In a match defined by tactical discipline and clutch finishing, Hamilton United secured a 1-0 victory over Pickering FC to claim the U17 Gary Miller Charity Shield Saturday evening at Zanchin Automotive Centre.

From the opening kickoff, a fierce midfield battle set the tone for the match, as both teams pushed hard in a relentless back-and-forth exchange. Despite the intensity, neither side was able to generate a clear scoring opportunity for their forwards in the opening 15 minutes.

Hamilton United were the first to threaten breaking the deadlock when No. 7 Chiara Nicolazzo skillfully evaded two defenders and the goalkeeper inside the Pickering penalty area. However, her shot was heroically blocked on the line for Pickering by No. 70 Savanna Backus, whose last-second clearance kept the game level.

After that near-miss, the rest of the half saw both teams tighten up defensively, but it the 34 minute it was Hamilton's No.23 Niyah Noel-Gordon with a rising header that snuck in far side to give Hamilton the lead heading into the halftime break.

Minutes into the second half, Pickering FC’s Amelia Morgulis nearly evened the score with a powerful shot from just outside the box, but her effort sliced just wide of the net.

In the 70 minute, as Pickering FC pushed to equalize, Claire Ormonde took a free kick from a dangerous position, but her low shot went straight into the hands of Hamilton goalkeeper Madeleine Boucher.

Heading into the 80 minute, Pickering FC remained in contention thanks to a stunning reaction save from Claire Wilkinson, who somehow kept out what looked to be a guaranteed goal.

Despite late pressure, Hamilton’s backline and tactical discipline ensured they preserved their slim lead. The clean sheet secured Hamilton United the U17 Gary Miller Charity Shield, capping off a hard-fought and intense rematch from this years PDP National finals.

Championship Photo