Shepparton United’s under-14s claimed its age group’s championship in the annual Chelsea Cup, conceding just two goals across five games to earn claim to the crown.
In a competition of 16 clubs, Shepparton United were placed into Group A alongside Chelsea Academy, Williams Landing FC and Aspendale Stingrays and showed their strength as a side from the get-go.
An eight hour day saw the Blues grit their teeth and knuckle down for five do-or-die fixtures, but a four-nil opening stand against Aspendale set the tone - and confidence - that the high country club could go all the way.
Against a fierce competitor in Chelsea Academy, the Blues tied one-all in its second clash, leaving the pair neck-and-neck for finals qualification.
Out of the four group teams, only one could advance, and after rocking Aspendale by four goals, Shepparton United relied on goal difference to push through.
While it led on differential by three at the time, Chelsea Academy was set to face the lowly Stingrays, while United took on a gallant Williams Landing that succumbed only one-nil to Chelsea.
However, after its final group stage match, the Blues’ fate was sealed - for the better.
Defeating Williams Landing 3-1 as Chelsea Academy too secured a 4-0 win over the Stingrays, Shepparton United secured a finals spot by a goal differential of one.
As the intensity lifted for the finals, so did the Blues.
In the end, it wasn’t even close.
A semi-final 3-0 shellacking of Bentleigh Green advanced Shepparton United to the decider, before a victory of an identical scoreline was recorded against runners-up Sandringham.
It was a clinical tournament for the junior boys out of the Goulburn Valley, conceding just twice across the tournament while pumping an age-group high 14 goals, indicating the Blues were deserving winners of the cup.
Boasting silverware for the drive north home, the juniors have added more trophies to the United cabinet following the senior men’s Bendigo Amateur Soccer League championship last season.
The cabinets are filling up at John McEwen Reserve.
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