Cootamundra's Lachlan Cook has helped the Wagga City Wanderers under-20s book a spot in next Sunday's National Premier League ACT Two grand final with a 4-1 preliminary final win over O'Connor Knights in Canberra on Sunday.
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Normally a winger or midfielder the Cootamundra junior has been utilised all over the ground this season for the Wanderers who have progressed to the grand final after finishing in fourth position at the end of the regular season.
Having his first season in the under 20s Cook spent the previous two seasons as a member of the Wanderers under 18s squad.
Still living in Cootamundra turning out for the Wagga based team requires Cook to make the trip to Wagga twice a week for training before again hitting the road on weekends for matches.
Braces from Zach Pinney and Jake Ploenges ensured the under-20s booked their spot in this weekend's grand final against ANU who finished the regular season as the competition's top side.
Pinney gave the visitors a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box before Ploenges, brought on midway through the second half, scored after making a break down the left wing.
Pinney's second off a free kick wrapped up the game at 3-0.
Next weekend's opponents, ANU, were the runaway minor premiers but Wanderers coach Liam Dedini is confident they have the artillery to spring an upset.
"We definitely deserve to be there, the grand final's the two best teams," Dedini said.
In other preliminary finals the Wanderers were defeated in the under-13 and under 15 girls and the under-16 boys.
The under-20s grand final kicks off on Sunday at Deakin Stadium from 12pm.