By JARROD POTTER
METROPOLITAN 2 South East soccer champions … Pakenham United.
It was a fitting end to senior soccer life at Lakeside Reserve as the Cougars thumped Melbourne University 4-1 to take the last points needed to clinch the title.
With a move on the horizon to IYU Recreation Reserve (Henry Road) in 2016, the Cougars played out their last home game on Sunday afternoon and made it an emphatic victory.
Jayden Wright booted a hat-trick to catapult the Cougars well ahead before a Wellington Teles penalty sealed the deal and gave United the bragging rights from another stellar season.
A gallant performance in goals from Jarrod Reynolds just fell short of a deserved clean-sheet, but a championship win will soothe the one goal conceded.
“The lads played really well – wanted to finish it yesterday and we went out there and ran all over them,” coach Mario Hilli said.
“Strongest side on the park for a while and we just controlled the play, made them chase us as they only had 11 players with no subs.
“Just wanted to create spaces behind the defence and attack the goals.
“To win the championship a week early and not worry about what happens with other teams feels pretty good.”
Hilli praised Elijah Gambeau – the fleet-footed 18-year-old midfielder – Patty Nolan and Wright on their performances in the championship decider.
Spanning back to the club’s inception in 2011, it’s the Cougars’ third senior championship and a phenomenal way to usher in the club’s future ambitions in the state leagues.
“It’s the inaugural one for the Pakenham United Football Club – others were under Pakenham – and with the juniors we might also have them winning an under-14 title this year too,” Hilli said.
“It’s a great springboard to move into our new facilities, and we’ve got some pennants to put up and a couple of great photos into the trophy cabinet.
“Few people open their eyes up to see how the Pakenham area is expanding, and Beaconsfield as well, and pushing it forward.
“We will hopefully be playing Saturday next year – we won’t know until the federation puts it all together – and hopefully all the work that we’ve done to put them together will make for a great side next year that we’ll top up with a couple more reliable players.”
Pakenham United’s victory lap will be against Old Scotch Cardinals on Sunday from 3pm.
