Darwin Rovers will represent the Northern Territory in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 after winning the Top End’s decider on Saturday night.
In a one-side final, Darwin’s Rovers thrashed Alice Springs’ outfit Scorpions 5-0 at Darwin Football Stadium.
Star striker Carl Marshall had a night to remember for the hosts, netting a hat-trick to book his side’s spot on the national stage and a possible match-up with a Hyundai A-League side.
Rovers surged out of the blocks early with Scorpions keeper Joshua Dorron forced to make a couple of crucial interventions in the opening period.
But the pressure eventually told with Marshall putting the home side in front in the 25th minute with a close-range finish.
And Rovers almost doubled their advantage just a minute later with Scorpions defender Chol Mangar’s desperate goal-line clearance ensuring the score remained 1-0 at the interval.
But the floodgates opened in the second stanza, with Marshall doubling Rovers’ advantage in the 50th minute before completing his hat-trick with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Goals to John Drohan (82’) and Simon Bell (85’) rounded out the result for the Darwin-based outfit.
