Four Cobram Roar sides to fight for grand final glory after huge semi-final weekend

Played in the rain, the semi-final was a true battle from start to finish, with a saturated and waterlogged pitch making football difficult for both sides.

Neither team was able to fully settle into their usual style of play on the wet ground, with puddles across the surface making every pass, touch and challenge a test. However, Roar showed determination and composure when it mattered most, finding a way through the difficult conditions to secure a convincing win.

Roar opened the scoring in the 26th minute, with Maddi Simpson finding the back of the net to give Cobram a valuable 1-0 lead heading into half-time.

The second half saw Roar continue to work tirelessly despite the relentless rain and difficult playing surface.

Just six minutes into the second half, Casey Chandler doubled Roar’s advantage, putting Cobram firmly in control at 2-0.

The result was sealed in the 20th minute of the second half, when Holli Cameron added Roar’s third goal to cap off an impressive team performance.

The final whistle sparked celebrations for Cobram, who had endured a demanding morning to get the job done.

While the conditions did not favour either side, Roar demonstrated the grit and determination required in finals football, adapting to the puddles and slippery surface and finding a way to come away with the result.

With a clean sheet, three goals and a grand final berth secured, Cobram Roar Division 2 Women now turn their attention to the biggest game of the season.

One more win stands between Roar and premiership glory.

Wodonga Heart FC Under 12 Boys White 0-4 Cobram Roar FC Under 12 Boys Black

A drenched field in Wangaratta greeted both sides on Saturday, with the ball moving like concrete underfoot.

Four goals were on the board early, with Ashton Stanyer taking first blood, followed by Elijah Koroi’s hat-trick.

The team navigated waterlogged patches with determination, fighting for possession of every ball and resetting to a 0-0 mindset after each goal scored.

The rain continued through half-time, and though Wodonga Heart fought hard to claw their way back, it proved too little too late.

The game was called partway through the second half, with umpire's ruling the field unplayable.

Boys shook hands in shock, unsure whether the result would stand, be replayed, or partly replayed.

An hour later, confirmation came through - Cobram Roar’s victory, resounding through Wangaratta.

Tough luck for Wodonga Heart - a beautiful club with a gifted group of kids. It wasn’t their day, but we came to win, and that we did with a 4-0 result.

Bring on the grand final. Cool, calm, collected - and ready.

Cobram Roar FC Under 12 Boys Yellow 2-0 Wangaratta City FC Under 12 Boys Black

It was a semi-final blockbuster for Cobram Roar under-12 Yellow on Sunday, and the boys knew from the opening whistle that they were in for one of their toughest challenges of the season.

Facing Wangaratta FC in a knockout semi-final, Cobram were up against a Wangaratta side that had nothing to lose after entering the finals following the disqualification of Albury Hotspurs. They came out determined to make the most of their opportunity - and they certainly put up a fight.

It was a battle from the very first whistle, with Cobram creating opportunities but struggling to convert them into goals.

Around 10 minutes into the first half, Nathaneal Sutton found his opportunity and made no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net to give Cobram the lead.

Wangaratta responded strongly and pushed forward looking for an equaliser, but standing firmly in their way was Cobram’s star goalkeeper Uday Singh. Uday produced another outstanding performance between the sticks, making crucial saves and keeping the dangerous Wangaratta attack at bay.

Cobram’s defence was forced to work extremely hard as Wangaratta continued to threaten, but the Roar held firm to take their 1-0 advantage into half-time.

The coaches’ message at the break was clear - apply constant pressure and make communication a priority.

The boys came out firing in the second half.

Amir Mohamed, Kai Ramsdale and Bede Schwarz produced a huge defensive effort, working tirelessly to shut down Wangaratta’s attacks, while Uday continued his outstanding goalkeeping display.

In the midfield Wally Hargrave, Nate Hemingway and Billy Daniel ran hard for the entire match, helping Cobram maintain their shape, possession and attacking flow.

Then came the moment that gave Cobram some breathing room.

A perfectly delivered pass from Nathaneal Sutton found Frankie Lean, who made no mistake and buried the opportunity to put Cobram 2-0 ahead.

But Wangaratta refused to surrender.

The remainder of the match was played at a frantic pace, with both sides creating opportunities and looking for the next breakthrough. It was a true finals battle, with Cobram having to dig deep and defend their lead.

The Roar boys showed tremendous composure under pressure and refused to give Wangaratta a way back into the contest.

When the final whistle sounded, the scoreboard read Cobram Roar 2-0 Wangaratta FC.

It was a fantastic team effort from a group of boys who were forced to fight for every minute of the match.

The result sends Cobram Roar under-12 Yellow into the grand final, where they will face Wodonga Diamonds.

After an undefeated season and now a hard-fought semi-final victory, the Cobram boys are just one game away from finishing their remarkable campaign with the ultimate prize.

One more game. One more battle. One more chance to make history.

Wodonga Heart FC Under 13 Boys Orange 1-5 Cobram Roar FC Under 13 Boys

The Cobram Roar under-13 boys have booked their place in next weekend’s grand final after a standout 5-1 semi-final victory in a dominant display from start to finish against Wodonga Heart.

The Roar came out firing right from the opening whistle, immediately taking control of the game and dominating possession across the field. Their pressure, passing and teamwork made it difficult for their opponents to find a way into the contest.

With the team working tirelessly for each other, Cobram continued to create opportunities and were rewarded on the scoreboard, heading into the break with plenty of confidence.

The second half saw more of the same, with the Roar maintaining their intensity and continuing to control the play. A fantastic team performance across the entire field saw Cobram run away with an impressive 5-1 victory.

Every player played their part in what was one of the team’s standout performances of the season.

With the semi-final victory secured, the team now turn their attention to the biggest game of the season, the grand final next weekend.

Bring on the grand final, go Roar!

Goal scorers: Cooper Charles (3) Carter Haddrell (2)

Cobram Roar FC Under 14 Girls 0-1 Albury Hotspurs SC Under 14 Girls

The Cobram Roar under-14 Girls’ season has come to an end, with Hotspurs claiming a hard-fought 1-0 victory in a tense semi-final.

An early Hotspurs goal put Roar on the back foot, but Cobram refused to surrender. The girls dug deep, battled for every ball and pushed right through to the final whistle in a contest where there was little between the two sides.

Both goalkeepers were outstanding, producing save after save to keep their teams in the contest. Cobram’s defenders stood strong, while the midfield worked tirelessly to win possession, move the ball forward and create opportunities for our strikers.

Cobram Roar threw everything at Hotspurs in the closing stages, but the equaliser just wouldn’t come.

Despite the narrow defeat, the final score line tells only a small part of the story.

What a season it has been for this young Roar side. Week after week, the girls have grown in confidence, developed their skills and built a stronger understanding of the game. Their improvement has been clear to see, driven by their determination, commitment and willingness to learn.

And perhaps their greatest achievement has been what they have built away from the scoreboard. This group has become a team in every sense of the word. They have backed each other, celebrated each other’s successes, picked each other up when things were tough and formed friendships that will last well beyond this season.

A huge part of that comes down to coaches Khalia and Alfie – a huge ‘thank you’ for everything you have both given to this group.

Their commitment to the girls has been unwavering. They have worked tirelessly to develop the players’ football, but their influence has gone well beyond tactics and training. Khalia and Alfie have earned the trust of this group, built their confidence and encouraged them to believe in themselves. They have brought out the best in the girls not only as footballers, but as young people.

The connection and the culture they have created is something this team will carry with them long after the final whistle.

There may be disappointment tonight, but there is plenty to be proud of.

The Roar girls can hold their heads high.

A semi-final appearance, a season of growth and a team that has become something special - that’s a season worth celebrating.