Bowral with 'nothing to lose' ahead of all-Highlands Champions League final against Marulan

Having edged out Goulburn Strikers 2-1 in a rescheduled semi-final last weekend, Bowral will face powerhouse and fellow Highlands side Marulan in the final on Sunday.

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Philby, who is only in his second year at the club, said his side will relish the chance to test themselves.

"We've got everything to play for and nothing to lose," Philby told the Southern Highland News.

"Getting there is a great achievement and I think with these sort of games, particularly when we know the opposition reasonably well, we just have to go out there and enjoy it and play our own style of football.

"Hopefully we can bag the first silverware for Bowral in men's first grade for a while."

Their opponents, Marulan, currently sit unbeaten atop the Men's Division One Highlands Soccer Association ladder with Bowral seven points behind in second place.

With the final doubling as a potential preview for the league decider, Philby said his side would need to focus.

"Hopefully there's some mutual respect between the two sides," he said.

"Marulan, we've had some good games against, they're a tough, competitive side.

"But we've got a bit to offer and I think if all of our players, as they did against Goulburn, turn up with the right attitude and spirit on the day then it will be a physical, tough game and a potential grand final preview."

Having finished third last year, Bowral has been on an upward trajectory since Philby joined the club.

The midfielder said he was full of pride as his team overcame a 1-0 deficit against Goulburn in the semi-final to emerge victorious.

"We had a pretty successful season last year with lots of new players playing together for the first time," he explained.

"We've retained a lot of those players and this season has really built on the last so it's good to be in the final of this new cup competition.

"We'd seen Goulburn play last time we were down there and they were top of their league and unbeaten.

"They're an organised team and it was a good, competitive game played in great spirit which was brilliant to see. I was really proud of our lads, we have a few young lads as well who have stepped up this season.

"It was good to be able to still play football with all that's going on in the world and get the result to get us into the final."

The final will be held this Sunday, August 15, from 3pm at Cookbundoon.

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