Watch replays: Albury Festival of Football features Western Heights in Bill Turner Cup/Trophy R32, R16 matches
Western Heights and Maribyrnong have both qualified for the quarterfinals in style while James Sheahan and Kooringal High ended their campaign with a victory. Catch all the Day 2 replays here.
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It was an absolute goal fest at the Albury Festival of Football Day 2 with both boys and girls clashes taking centre stage.
Victorian tournament heavyweights Western Heights put the rest of the competition on notice with a rousing 5-0 victory over Marian Catholic.
Completely controlling the run of play and momentum for the entire contest, their high press, quick feet and silky skills were too much for Marian.
Heights scored their goals in spurts, their first in the 12th minute, their second courtesy of Zane Nicola in the 15th and their third of the first half in the 31st.
CATCH THE BILL TURNER QUEENSLAND FINAL RIGHT HERE
They came out of the gates firing in the second, Joshua Knezeric found the back of the net in the 33rd.
Then after a bit of a stalemate, Heights scored their fifth of the day in the 57th, booking their spot in the quarterfinals in the process.
In the girls competition, Maribyrnong continued their run of great form with a big victory, also over Marian Catholic.
CHECK OUT THE FULL TWO-DAY DRAW BELOW
DAY TWO REPLAYS
Marian Catholic v Maribyrnong (Trophy round of 16)
Western Heights v Marian Catholic (Cup round of 16)
Kooringal High v Orange Anglican (Trophy consolation)
Eden Marine v James Sheahan (Cup consolation)
DAY ONE REPLAYS
Marian Catholic Griffith v James Sheahan, Orange (Cup)
Orange Anglican v Maribyrnong (Trophy)
Marian Catholic Griffith v Kooringal High (Trophy)
Eden Marine v Western Heights, Geelong (Cup)
PREVIEW
The fruits of a fledgling specialised football program at Western Heights College will be on full display in Albury this week when the boys launch a second assault on the Bill Turner Cup.
The two-day annual tournament, which has run for close to 50 years, starts on Wednesday.
And a Western Heights outfit, filled with predominantly Year 9 students, enters the week on the back of some excellent form.
They have beaten Wyndham Central (Werribee) 3-0, Rowville Secondary College 4-1 and avenged last year’s exit by beating Maribyrnong Secondary College 3-2.
They face Eden Marine High School from the Far NSW South Coast at 12.30pm on Wednesday in their round of 32 match-up.
Win that, a round of 16 contest against either Marian Catholic College (Griffith) or James Sheahan High (Orange) await.
Principal Fiona Taylor said the squad, coached by former international Joey Didulica, was looking to make a big impact this year.
“It’s quite a prestigious soccer competition. It’s a great accolade for the coaches involved and the staff from our school working with our kids,” she said.
“They’ve put in a lot of work over the past 12 months or so.
“They learned a lot (from last year). Their willingness to learn and grow … is really exciting.”
Filled by mostly Year 9 students, the squad includes just one Year 8 pupil, Jobe Davies, who is currently in Melbourne Victory’s under-15 academy as a goalkeeper.
The college’s appearance will be the exclamation point on a four-year journey after they launched their ‘four pillars’ specialised sports program, which began with basketball in 2020.
Aussie rules followed in 2022 and then football last year.
“It’s an opportunity for them to combine their academics with exploring their potential in a sport they’re passionate about,” Taylor said.
“It’s grown rapidly and gone from strength to strength.
“They’re doing extra sessions in the gym, it’s the reason they’re at school to be honest, they can’t get enough of it.”
“We’re super proud of them and it’s a great opportunity for them.”