Cringila Lions FC-1, Wollongong United FC-2 @Crehan Park
Wollongong United’s early onslaught secures Grand Final Victory after two goals in 20 minutes.
The two teams have fought all season long for the trophy, and this game was the final hurdle for both teams to get through. Wollongong were triumphant in their last encounter with the Lions as they beat them 4-1, but in this final, it was anyone’s game to take it all.
As they started, Novak Novakovic proved why his side were the rightful winners of the minor premiers as he blasted his team up in front in only the span of six minutes.
Cringila already shook early in the final.
Before there could be a possible reply by the home side, Wollongong snapped up another one to further their domination over their league rival.
A combination of intricate passing through the midfield finished off by a slick pass through the two centre-backs, which found Cohen Martins on the end of the area.
The rapid winger used his burst of speed to get past the keeper, where he then passed the ball into the awaiting net.
2-0 for United in the 19th minute.
Cringila didn’t let the recent setbacks put them out of the game; they wanted the trophy as much as their opponent.
A corner was swung in the 23rd minute for the Lions.
Dean Dimoski rose over the crowd of players and generated enough power from his header to beat the keeper, but it got knocked out in the nick of time.
United were wasteful in front of goal as they could have put the game to bed early; Cringila took advantage as Dimoski curled a ball from a free kick to the back post.
The ball rebounded out to the edge of the box where Tyler Cooper unloaded a rocket straight at goal. It got a big deflection on its way through as it ended up in the right side of the goal.
The score is at 2-1 in the 44th minute; the final hopes were alive again for the Lions.
The second half came about, and it was all Cringila as they conquered possession.
They eventually won a free kick in a dangerous area outside the box in the 49th minute.
Instead of shooting, it was passed through to Jake Petrovski; the defender’s shot, however, was blocked before it reached the goal.
The chances soon swayed to Wollongong’s favour as Christian Sansone put the Lions on the back foot again with his chances.
In the 70th minute, the substitute did step-overs to fool his defenders, then went across the box to release a missile, but it felt off target.
In the dying minutes of the game, Petrovski unleashed a last-ditch attempt to disrupt the game and save his team from defeat.
Unfortunately, no luck went the centre-backs ‘ way as Wollongong charged as a unit to block the shot like a brick wall to keep their hand on the trophy.
The final whistle came; sheer joy and celebration erupted around Crehan Park as Wollongong not only won the Grand Final, but they also completed a treble of trophies for the 2026 season.
Cringila, even with their home venue advantage, could not stop United, who smashed through their defence early with no mercy.
Wollongong United are the Youth Grade Premier League One Champions for the 2026 season.
By Thomas Panayiotous
