Michael Draper the hat-trick hero as Rovers win GSSA men’s division one cup final against Polonia

Rovers are Great Southern Soccer Association men’s division one cup champions, lifting the coveted trophy after an eventful match against Polonia on Saturday night. Rovers were two goals up at half-time and added two more in the second half, with Michael Draper scoring a hat-trick from the penalty spot in the cup final. Polonia scored two goals in the second half but conceded three penalties as they slumped to a 4-2 defeat. Polonia had plenty of the play in the early stages, with Deacon Mastalerz forcing a shot wide with the first real chance of the game. At the other end, Rovers were awarded a free kick outside the box but Draper’s shot was reeled in by Polonia goalkeeper J-L Leeflang. Minutes later, Rovers players’ appeal for a handball in the box was waved away before Luca Trichilo hit the post for Polonia after a dashing counter-attacking run down the left wing. There were more cries of handball from the Rovers faithful after the ball once again appeared to strike a Polonia defender’s out-stretched arm. This time the referee didn’t hesitate, awarding Rovers a penalty kick as Draper stepped up and fired home the opening goal of the game in the top-left corner. Polonia’s misery was compounded moments later when goalkeeper Leeflang was judged to have mistimed a tackle and Rovers were awarded another penalty. Draper once again sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to double Rovers’ advantage just before half-time. In the opening minutes of the second half, Polonia’s Harry Knowlson dashed down the left wing to complete a sublime run to the edge of the box before whipping in a pinpoint cross to the feet of Nathan Small. Small made no mistake from close range, skilfully tapping in a vital first goal to inject life back into Polonia’s game. Polonia then had a penalty appeal of their own when Rovers goalkeeper Will Elms dived for a tackle in the box, but the referee concluded he had made initial contact with the ball and Polonia had to settle for a corner. Rovers hit the post from a shot at the other end but had to withstand a mountain of pressure as Polonia players were now streaming forward from midfield in the hope of securing an equaliser. Centre-back Andrew Oboh was instrumental to the Rovers’ defensive line, repelling several entries in the area to keep his opponents at bay. With Polonia’s midfielders pushing high up the ground, Rovers’ Tasman Heath had space down the left wing, sending a left-foot cross into the path of striker Brad Bielecki, who propelled an emphatic header into the back of the net, doubling their advantage again. Shortly after kick-off, Brad Bielecki completed a dribble into the box and was brought down by a Polonia defender, handing Rovers another penalty kick. Draper put his kick past the goalkeeper to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot and put the game out of reach for Polonia. Rovers were comfortably ahead 4-1 in the dying stages but Polonia’s Ross Savage added a late goal from a corner kick, leaping to fire home a fizzing header — but it proved too late as the Rovers held on to record a 4-2 triumph. Draper was awarded player of the final in the cup victory. “It was a pretty even contest, for sure,” Rovers coach Matt Owen said. “We were probably a little bit fortunate with two of the penalties and probably didn’t hold the ball as well as I was hoping we would, so that let them get into the game a little bit. “The two late goals to us helped us relax a little bit right at the end there but it’s been a close contest all year between the two sides. “We’ve got a good bunch of guys and a really good squad so it was just a great performance to finish off the season well and make sure we got something out of what was also a great season. “We’re very happy to get the win after not quite getting there in the league.” The result prevented Polonia from winning the cherished league-cup double. Polonia coach Roy Parsons gave credit to his side’s intent but lamented the execution in the final third. “It could have gone either way tonight,” Parsons said. “The penalties didn’t go our way, we had the majority of possession in the attacking half but we just couldn’t seem to follow through with it. “Their defence did a great job tonight and I think our team did a great job overall but it just didn’t pay off for us unfortunately.”