With a 15-0 romp over Wellington United at their home fortress of Endeavour Park, Western Suburbs have locked up the Ultra Football Central League with one round to go. The young team commanded the field in less than ideal conditions to seal what is now a 5th Central League title since 2005. Surrounded by a jubilant crowd of home supporters, Capital Football’s Competitions Manager Lisa Jones, accompanied by Western Suburbs Chairman, Dean Eager, presented captain Cameron Botes with the Central League trophy.

In what was a semi subdued game of football that saw 7 goals in the first half an 8 in the second, the result was never in doubt from the first whistle. Western Suburbs Head Coach, Ben Sippola placing all the praise for the title onto what had been a consistent team effort throughout their whole campaign.

“This season is just a testament of a lot of kids coming together.”

“I am just really happy for the boys because I know they put a lot of effort into it, being a brand new team I think the expectations for them at the start of the season were quite low but I always told them that they could be as good as they wanted to be.”

Sippola stressed the importance of the culture they had created within the group and that the continued desire to keep moving forward as a collective has been the backbone of the team’s success.

“This is a new team from last year that went to the Chatham Cup final and finished second in the league, and that’s what we are most excited about.”

“We started a project about six years ago around developing young players from the Wellington region and maximising potentials that way, so this year is just a fruition of lots of years coming together.”

Sending 15 into the back of the net, Ryan Feutz netting 6, Oliver Van Rissel and Ihaia Delaney each scoring a brace and Oscar Hough, Cameron Botes, Josh Rogerson, Josh Larking and Louis Thomas all adding their names, Wests have put the League well out of reach of their closet rivals, last year’s champions, Napier City Rovers. With only one round to go, they sit 5 points clear, with a record of 12 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses.

Having wrapped up this year’s league and with the backing of the whole Western Suburbs football community, Sippola is already looking forward to developing the next generation.

“Next year the project is the same, so as much as winning a championship is really nice it’s about the project and the next group of kids coming through and doing what’s in the best interest of the player at all times.”

Although the top of the table has been locked up, there is everything to play for in the last round at the other end of the Men’s Central League. Wairarapa United and Wellington United both sit on 3 points, Wairarapa with the far superior goal difference giving them the slight edge. A valuable point for either team could keep them out of relegation, meaning everything comes down to the remaining home game of the season for both teams.

For a full list of round 18 fixtures, click here.

Ultra Football Men’s Central League Round 17 Results

Miramar Rangers 3
Wairarapa 1
(H.T. 2-0)

North Wellington FC 2
Stop Out 2
(H.T. 1-1)

Lower Hutt City AFC 3
Napier City Rovers 4
(H.T. 2-2)

Wellington Olympic 1
Karori Waterside 0
(H.T. 0-0)

Western Suburbs 15
Wellington United 0
H.T. 7-0)

Article added: Monday 12 August 2019