Manly United, who finished second in the regular season, have already beaten Spartans in the finals series, a Michael McGinley goal enough to down them 1-0 in the first week of the finals.
Spartans recovered though and knocked out Rockdale City Suns last weekend, thrashing them 4-0 at Belmore Sports Ground, thanks largely to a hat-trick from Reid Taylor.
Manly United?s victory over Spartans saw them progress to a Grand Final qualifier against the Premiers, Sutherland Sharks. Manly fought back from 2-0 down to score a last minute equaliser, thus sending the match to extra time.
Sutherland though were too good over the extra time period, scoring twice to run out 4-2 winners, Nick Olsen scoring twice.
All in all, it makes for a mouth watering encounter when Manly and Spartans go head to head for the chance to play Sutherland in the Grand Final next Monday.
Manly have impressed with their young squad and they play a vibrant, exciting brand of football. Key to this is the form of their leading marksman, McGinley, who has netted fourteen times in what has been a sensational season for the young forward.
Spartans own hot shot, Hoysar Cakal, won the Golden Boot for the competition, but will be missing as he is overseas on trial. In his place will be Andre Carle, a player who made an impact at first grade level this season and has given Spartans a massive boost in the finals series, winning two penalties in two matches.
The two goalkeepers will be sharply in focus under the pressure of an elimination match, particularly if it goes to extra time and possibly a penalty shootout. In the imposing figure of Jesse Shewan, Spartans have one of the form goalkeepers in the competition and he was outstanding in the match between these two sides earlier in the finals.
Likewise, Manly United keeper Tonu Liiband has been fantastic this season and made a crucial late penalty save from Carle in the match a fortnight ago to see his side advance.
Without doubt, whoever progresses to the Grand Final next weekend will be a worthy foe for Sutherland Sharks.
Archives for September 2012
NSW Premier League Finals Series Round 2 Highlights ONLINE now
As part of Football NSW?s revamped coverage on the NSW Premier League, all six matches will be highlighted and shown every Wednesday/Thursday giving you a look at all the goals, thrills and spills of NSW?s top tier football competition.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles are the first side to reach the 2012 NSW Premier League grand-final following a pulsating 90? minutes of football on Saturday evening, where the 2012 Premiers scored a 1-0 win over Marconi Stallions.
Forced to defend in the closing stages, the League?s benchmark for 2012 held off Marconi?s best challenges to secure a spot in the showcase match in two weeks.
Marconi still has a chance of reaching the grand-final despite the loss. The Stallions will face Blacktown City FC after the 2010 champions ended Sydney Olympic?s title defence at Belmore Sports Ground.
An equally entertaining encounter saw both sides create chances as Blacktown City fought off the dominant second-half display by the Blues to administer the 1-0 lead
To view the highlights click here
NSW Premier League Preliminary Finals Preview
Marconi Stallions v Blacktown City FC, Saturday 22nd of September, 6:00 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Marconi Stallions 0
Sydney Olympic 0 Blacktown City FC 1
A blockbuster clash awaits us on Saturday evening as Marconi Stallions and Blacktown City FC faceoff in Bossley Park for a grand-final shot against Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Both sides have been in tremendous form in the run home to the end of the regular season, and both sides have performed very well thus far in the finals series to be within one match of the showcase final.
Marconi Stallions enter this encounter with the bonus of hosting the Preliminary Final, an advantage that coach Luke Casserly will be looking to make the very most of.
The Stallions played a brilliant second-half to defeat Sydney Olympic a fortnight ago and even though the side went down last weekend in the Major semi-final against Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Marconi pressed until the final whistle, going within a whisker of forcing the newly crowned Premiers into extra-time.
Casserly will be looking at the in-form Joey Gibbs to continue his fabulous performances, meanwhile the likes of Nathan Elasi, Sean O?Connell and the ever reliable Nahuel Arrarte have been of the very highest order.
Defensively the Stallions have been sharp, with goalkeeper James Chronopoulos in exceptional form since returning from his foot injury.
Standing in the Stallions way of a grand-final berth, and a second shot at Bonnyrigg White Eagles, will be Blacktown City FC. The 2010 champions have ridden a bumpy ride this season with some mixed results, however the side?s run over the past two months has been near perfect.
Blacktown City has scored the scalps of both South Coast Wolves and Sydney Olympic in the finals series, both wins coming away from home with only one goal conceded in the process, ensuring confidence is high ahead of the Saturday night encounter.
Captain Luke Roodenburg continues to impress in his new found role in the backline alongside the equally notable Zac Cairncross. Blacktown?s engine room has been driven by Travis Major and Matt Lewis on the two flanks, with James Monie coming of age in recent weeks with some very selfless performances where the number 10 has run his socks off for his team.
Japanese imports Ryuji Miyazawa and Yuchi Yamauchi have been the finds of the season for the club in 2012, and both players will be needed at their best if Blacktown City is going to make it three-from-three wins to secure a spot in this season?s grand-final.
-By Joseph Carlucci
NSW Premier League Finals Series Week Two Review
Forced to defend in the closing stages, the League?s benchmark for 2012 held off Marconi?s best challenges to secure a spot in the showcase match in two weeks.
Marconi still has a chance of reaching the grand-final despite the loss. The Stallions will face Blacktown City FC after the 2010 champions ended Sydney Olympic?s title defence at Belmore Sports Ground.
An equally entertaining encounter saw both sides create chances as Blacktown City fought off the dominant second-half display by the Blues to administer the 1-0 lead.
Qualifying Final
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Marconi Stallions 0
The newly crowned Premiers? fine season continued as Bonnyrigg sealed its spot in the 2012 grand-final with a very hard fought 1-0 win over Marconi Stallions on Saturday evening.
A first-half penalty converted by Robbie Younis proved the difference as Brian Brown?s men were forced to defend in the second-half as Marconi Stallions peppered the White Eagles defensive line in search of an equaliser that failed to arrive.
Nahuel Arrarte led the Stallions charge with another fine performance by the captain, though in the end it failed to reap any reward for Luke Casserly?s players.
The only downer for Bonnyrigg was the late dismissal of Tynan Diaz for a rash tackle on Arrarte. Diaz, arguably one of the standout players in the competition this season, will miss the grand-final much to the despair of the White Eagles? supporters present on Saturday as the Bonnyrigg number 7 left the playing surface.
The loss for Marconi does not end its season with Blacktown City FC now standing in between the Bossley Park side and a grand-final berth.
Minor Semi-Final
Sydney Olympic 0 Blacktown City FC 1
Blacktown City FC ended Sydney Olympic?s title defence with a very hard fought showing in Belmore on Sunday afternoon.
A frantic opening to the match could have produced six goals in the opening 15? minutes ? as both sides went close to netting ? though it was certainly Sydney Olympic who created the better chances.
Despite the Blues? pressure, Blacktown City remained compact and cleverly chose when to press forward. Blacktown City?s winning goal arrived via the lunging boot of Ryuji Miyazawa early in the second-half, the Japanese import netting off Adam Jenner?s delivery from the right.
Travis Major had the chance to kill off the match late on as Sydney Olympic twice hit the post in the closing stages.
Blacktown City?s win sets up an encounter with Marconi Stallions next weekend, Mark Crittenden?s men one match away from a shot at Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the 2012 showpiece match.
-By Joseph Carlucci
NSW Premier League Grade 20s Round 2 Finals Series Review
ELIMINATION FINAL
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 4-0 ROCKDALE CITY SUNS, AT BELMORE SPORTS GROUND
And so it came to this. 90 minutes of football to decide who would advance to the grand final qualifier against Manly United and who would be exiting the competition.
As it were, Blacktown Spartans showed up and Rockdale City did not. A hat-trick from Reid Taylor and a late penalty from Corey Biczo saw Blacktown Spartans run riot in the Belmore sunshine.
Belmore Sports Ground looked in wonderful condititon on what was a beautiful day for football and as the crowd filtered through the turnstiles, Blacktown Spartans took an early lead.
Rockdale City turned over possession in midfield and Spartans were not hesitant in counter attacking with vigour. Harley Da Silva was slipped into space on the left hand side and his low cross through the area skipped Andre Carle at the front post but found Reid Taylor at the back. The Spartans attacker made no mistake, tucking the ball first time past Rockdale City’s goalkeeper, Aaron Liddell.
Any hopes that the early goal would open the game up were fanciful, as the game descended into a scrap, a myriad of 50/50 challenges and miscued passes characterising what was a poor first half.
Spartans had looked the marginally more dangerous in an aesthetic sense, whereas Rockdale City were too heavily relying on pieces of individual brilliance that weren’t forthcoming.
Thus, it was a surprise when from nowhere, Spartans Mitchell Davidson sprung the Rockdale City offside trap and found himself one on one with Liddell. He rounded the keeper but with the angle narrow, he unselfishly squared to Taylor who easily tucked in his second of the match.
It could so easily have been three just two mintues later when in alarmingly similar circumstances, Reyze Kelly found himself in acres of space in behind the Rockdale City defence. He beautifully lobbed Liddell, only to see his effort come back off the far post. It almost certainly would have put paid to Rockdale City’s hopes.
Rockdale City’s Sean Thomas was the first booking of the match, before his coach Justin Bucciarelli reacted, sacrificing Lachlan O’Connor and sending on Alan Kovacevic.
He had an instant impact, setting Alec Urosevski free down the inside left channel, only for the Rockdale City striker to shoot straight at Jesse Shewan.
Spartans nearly put the game to bed once more when in the 41′ minute, Carle met a Da Silva cross, opening up his body to take the shot first time, but he only managed to strike the near post.
Urosevski should have pulled one back in the 43′ minute and if he did, he’d have given his side some hope for the second half. A low ball from David Talevski found the prolific striker, but he couldn’t get the ball out of his feet to fire a shot away. He really should have taken the shot first time, in hindsight.
Rockdale City had a mountain to climb as the second half kicked off but they threatened straight away when Sam Cornish played in Urocevski, but he delayed his shot too long. He still managed to get it on target but Shewan palmed it into the side netting.
Chasing two goals, Rockdale City started the second half on the front foot with the substitute Kovacevic prominent up front. His presence had brought the dangerous Urosevski into play more often and Spartans were certainly sitting very deep. A brave header from Kieran Dalton prevented Kovacevic getting a free header at goal as Rockdale City turned up the pressure.
They couldn’t find a goal though and their coach decided to make a double change just before the hour mark, sending on James Villazon and Michael Cimino. The most notable impact from either was Cimino getting booked late on for a cynical shirt tug.
Neither had touched the ball before Spartans put the game to bed and it was that man again, Reid Taylor who completed his hat-trick.
A hopeful ball over the top found Taylor in plenty of space on the right hand side. Liddell misjudged and came racing off his line when he was at long odds to reach the ball first, allowing Taylor to cleverly lob the ball into the empty net from outside the area.
It was the goal that put paid to Rockdale City’s hopes who aside from a bright opening to the second half, had clearly been second best on the day.
Bucciarelli emptied his bench in the 69′ minute, replacing Tomislav Cirjak and Roberto Speranza with Matthew Dibiasi and Jordan Yarza, in what was Rockdale City’s last roll of the dice.
They had little impression on the game as Spartans dominated the final 20 minutes, even sending on substitute goalkeeper Daniel Sadaka for Shewan.
Spartans added a fourth from the spot very late on after Carle’s slalom run saw him round Liddell before being felled by Cornish. Corey Biczo stepped up and rolled the penalty into the bottom corner, the finish as easy as the victory for Mark Zecchin’s side, who will play Manly United in the Grand Final Qualifier next weekend.
Zecchin was pleased with the way his side bounced back from their defeat last weekend.
“We had to change our game plan and formation after what happened last week against Manly,” he said.
“The boys were very keen though and I thought we dominated the game.
“That was probably our best performance across two halves for the entire year.
On the hat-trick hero Reid Taylor, Zecchin said, “It was his first full game for us.
“He’s had an impressive year for the 18s and we’re always looking to bring the younger players up.
“He certainly didn’t let anybody down,” Zecchin added.
Rockdale City coach Justin Bucciarelli was understandably downcast at full time.
“Spartans showed up to play today,” he said.
“All credit to them, they performed magnificently.
“There are no excuses, we were beaten by a good side,” Bucciarelli said.
Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans 4 (Reid Taylor 11′, 31′, 61′, Corey Biczo (PEN) 88′)
Rockdale City Suns 0
Sunday 16th September, 2012
Belmore Sports Ground, Belmore
Referee: Leigh Pigram
Assistant Referees: Adam Coombes and Nicholas Backo
Blacktown Spartans: 40.Jesse Shewan (1. Daniel Sadaka 86′), 18.Mitchell Davidson (37.Daniel Rees 74′), 20.Reid Taylor (39.Cameron McKinnon 84′), 24.Mark Puskarcuk, 25.Corey Biczo, 26.George Yousif (C), 28.Andre Carle (32.Daniel Smith 89′), 30.Kieran Dalton, 33.Reyze Kelly (21.Justin Cootes 79′), 35.Harley Da Silva, 38.Tomislav Herceg
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale City Suns: 24.Aaron Liddell, 25.Sean Thomas, 26.Sam Cornish, 37.Keifer Dotti, 35.Idris Elhafianne, 44.Lachlan O’Connor (C) (29.Alan Kovacevic 35′), 36.Roberto Speranza (39.Matthew Dibiasi 69′), 33.David Talevski (32.James Villazon 59′), 28.Tomislav Cirjak (31.Jordan Yarza 69′), 42.Anthony Perri (30.Michael Cimino 59′), 45.Alec Urosevski
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: Sean Thomas 34′, Alec Urosevski 37′, Michael Cimino 82′, Sam Cornish 88′
Red Cards: Nil
QUALIFYING FINAL
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 4-2 MANLY UNITED (AET), AT BONNYRIGG SPORTS CENTRE
Premiers Sutherland Sharks became the first side into the Grade 20s Grand Final, but they were pushed all the way by a gallant Manly United.
The match finished 2-2 after 90 minutes, before Sutherland finally got the better of their rivals in the 30 minutes of extra time.
Nick Olsen opened the scoring for Sutherland just before the half hour mark, before Patrick Savor added the second a few minutes later.
Manly United found a goal in the opening minute of the second half though, as Sutherland came out of the blocks slowly for the second stanza.
Manly were on top for most of the second 45 minutes and found a late, late equalising, to send the match to extra time.
Nick Olsen added his second though, five minutes into the first period of extra time, before Emmanuel Shewen added the fourth in the final few minutes as Manly United left open spaces as they pushed for an equaliser.
Sutherland Sharks coach Rod Eames was pleased with the outcome.
“We were really excellent for the first half and really could have put the game away before the break,” he said.
“We lost concentration and shape in the second half and we were punished for it.
“Our boys showed their class and character with their extra time display though.
“Our job is now to prepare for the final where we need to replicate our first half performance for an entire 90 minutes,” Eames added.