Both the women’s and first grade rosters were in charge of their matches until the dying minutes during the preliminary final at the Eden Soccer Ground. 

The first grade side went down 5-2 to the Bega Devils, but the Penguins had been leading the clash 2-1 until about 10 minutes remained in the headline match up. 

Earlier, the women’s roster had been leading the Wolumla Tigresses 1-0 but were forced to extra time after Wolumla striker Sam Johnson scored with just 40 seconds left on the clock. 

Johnson struck again in the second half of the extra time period for the Tigresses to clinch the win 2-1. 

A Bega spokesman said the Pambula first grade outfit had been the strongest team they’d put on the park yet. 

The Penguins were the first to score from a beautiful curling volley out wide, but the Devils fired back through Ross Jones soon after to tie 1-1 at the break. 

Pambula then scored early in the second half, while a shot from Jordan Pilgrim went close as the team hunted a 3-1 lead. 

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be as the Devils fought their way back into the game and then surged for four goals within about five minutes. 

Ross Jones then Dylan Douch, Jorden Stafford and Finley Geoghegan all found the back of the net to seal the result. 

In the earlier women’s contest, Pambula sweeper Liz Scott was one of the best on ground in a stunning and resilient defensive display. 

The Penguins had scored early through a big clustered attack, Wolumla keeper Anna Martin came off her line and got to the ball, but became tangled with the Pambula attackers and the loose ball was launched into the net. 

Rebecca Nelson, Astyn Friend and Annalisse Reed were all working overtime, turning away the repeated Wolumla attacking raids and were even able to force some attacking runs of their own. 

However, the pressure of the Tigresses continued to bear down on the team with Sam Johnson and Chloe Grant working hard up front off support from Janet King in the middle and Lisa Oldham and Caitlin Johnson out of the backlines. 

Despite the immense defensive effort, Wolumla scored through a long range kick by Sam Johnson, who replicated the effort late in extra time to seal the 2-1 win. 

Merimbula will feature in the reserve grade grand final after winning the major semi-final over the Wolumla Tigers. 

The grand final will be held at Merimbula’s Berrambool Oval on Sunday with all spectators welcome.