After a two-week hiatus for the SAJSA Country Championships, the Broken Hill Soccer Association returns to O’Neill Memorial Park with semi-finals this Saturday.
It is a big weekend for Alma Soccer Club, as they contest in all three senior semi-finals, taking on St Joes in the B Grade and Women’s competition, whilst the Mighty Goats will take on this year’s surprise packet Celtic in the A Grade semi-final.
In the Women’s competition, a date with the rampant West Panthers is the reward for winning the semi-final, in the Men’s A Grade – a date with perennial champions St Joes awaits.
Alma’s women’s side has hit a trough in form coinciding with some of their key players missing through various setbacks. St Joes on the other hand come into the semi final on the back of a 12-1 victory over Celtic in the final round.
“The girls have been here time and time again and they’ve done well over the last 4 or 5 years. They’ve won a fair few, they know what to expect come finals time. It’s anyone’s game,” Alma Women’s coach Codey Ralph told the Barrier Truth.
The Men’s A Grade semi-final is a rematch of the round 14 clash between the Mighty Goats and Celtic. On that day, Alma were comfortable victors 5-0, however the two sides have an even head-to-head record throughout the season with one win a piece and three 0-0 draws when the two sides have met in regular season fixtures.
As far as both team’s head coaches are concerned though, the results will mean nothing come kick off on Saturday.
“It is finals footy, and anything can happen,” said Celtic head coach Aaron Cunico.
“The boys are feeling confident. They’re taking it one week at a time, but they are raring to go.”
Alma A Grade coach Will Hebbard told the Truth, “I’ve got a lot of confidence in my team and hopefully on the day they perform like they have most of the season.”
All the semi-finals action kicks off Saturday with the B Grade semi final beginning at 12pm, before the Women’s A Grade kicks off at 2pm and the Men’s A Grade kicking off at 4pm at O’Neill Memorial Park.
