Conference League Finals Series Preview
PRELIMINARY SEMI FINAL
1st Grade – Balmain SC vs Roosters FC
This weekend sees the Preliminary Semi Final of the Conference Leagues taking place, scheduled for 3pm Sunday afternoon, August 17, at Mona Park, between Northern Conference old foes, Balmain SC and Roosters FC.
For the victor, a spot in the grand final beckons, whilst the loser will be painfully eliminated in the penultimate game of 2008.
Balmain SC are hoping to bounce back from a Major Semi Final loss last week to Camden Tigers, and will have to be at their best to stop a Roosters FC side that have been gathering momentum, playing with plenty passion and adrenalin in their last two do-or-die matches.
The clubs have crossed paths twice this season in the competition proper, with the flambuoyant Roosters FC unable to crack the Balmain defensive line on either occasion.
In Round 8, Balmain took the Roosters, who were unbeaten at that stage, to the cleaners with a 4-0 drubbing at Birchgrove Oval. Balmain?s twin strikeforce did the damage that day, Buonavoglia and Merlino both scoring a goal in each half to finish with a brace apiece.
The return match came in Round 17, and involved a late venue switch to Knight Park due to a waterlogged Mona Park. This time the match finished scoreless, giving Balmain the point they needed to clinch the minor premiership.
Roosters FC will be relying on their strong defensive backline to continue to do the job they have been doing well of late. Karaman and Semerci, specifically, have been fierce in the tackle, and always seem to be able to anticipate any passes coming through to the strikers they are marking.
But Balmain?s strikers, Buonavoglia and Merlino, are not just ordinary strikers. Merlino plays the big target man very well, holding the ball up for support players to run onto, as well as getting on the end of many attacking moves. Buonavoglia has been scoring goals for fun at every level of the game, and finished this season as top marksman in the competition with 19 goals?..he will no doubt be looking to add to his total on Sunday.
Roosters little maestro Topal has had a wonderful season, and should be back to full fitness this week after a bout of the flu last week. He has the ability to turn possession into goals, and has a knack of being in the right place at the right time to grab a goal himself. No doubt speedy striker Sevgin will be looking to be the beneficiary of Topal?s creativity, but he will have the experienced Balmain defenders to get past, namely Pettenon and Trieste.
Roosters FC will be hoping that playing on their home ground in front of their supporters will push them to victory, whilst Balmain will be hoping to continue their dominance this season over their opponents ? either way, it promises to be a classic match.
Reserve Grade ? Preliminary Semi Final
In the early match, the Reserve Grade preliminary semi final, kicking off at 12-30pm, Southern Conference minor premiers, Lilli Pilli, take on Northern Conference runners-up, Hawkesbury City.
The prize for the winner is a spot in the grand final the following week against Gladesville Ryde Magic.
-By Frank Speranza
