Marconi Stallions put together a fine second-half showing to overturn a 1-2 half-time deficit against Blacktown City FC and secure another shot at Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the grand-final next weekend.
A fast-paced finish to the match saw the Stallions run out 4-2 winners, the Bossley Park outfit showing its full array of skill on a near perfect night for the club.
The loss for Blacktown City signals the end to the playing career of influential captain Luke Roodenburg who recently made public that this season would be his last.
Roodenburg has been an ambassador for the Football NSW competition, and he holds a legend status amongst the supporters at the Club.
Marconi?s win will see the Stallions line-up against Bonnyrigg White Eagles for a shot at the Minor Premiership on long weekend Monday
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Archives for September 2012
NSW Premier League Grand Final Preview
The long weekend Monday grand final encounter pits arguably the two best clubs this season with the dominant White Eagles starting the match as favourites against a Marconi Stallions side that has really ?turned it on? over the past six weeks after an indifferent first part of the season.
Bonnyrigg maintain home ground advantage for the decider, seeing the side was the first to qualify for the grand final, and Brian Brown?s men will be looking to take full advantage in-front of the side?s supporters.
Bonnyrigg has led the way this season with some destructive performances, the side without a doubt the bench mark for 2012. The White Eagles are strong across the park with Robbie Younis the League?s golden boot winner expected to find more goals on Monday.
Across the backline, Nikola Zonjic has been immense for Bonnyrigg, as has captain Chris Tadrosse on the left. Youngsters Adrian Ucchino and Harris Gaitatzis have been massive finds for the club this season as they have settled in nicely to give Bonnyrigg near perfect balance across the playing field.
Marconi?s run of late has also been impressive, and even though the side starts the match as underdogs, Bonnyrigg would do best not to underestimate the team from Bossley Park.
Coach Luke Casserly has enjoyed a lot of success with his fielding of the likes of Joey Gibbs and Nathan Elasi ? both players exceptional in the front-third.
Captain Nahuel Arrarte is the man who marshalls the side on the pitch, and his linking up with Shane Webb and Jamie McMaster ? both former Bonnyrigg White Eagles players ? has made the Stallions challenge for silverware possible.
This grand final matchup promises to provide spectators with a lot of action as both sides have been amongst the goals this season. As is the case with most grand finals, the first team to settle down and take control of midfield sets themself up with the best chance of victory and the battle shaping up between the two strongest midfields in the competition promises to provide action aplenty on long weekend Monday, grand final day.
Last Week:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles (weekend off)
Marconi Stallions 4 Blacktown City FC 2
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Marconi Stallions, Monday 1st of October, 3:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Club
NSW Premier League players dominate Sydney FC’s National Youth League squad
The National Youth League is an U20 competition with provision to select one player who is 21-years-old but Sydney FC has neglected to take up the option, underpinning Head Coach Ian Crook?s philosophy of developing younger players.
The 2012/13 NYL squad contains four 16-year-olds, three 17-year-olds, six 18-year-olds, one 19-year-old and two 20-year-olds. The average age of the Sydney FC NYL Team is 17 years and seven months.
?We have selected a young team but we?re very excited by the potential of all the boys in the squad,? Dene said. ?We believe we?ve identified some good prospects who we?ll be able to work with to help develop them into A-League players.
?Every time you go out onto the pitch you try to win but this team has been selected with the future in mind. We aim to develop young players so they are able to step up to play in the A-League.?
The development philosophy is highlighted by the fact that the current Sydney FC Hyundai A-League squad contains 10 players who have progressed to the first team squad through the Youth team system.
Terry Antonis, Dimi Petratos, Rhyan Grant, Joel Chianese, Mitch Mallia, Nathan Sherlock, Blake Powell, Hagi Gligor, Daniel Petkovski and Vedran Janjetovic are all members of the Sydney FC 2012/13 A-League squad having previously played in the youth team.
?Brian has put together a very good squad in consultation with the first team coaching staff because we believe it is important to have similar structures and philosophies right through the club,? Crook said. ?The youth team will also spend time training with the first team to ensure the young boys develop and to keep our footballing philosophies consistent.
?We?ve got some very talented kids who, with hard work, have the potential to follow in the footsteps of Terry Antonis, Dimi Petratos, Rhyan Grant, Joel Chianese, Mitch Mallia and others to become members of the A-League squad.?
The Sydney FC NYL squad features the following:
? 16-year-old Tom Slater, son for former Socceroo Robbie Slater
? Indigenous star Keifer Dotti
? Peter Triantis, whose brother Chris played for the Sydney FC Youth Team in 2008/09
? Anthony Bouzanis, whose brother Dean played for Sydney FC before moving abroad to play for Liverpool in England.
? Four players from the 2011/12 Sydney FC NYL team (Ryan Norval, Daniel Petkovski, Hagi Gligor and Christopher Naumoff)
? Daniel Petkovski and Hagi Gligor are contracted NYL Players and are also part of the 2012/13 Sydney FC A-League squad
The Sydney FC Youth Team is:
Ryan Norval – Rockdale City Suns/Sydney FC Youth
Keifer Dotti – Rockdale City Suns
Aaron Calver – NSWIS
Roberto Speranza – Rockdale City Suns
Daniel Petkovski – Marconi/Sydney FC Youth
Hagi Gligor – NSWIS/Sydney FC Youth
Josh MacDonald – NSWIS
Peter Triantis – Sydney Olympic
Nikola Taneski – APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Christopher Naumoff – Sutherland Sharks/Sydney FC Youth
Tom Slater – NSWIS
Lukas Stergiou – Sutherland Sharks
Luke Jenner – Blacktown City
Luke Clifford – Blacktown City
Alec Urosevski – Rockdale City Suns
Anthony Bouzanis – Sydney Olympic
Coach: Brian Dene
Assistant Coach: Miro Vlastelica
Goalkeeper Coach: Davide del giovine
NSW Premier League Finals Series Week Three Review
A fast-paced finish to the match saw the Stallions run out 4-2 winners, the Bossley Park outfit showing its full array of skill on a near perfect night for the club.
The loss for Blacktown City signals the end to the playing career of influential captain Luke Roodenburg who recently made public that this season would be his last.
Roodenburg has been an ambassador for the Football NSW competition, and he holds a legend status amongst the supporters at the Club.
Marconi?s win will see the Stallions line-up against Bonnyrigg White Eagles for a shot at the Minor Premiership on long weekend Monday.
Preliminary Final
Marconi Stallions 4 Blacktown City FC 2
Six goals were produced in the Preliminary Final, meaning those present were not disappointed for a lack of action.
Yuchi Yamauchi opened the scoring with a header in the 16? minute when he cleverly lost his marker to convert Matt Lewis? curled effort inside the far post.
Stallions? captain Nahuel Arrarte drew the sides level on 35? minutes from the penalty-spot after Zac Cairncross fouled Jamie McMaster.
Despite the momentum seemingly back in Marconi?s favour, Travis Major ensured Blacktown City went in with the lead at the break. The speedy winger, playing in a much more advanced role on the pitch, sped past Wade Oostendorp to claim the ball before beating James Chronopoulos with a tantalising finish.
Following the break, the Stallions took control as McMaster and Joey Gibbs played a phenomenal one-two to leave the Blacktown City defenders routed to the spot before the latter confidently drove the ball past Brody Crane.
The Stallions’ third goal of the evening was purely breathtaking and it arrived midway through the half via the left boot of Shane Webb, The experienced midfielder, in exceptional touch throughout the evening, blasted a long-range drive into the top right-hand corner, leaving Crane with no chance much to the delight of the home supporters.
Deep into injury-time, Blacktown City lost defender Cairncross following his second yellow card of the evening, before Gibbs netted a second as Marconi punished Blacktown City on the counterattack.
The confidence oozed by the Stallions in the second-half definitely does stand the side in good stead ahead of the grand-final showdown with the highly fancied Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
-By Joseph Carlucci
NSW Premier League Grade 20s Preliminary Final Review: Manly march through on penalties in thriller
As it were, there were two critical kicks that decided the match, in a game that went the distance. The first, was in the 110′ and final minute of the match. Reyze Kelly was set free, galloping clear of the Manly United defence. He seemed certain to score, but Tonu Liiband made a fantastic save. The ball dropped to Andre Carle and with the goal open and a Grand Final place before his eyes, he blazed over.
The second, was the fifth and final penalty of the shootout that eventuated, as the match finished 1-1 after extra time. Daniel Rees turned his back to Liiband at the top of his run up. He turned back, ran in and struck his penalty firmly, but Liiband guessed the right way and palmed it away, sending his side into the Grand Final, when in reality his side should have been knocked out with the last kick of the match.
It was breathless denouement to a match that in truth, was too tense to be a great spectacle.
Manly United thought they’d taken the lead in the 15′ minute, when Dominic Ferguson bundled the ball into the back of the net, but he was flagged for offside. The ball broke to the Manly midfielder after Jesse Shewan made a stunning save to deny McGinley, but the raised flag prematurely ended Manly celebrations.
Nigel Mahoney’s side suffered a setback when in the 16′ minute, Leigh Egger was replaced due to injury with 15 year old Dejan Pandurevic going on. He would later show wonderful composure to net in the shoot-out.
Spartans wasted a glorious chance to go ahead in the 24′ minute and there was no real excuse for not taking the opportunity. Reid Taylor’s flick on allowed Carle to run at the Manly defence from the right. His intelligent cut back found the unmarked Mitchell Davidson, who was left with the simple task of controlling the loose ball and scoring.
With the goal gaping, his left footed effort came back off the far post. It was a guilt edged chance that would come back to haunt him and his side.
Neither Manly United or Spartans had managed to settle into the match effectively as the half hour mark ticked by with only Davidson’s chance any goal mouth action of note.
In keeping with the untidy nature of the match, it was an untidy goal that gave Manly United a 37′ minute lead.
Ferguson and Jack Green combined down the left, before a scramble ensued in the area. The referee ruled that a handball had occurred and awarded a penalty kick.
Manly’s top scorer McGinley stepped up to the spot and after a stutter in his run up, tucked the penalty into the bottom right hand corner, despite a decent touch from the unlucky Shewan. It was McGinley’s 15th goal of a prolific season, though his sure touch would desert him in the shootout, where he was denied by Shewan.
Corey Biczo’s brilliant run down the left nearly created an opportunity for Spartans to equalise before half time, but after beating four players and making it to the by-line, his square ball was cut out by a timely interception from Grant Brown.
Ferguson had the first opening of the second half but he failed to hit the target after a slip from Spartans defender, Tomislav Herceg. Ferguson was in on goal but dragged his shot horribly wide as the second half, like the first, stuttered trying to get into gear.
A foul by Green gave Spartans a set piece opportunity in the 62′ minute, but Davidson’s fierce left foot strike was straight at Liiband. The shot stopper had yet to be truly tested in the match so far.
Manly nearly doubled their lead in the 64′ minute when McGinley got the better of Harley Da Silva, but Ferguson thrashed his shot wide after being picked out by the Manly number 35.
Biczo volleyed well over in the 68′ minute after good work from Carle teed him up on the edge of the area, as Spartans looked to find a way back into the match.
A foul by Brown in the 73′ minute gave Spartans another dead ball situation in a dangerous position. Kelly took over from Davidson, but he fired the free kick straight into the wall.
Manly United then had a chance to put the game to bed in the 75′ minute when a break saw Nathan Simm release McGinley. Goalkeeper Shewan wasn’t far off his line but it didn’t stop McGinley trying an audacious chip that came back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
Spartans were getting desperate as the clock wound down, leaving them exposed on the break. Manly were keen to exploit the pace of McGinley and there was the feeling that Spartans were riding their luck.
They were rewarded for their audacity with their equaliser scored in spectacular fashion in the 83′ minute. Carle’s persistence was rewarded when he won a corner, expertly taken by Kelly. His high, curving delivery deceived Liiband and looped over his head, clipping the crossbar on its way into the back of the net.
Perhaps the low sun played a part, but the Manly goalkeeper would nonetheless be disappointed to concede directly from the corner with just seven minutes to go.
Taylor should have scored for Spartans in the 88′ minute when a beautiful cross from the left found him in space, but his first time volley flew high and wide. He had enough time to take a touch, which will only add to his disappointment.
The match headed to extra time and Taylor came so close to giving Spartans a 99′ minute lead. The youngster cut in from the right and caught the Manly defence napping by unleashing a left footed shot that crashed into the cross bar.
Legs were heavy and minds weary as the match drew to a close. Penalties seemed inevitable.
The thrilling conclusion though, couldn’t be predicted.
Blacktown Spartans coach Mark Zecchin was disappointed, given how close his side were to progressing.
“I thought we were a bit flat in the first half,” he said.
“We turned it around in the second half, but congratulations to Manly.
“We should have been in it (the Grand Final) before it went to penalties.
“What can you do?” he said of Carle’s late miss.
“He’s been one of my best players this year and also for first grade.
“In the end the penalty shootout is a lottery. It’s been a great season and I’m really proud of the boys.
“I wish Manly all the best in the final,” he said.
His opposite number Nigel Mahoney was relieved after their late escape and subsequent coolness under pressure in the shootout.
“It was a good game overall,” he said.
“It was sad to see it go to penalties, is all.
“Both sides could have won in normal time and in extra time, especially those two chances right at the end,” he said.
“We played good football, but in the second half they came out all guns blazing, they were playing four up front.
“We dealt with it, just about. I was happy with our individual performances, especially the young lads.
“Dejan (Pandurevic) was outstanding when he came on. He’s only 15 years old and he scored in the shootout.
“If that’s the future of Manly United, then things are looking good,” Mahoney added.
Match Stats
Manly United FC 1 (Michael McGinley 37′ (PEN))
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Reyze Kelly 83′)
Saturday 22nd September, 2012
Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park
Referee: Nathan Roberts
Assistant Referees: Thomas Lee and Lance Greenshields
Manly United FC: 25.Tonu Liiband, 28.Joshua Ward, 29.William Pritchard, 30.Jack Green (31.Max Boganovic 81′), 32.Jamie Craig, 33.Grant Brown, 34.Nathan Simm, 35.Michael McGinley, 27.Harry Sweeney, 20.Leigh Egger (19.Dejan Pandurevic 16′), 18.Dominic Ferguson (22.Michael Willis 96′)
Substitutes Not Used: 15.O Green, 24.Tommy Manos.
Yellow Cards: William Pritchard 28′, Harry Sweeney 95′
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown Spartans: 40.Jesse Shewan, 18.Mitchell Davidson, (32.Damien Smith 81′) 20.Reid Taylor (31.Cameron McKinnon 106′), 24.Mark Puskarcuk, 25.Corey Biczo, 26.George Yousif, 28.Andre Carle, 30.Kieran Dalton, 33.Reyze Kelly, 35.Harley Da Silva (37.Daniel Rees 105′), 38.Tomislav Herceg
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Daniel Sadaka, 21.Justin Cootes.
Yellow Cards: Mark Puskarcuk 32′, Tomislav Herceg 46′, Reid Taylor 50′, Kieran Dalton 89′, Daniel Rees 110′
Red Cards: Nil
-By Matthew Connellan