25/09/2026
Great insite to our match on Sunday against Noranda Emerald FC 💪🏼🦘
KELMSCOTT AND NORANDA EMERALD TO MEET IN 2026 AMATEUR CUP FINAL - PREVIEW
The 2026 Belt-Up Amateur Cup Final takes place on Sunday afternoon, where Noranda Emerald take on Kelmscott Roos at the Sam Kerr Football Centre. (4:00pm) We have four games on the day, first up is the Construction Training Fund Women’s League Cup between Hamersley Rovers and Noranda Emerald (11:00pm), before two Football West Senior Country Week Finals. The main game is the Belt-Up Amateur Cup Final, and it has all ingredients for a great game, with Noranda Emerald looking to add more silverware to the State League Second Division /Amateur League Premier Division Promotion/Relegation Play-off Final win last week, while Kelmscott, who finished a disappointing seventh on the ladder, will look to end the season on a high.
The two teams have met twice in the league this season, the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at Frye Park in Week Three, with Edward Chisopa giving the hosts the lead, before Lee Wilson levelled for the visitors. It was another tight game in Week 14 at the Noranda Sporing Complex, with the hosts running out 2-1 winners. Aaron McDaid gave Noranda Emerald the lead early, but Solomon Finch levelled for Kelmscott in the shadows of half time, but Darragh Carroll’s goal just before the hour mark sealed the win.
ROAD TO THE FINAL - Noranda Emerald received a forfeit in Round Two against Woodvale, before a trip to fellow Premier Division side Maccabi in Round Three. Early goals from Andrew Wood and Alex Pomeroy gave them a great start, and although Robert Pattison pulled one back for the host, and Conor Gormley was sent off, the visitors went through. In the Quarter Final they travelled to Frank Drago Reserve to meet Bayswater City and Fionn McClure put them ahead early.
The hosts then had Joel Jebaratnam sent off, before two quick goals after the break from Aaron McDaid and Ronan Flaherty sealed the tie. Thay set up a semi-final against Kingsley Westside at Chichester Park, and the hosts were ahead early, with Nathan Griffiths scoring, but goals from Conor Hogan, Pomeroy and an own goal had Noranda Emerald in control at the break, and Connor Jordan sealed the tie with a fourth late.
Head Coach Ger Gaughan said their cup run was tough, with the league taking centre stage, but they got the job done. “Our cup run has been a bit of everything really. We had to dig deep against Maccabi in a really tight game, then had big wins against Bayswater and Kingsley Westside. The semi-final especially showed a lot about the character of this group, going behind and responding the way we did,” Gaughan explained. “I’ve said it all year but I’m incredibly proud of these lads.
“The work they’ve put in, the sacrifices they’ve made and the togetherness in the group has got us to this point. We achieved our main goal of promotion last weekend, but nobody sees the season as finished yet. We’ve got one game left together and a chance to make what’s already been a special season even more memorable. We’ll give absolutely everything we have on Sunday to try and bring that cup back to Noranda Emerald.”
Gaughan said they have always had tough games against Kelmscott, and Sunday will be no different. “We’re really looking forward to Sunday. To have already achieved promotion and now have the chance to finish the season by lifting a cup is something we’re extremely proud of,” he said. “Promotion is done now though and our full focus is on Sunday. We’ve always had great battles with Kelmscott over the years and I’m sure Sunday will be no different. They’re a very good side, we know each other well and it’s probably a nice way to finish the year off with one more big battle against them.”
Skipper Jamie McLaughlin said Sunday is another massive game for them. “We are coming off a good win in Sam Kerr last weekend and really excited about getting back out there. There is never a dull moment when we play Kelmscott, we know we will have to be at our very best to come out on top but, we’re excited for the challenge,” he said. “We set out at the beginning of the year and our main goal was promotion. We have achieved that so winning the cup would be a bonus but would certainly top the season off adding that trophy. Our ladies are also in the cup final on the same day so it’s great day for the club in general and hopefully Noranda emerald will come away with two trophies come Sunday evening.”
ROAD TO THE FINAL - Kelmscott opened their run to the final with a 4-0 win against Bassendean Caledonian at Jubilee Reserve in Round Two, with a brace from Isaac Koomson and others to Lemeo Wordu and Edward Chisopa. They faced a tricky tie in Round Three, when they travelled to the Len Packham Park to meet Perth AFC. Kingsley Nteng gave them the lead twenty minutes from time, but a penalty from Thomas Hewitt levelled things up to send the game to extra time. The hosts then took control with goals from Andrija Jukic and Alessandro Di Girolamo, before Amos Junior Doegolia reduced the margin for the Roos.
It looked game over when Jukic made it 4-2 to the hosts, but remarkably late goals from Doegolia and Nteng took the game to penalties, where Kelmscott prevailed 3-1. In the Quarter Final they hosted East Perth at Frye Park, and a goal seven minutes from time by Chris Craine gave them a 1-0 win, to set up a semi-final against league leaders Wanneroo City at Players Place in Madeley. Gerard McGahey put them ahead on the half hour, and he added a second twenty minutes from time to seal their place in the final.
Kelmscott keeper Taylor Warwick said after almost going out in Round Three, to beat the league leaders in the Semi-Final was a fantastic performance. “The cup run we have been on has been pretty special with some great games played, Perth AFC was a standout, with a high scoring affair. That match showed us that we can display that never die attitude during a match that has been lacking in recent years,” Warwick explained. “East Perth themselves came to our ground with nothing to lose and we walked away with a gutsy win against a quality side, but the win against Wanneroo was special. Everyone in our squad turned up with the hunger and belief that we could get ourselves into the first cup final for our club in almost 40 years.”
Warwick said Sunday’s final presents a really great opportunity to finish their season on a high after what turned out to be a pretty disappointing league campaign. “This Final is nothing more than the biggest game of the year for us and facing an Emerald side who have been quality all year sets up an interesting match,” he said. “They are going to be up and about for it after securing promotion to the state league and we are preparing for nothing more than a war on Sunday. We have prepared well and have a fully fit and healthy squad going into the game which gives us a lot of confidence. As a club we are very excited for this match and hope to bring enjoyment and quality football to the occasion.”
