Melkie and 'Roy' Martin shine as United claims a Cup hat-trick

Albury United gun scored the grand final match-winner with seconds left in extra time against Myrtleford Savoy on Saturday night. or signup to continue reading Woldemichael was named Albury Wodonga Football Association's Star Player last Monday and he capped the week with three goals in the crackerjack 4-3 win at Lavington Sportsground. "Melkie loves those sorts of moments," United coach Matt Campbell praised.

"He's pretty fit, a lot of the boys were obviously struggling after 110 minutes, but he managed to be in the right place at the right time." Greens' goalkeeper Jay Barker launched the ball more than 60m, and as Myrtleford tried to meet the ball on the full, it bounced into Woldemichael's path, and he guided the ball into the net. He had spoken to prior to the game and admitted his love of the pressure in the big moments.



It was the Greens' third successive Cup title and Woldemichael has been pivotal. In 2022, he grabbed the equaliser against Wangaratta City in the final minutes to send the game into extra time and then slotted another in the 3-1 win. Last year he broke the hearts of Myrtleford with the match-winner in the 89 minute.

He opened the scoring as United carried a 1-0 lead to half-time. Caleb Martin nabbed the second with a header but then Myrtleford's Matt Richardson scored a double in quick succession to level the scores. His first was a free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box, and then he worked the ball down the left and, from a tight angle, pushed the ball past Barker at close range.

Woldemichael pounced when the keeper tried to parry the ball away for a 3-2 break, but a cracking strike from Will Keenan from outside the 18-yard box from a half-volley sent the game into extra-time. It was two 10-minute halves and was still 3-3 after the first stanza. Both teams had created half chances and with a number of players cramping, Woldemichael weaved his magic as the Greens' strong fan base stormed onto the ground after the final whistle.

Despite Woldemichael's outstanding display, Martin was named player of the match. "'Roy' (Martin) scored a goal himself, it was probably a lot of his defensive efforts (which won him the award)," Campbell suggested. "He was helping out a lot when they were pressing in the second half to equalise, they were putting in a lot of crosses and high balls and he was winning a lot of ball and making a lot of tackles on the ground.

" Barker also had a standout performance, while Richardson was electric for Myrtleford. United won the treble - the league, Cup and FA Cup - in 2022 and 2023, but Myrtleford stole its league crown this year, while it fell in the early rounds of the FA Cup. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team.

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