The final day of summer set the stage for an exciting start to the football season for the Noosa Lions. Both senior men”s teams achieved significant victories, showcasing their revamped rosters against a backdrop of a rare six-planet alignment in the night sky. Questions surrounding the new team dynamics were swiftly put to rest as the Under 23s secured a commanding 5-0 win, while the men”s team triumphed with a 6-1 scoreline, establishing a promising tone for the season ahead.
Unfortunately, the inclement weather led to the postponement of the women”s teams” matches scheduled for Friday night. The Under 23s, who were double champions last season, featured several new players making their debuts. They started the match on the front foot, with Cayden Archer scoring an early goal. Archer went on to complete a hat trick, while Samuel Giove added another goal to give the team a two-goal lead by halftime. Despite conceding an early goal in the second half, the team maintained pressure, resulting in two outstanding saves from Noosa”s goalkeeper, Tom Mason. Archer”s impressive performance against his former club was capped off with his third goal, and Blake Ellis finished the scoring with a spectacular shot into the top corner, leaving Coach Phil Oyston thrilled with the strong start of his new-look squad.
The men”s team also delivered an impressive performance, with Oli Williams scoring four goals. The Lions initially struggled, facing difficulties with misplaced passes and errors. However, in the 34th minute, Williams found the bottom corner with a left-foot shot, igniting the team”s momentum. Sam Boldy, who was a constant threat, had several chances well saved before a defensive lapse from Coolum allowed Williams to extend the lead to 2-0 at halftime. In the second half, Williams moved to a forward position, connecting with teammates for a sharp finish that pushed the score to 3-0. After another well-placed goal by Williams, Coolum managed to score one back, making it 3-1. Williams completed his hat trick in the 65th minute after a brilliant dribble into the box, and he scored his fourth from the penalty spot shortly after. The scoring was rounded off by debutant Zac Savage, who headed in after a corner kick from Mitch Bridge.
Coach Michael Williams expressed satisfaction with the team”s second-half performance. This upcoming weekend, Noosa will host Beerwah, with the Under 23s kicking off at 4 PM and the men”s match at 6 PM. The women”s teams are set to play on Friday night against Nambour Yandina United, with matches starting at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM respectively.
