By JARROD POTTER
CLOSE, but no cigar in their first official outing as Pakenham United was bested in the Football Chaos Cup grand final 0-3 by Monash Soccer Club.
Pakenham United, newly forged from Pakenham SC and Cardinia United JSC, had high hopes entering this year’s tournament, having finished in the top four last year.
The Cougars started with a bang – rattling off a 4-0 win over Whitehorse United before finishing atop Group A with wins over Monash and Bayswater.
Local rivals Bunyip Strikers also found themselves through to the finals with a trio of wins in Group B.
The Strikers defeated Monash Wolves to finish top of Group B, but their semi-final rematch didn’t fare as well as the Wolves rallied to knock the Bunyip boys out 1-2 with a late penalty putting the home side through.
Pakenham United would finish the gallant efforts of VCFA powerhouse Berwick Churches with a 2-0 semi-final triumph as an amazing lob from Wellington Teles cleared the goalkeeper from the half-way line which coach Mario Hili said was “meant to be a cross… but you take them anyway they come”.
It wasn’t meant to be for the Cougars overall down in Newborough though as Monash started strongly in the grand final and finished just as well to record a three-goal win over the far-travelling Pakenham United squad.
The coach was pleased with his charges and especially their perseverance as five matches and heat fatigue set in towards the end of the single-day competition.
“I found it pretty good – been out to a few of these games in the old days – but the weather got to us at the end,” Hili said.
“Playing five games and getting to the final – by then my boys were totally tired and couldn’t go on any more.
“They did tremendously well – played the football well and a lot of the supporters were happy to see us make the final.”
The Cougars now face Old Scotch at Pakenham’s Lakeside Reserve from 1pm on Sunday in a friendly.
Pakenham United will place three senior sides into the FFV ranks this season – Men’s Metropolitan Leagues 2 and 4 and Women’s State League 4.
Pakenham is still on the lookout for new players, so if anyone is interested in joining the club, the Cougars can be contacted via their Facebook Page ‘Pakenham United FC’.
