Whitsunday United Weekly Report 5 September

With the regular season wrapping up last weekend, Whitsunday United Football Club now turns its focus to finals, with an impressive nine out of ten teams finishing inside the top four.

The club celebrated several standout achievements, with the U23 Men crowned Premiers, while the U13 FQPL and Division 1 Men secured second place — a remarkable reflection of the depth and commitment across the club, particularly given that half of their fixtures require travelling to Mackay.

At home, the Division 2 Men faced Brothers in a tight first half that ended 1-1, but WUFC took charge after the break. A superb hat-trick from Josh Lowe led the side to a 4-1 win and a third-place ladder finish heading into the semi-finals. Division 1 also finished strongly, overcoming low travelling numbers from Brothers to record a 5-0 victory. The side showed patience against a defensive opponent, with Stefan Tarne netting twice to claim the league’s golden boot. Both men’s teams now prepare for finals clashes against Lions.

The U13 Division 1 boys closed their season with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mackay Rangers at Whitsunday Sportspark. Logan P opened the scoring in the first half, but Rangers equalised after the break. Despite creating chances late, WUFC couldn’t find the winner and finished just outside finals in fifth place — but with plenty of growth and promise for the future.

U13 Prems secured a crucial 2-1 victory against Mackay Lions in another tense contest. Alex D struck first before Remy S doubled the lead. Lions pulled one back through an own goal, but WUFC held firm to claim second on the ladder and set up a semi-final berth.

The U14s played out a thriller against Lions, with Kobe scoring a hat-trick and Austin rewarded for his wing play in a 4-3 win that secured third place. In their second outing against top-of-the-table Magpies, WUFC battled bravely with strong midfield efforts from Shannon, Tyson and Harley, but went down 5-0 despite standout saves from goalkeeper Nick P.
The U16 boys were clinical against Dolphins Blue, storming to a 14-0 victory that secured second on the ladder. They now face Magpies in their semi-final.

The Whitsunday Women were frustrated by a 0-0 draw against Country, unable to break down a deep defensive block despite dominating play. They will regroup for a must-win semi-final against Rangers.

In a history-making performance, the Reserve Grade Men claimed the Premiership with a 4-1 win over Mackay Rangers. After an opener from Oisin Sherlock, goalkeeper Gary Browne saved a penalty before a goal-line clearance by Cialan Dollard kept momentum with WUFC. Goals to Aaron Kinsella, Max O’Keefe and Tony Gracieux sealed the victory and the league title — the first ever for a Whitsunday reserve-grade side.

The Premier League Men finished the round in style with a 5-1 win. Sherlock and Sam Thornton found the net, while 16-year-old Reef Peel stole the spotlight with his first senior hat-trick, underlining the team’s strong run into finals.

Contribtued with thanks to Allan Milostic

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