PATRIS ended Yerrinbool-Bargo’s hope of a silverware whitewash, knocking the champions league cup and Darryl Kill Cup winners out of the championship race with a 1-0 win at Exeter Oval on Saturday.
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The Bushrangers had been first grade’s most consistent team all season but Patris stepped up and took the game to the defending champions.
Patris were on fire from the opening whistle in the preliminary final and had three corners and a number of scoring opportunities in the opening 15 minutes.
Centre half Nigel Tasker capitalised, heading home a Shane Fitzpatrick corner ball to give Colo Vale a 1-0 lead.
Patris continued to dominate the first half, adapting to the windy conditions better than their opponents.
Colo Vale’s defence snuffed out all of Yerrinbool’s chances for the rest of the match, with goalkeeper Simon McEwan and the backs, led by Simon Roberts, keeping cool under the escalating pressure.
The Bushrangers pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying minutes, with Luke Dinham and Brian Dunk both heading over the crossbar.
Patris captain Tim Stone said his team’s main aim was to score the first goal.
“Before the match we spoke about how the team that scores first will have a huge advantage,” Stone said.
“Scoring first obviously puts you in front but also pressures the other team and makes them panic a bit.
“And I think that’s how it panned out.”
Stone said Tasker had his best game of the season as he dominated the centre of the park in both attack and defence.
Stone and Yerrinbool’s centre back Todd Wilson traded blows throughout the entire match, with the pair clashing numerous times.
“Nothing against him [Wilson], it’s just I was aware he was trying to get under the skin of my brother [Richard Stone] so I thought I would take some attention off him.”
Patris play Exeter in the grand final on Saturday.
