The Tigers, fielding six players eligible for under 15s and seven who qualify as under 16s, took the game to their opponents in the early stages, with some great interplay releasing Jake Camilleri into a one on one confrontation with Alex White in the Vikings goal, but Camilleri saw his effort drift narrowly wide. 

Good use of the flanks saw the Vikings back four under some pressure, but they resisted the early storm and began to play their way into the match. Mitch Luff was looking dangerous down the Vikings left, but Jake Bindon and Paul Elliot were combining well to keep the Vikings out. 

The intensity in the midfield areas was lifting, and as the challenges grew stronger, the number of free kicks both ways escalated, and it was from a seemingly harmless position out wide that the Tigers opened the scoring with a long range free kick from Jake Camilleri that bounced awkwardly in front of Alex White and into the back of the net.

The Tigers continued to have the better of the first half, with good movement of the ball and good combination play, but they were unable to add to their lead before the break. 

The second half began in much the same vein as the first, and it was less than 10 minutes into the second stanza when a great piece of play between Mick Youngberry, Jake Stockdale and Tigers’ skipper Nick Chapman saw the ball at Youngberry’s feet with only the keeper to beat. The pass to Youngberry was difficult to control and as he turned to look for support, he was brought down by White and a penalty was awarded. Jordan Fletcher confidently stepped up and drilled the spot kick under White’s despairing dive to make the score 2-0 to the Tigers.

At this point the Vikings lifted, and began to build pressure on the Tigers defence. This pressure continued for much of the remainder of the match, with only the occasional breakaway from the Tigers. Despite the pressure though the Vikings were unable to fashion any clear cut scoring chances, with the exception of a great header from Bayden Schumann which James McBride in the Tigers’ goal pushed onto the crossbar. The ball ricocheted around the Tigers’ penalty area and was eventually bundled in to the Tigers’ net, but only after the whistle had blown for a Viking in an offside position. 

As time ticked away the Tigers defended more desperately, with tireless work from the midfield group of Ryan Chipperfield, Joey Newman, Jordan Fletcher and Billy Newman, great support from Will Moran and Jason Little, and rock solid defending by Elliott and Troy Chipperfield.

James McBride was awarded player of the match by the referees, but strong performances were had by each player in the Tigers lineup. The final score was TFFC Tigers 2 to Great Lakes Vikings 0.