded on to the pitch spearheaded by goalkeeper Cam McLean who made incredible saves. Rovers left winger Bradford Fakaafu had a golden opportunity to extend his side’s lead only to be foiled by the outstretched palm of McLean which was matched moments later by Rovers’ Gabriel Samani who made an equally impressive stop to keep his side’s healthy two-goal buffer. Bayswater’s Leif Wright handled the ball in the box, sending Fakaafu to the spot, but again McLean was up to the task of saving the penalty shot before making a terrific follow-up save from the rebound. At the other end, Levi Masih had a brilliant opportunity to peg one back, but a timely glove from Samani met his first-time strike from inside the box and Rovers solidified a brilliant cup victory. A clutch goal in stoppage time of the second half from Polonia’s Dylan Burrow secured a memorable men’s division two cup final victory on Saturday night. Escher Nash gave Polonia the lead in the 36th minute before Caledonians’ Morgan Davis equalised in the 57th. The match looked destined for extra time as the final whistle approached but Burrow stepped up to net a classy winner in the 93rd minute to give his side a 2-1 cup victory. Phoenix scored two stoppage-time goals to lift the men’s division three cup after securing a 3-1 triumph over Old Boys on Saturday. With the scores locked at 1-1 heading into stoppage time, Josh Vanuyn and Reuben Kroeze scored a goal each in as many minutes, swiftly snatching the cup. Phoenix’s Trent Eikelboom opened the scoring in the 60th minute before Old Boys’ Russell Young equalised five minute later.