To go as far as saying Saturday's PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Elimination Final is probably the biggest match in the history of the Cooma Tigers would not be too far wrong.
This Saturday the National Premier Leagues: Capital Football League Champions lock horns with their New South Wales counterparts Bonnyrigg White Eagles in a huge encounter.
The first National Premier Leagues Finals match to be played in Canberra is, like the other three match ups taking place, shaping up to be an absolute cracker.
And with a wealth of goal-scoring talent on display there will not be anything lacking in the entertainment department when the teams emerge onto the lush playing surface of the AIS Track.
It was on the back of a tide of goals that the Tigers wrapped up the NPL: Capital Football title with their front trio contributing 42 goals between them to fire the club to the title. Stephen Domenici led the way with 16 goals including four in the final round of the season to claim the Golden Boot.
Bonnyrigg are no slouches when it comes to fire power up front either. Led by former Adelaide United striker Robbie Younis, who bagged 17 goals in the team’s remarkable premiers triumph, the White Eagles will attempt to stretch the Tigers defence using their width and pace to create openings for their main man up front. Aaron Petterson will potentially play just behind Younis in the hole with the visitors likely to play a direct brand of football to utilise their strengths.
The last fortnight has been a troubling time for Cooma as they saw their hopes of winning the grand final go up in smoke following successive defeats to Belconnen United in the Major (Qualifying) Semi-Final and Canberra FC in the Preliminary Final.
Tigers coach Gaby Wilk will no doubt have revisited his tactics for this match with Cooma knowing that a victory would send them one step close to national glory, but the White Eagles will be out to stop that dream.
Whilst no doubt disappointed that they were not part of the local grand final, it could be that the fortnight break has been a blessing in disguise for Cooma who will enter the match fit, fresh and firing.
In last year’s inaugural National Premier Leagues Finals Series, Capital Football’s representative Canberra FC count have counted themselves unlucky going down to eventual champions Sydney United 58 FC in a cracking match in Sydney.
But this year the team from the nation’s capital will play host and the Tigers certainly deserve their place in the elite competition after a superb 2014 campaign that saw them go fourteen matches unbeaten after losing their opening two games of the season.
Match Details
Cooma Tigers v Bonnyrigg White Eagles
AIS Athletics Field
Saturday 20 September 2014
Kick-Off: 2.30pm
Gates open at 1.30pm
TICKETS
Adults: $10
Concessions: $5
Children under-12: Free
Image courtesy of Capital Football