THE Milton-Ulladulla Panthers have just been crowned the Shoalhaven Football over 35s A grade men’s competition champions for the second straight year.
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The Panthers, led by co-coaches Neil Wade and Tony Lavalle, achieved this feat last week, as they defeated the Shoalhaven United Bears 4-nil at Lighthouse Oval on Thursday.
This win is the Panthers’ 10th of the season and their seventh in a row, a streak which has seen them score 21 goals and only concede one goal.
“The key to our strong second half of the season play has been our ability to play the same core group most weeks, with us being lucky in the injury department,” Wade said.
“And with our reserve grade side going so well too, we know guys are capable of stepping up – our depth is as good as I’ve seen it.”
On top of these 10 wins, the Panthers have also two draws and two losses to their names in 2018.
“Overall, it’s the best season we’ve have had in a long time, dominating most of the matches we’ve played in,” Wade said.
“I think there has been a carrying on effect from last year’s double success [also winning the grand final], as our goal was to win both pieces of silverware again in 2018.
“All the boys were keen to work harder this year and prove, after years of trying to reach the top, it wasn’t a fluke.”
While all of Wade’s squad have had strong seasons, he has singled out the goal-scoring exploits of striker Philip Dady as being key to their success.
With two rounds to play before finals start on August 30, Wade and his team have now shifted their focus.
“We’ve now ticked off one of our goals and we will now concentrate on achieving the second one, which is winning the grand final,” he said.
“Our biggest threat to achieving that goal is the dangerous Bears side.”
This Panthers squad features Gavin Newport, Glyn Ponting, Micheal Colusso, Ian Miller, Jason Stanton, Tony Lavalle, Adam Vaughan, Simon Law, Zdenko Kalemusic, Neil Wade, Justin Stanton, Paul Amos, Peter Whitmore, Darryl Bozicevic, Philip Dady Greg Ceccato and Sean Rooney.