Conference League Finals Series Preview
I say ?appropriately? because these two teams were minor premiers in their respective Conference Leagues during the standard home-and-away season, Camden finishing first in the Conference League South, whilst Balmain SC did likewise in the Conference League North.
Camden won 11 games and drew 2 of their sixteen regular season fixtures, finishing first on 35 points, two ahead of nearest rivals, Hakoah, to clinch the minor premiership.
Balmain SC won 13 and drew 2 of their sixteen fixtures, losing just the one match, finishing first on 41 points, six ahead of runners-up, Roosters FC.
The two teams are very evenly matched, with Balmain scoring 55 goals to Camden?s 54, whilst the Tigers have conceded 14 to Balmain?s 10.
The two teams met in the first week of the finals series, in the Major Semi Final at Lambert Park. In a tense affair, it was Camden that prevailed, winning 2-0, with a goal in each half, from Mutters and Morgan.
Camden?s young player-coach, Ben Green, has been satisfied with this year?s overall performance given it is the culmination of a three year building phase, and spoke about why he thinks the team have been successful.
?We have a real desire to work for each other, with a good mix of old heads and youth. Discipline has been good within the squad, and everyone knows they are on an equal platform, so things like attendance at training, and the effort, have always been good,? said Green.
There is a myth in football that the team that has a week off waiting for their grand final opponents can be disadvantaged. Camden eliminated that potential slip up by organizing a practice match, to try and keep the momentum going as per normal.
A flu epidemic that went through the team just after the major semi final win, has also well and truly passed, giving Green the headache of a full squad of players to choose from on the big day.
When quizzed about the victory over their grand final opponents in the major semi final two weeks ago, Green discarded the win as history?.
?We knew it was going to be a tough game, and started really well, but I don?t think it was a true reflection of the ?real? Balmain. We will be wary of them this time around,? said a cautious Green.
Balmain go into the final with almost a full clean bill of health, skipper Trieste the only one in doubt. Trieste aggravated an ankle injury in the preliminary final, and he is working against the clock to be right for the big match.
I quizzed Balmain SC coach, Alex Kaltenegger, on what qualities have helped get Balmain to the season decider ?.
?We have a very well driven, disciplined bunch of players, with no weak link, always committed to training, and always willing to execute the game plan,? said Kaltenegger.
Reflecting on the major semi final loss to Camden a fortnight ago, the Balmain coach added.
?We were caught napping in the major semi, but we have a special game plan ready to execute, and I?m very confident this time around,? warned Kaltenegger.
As a result of being the first team into the final, will the confidence gained from a major semi final win work in Camden?s advantage? Or will Balmain bounce back, a little wiser second time around, and square the ledger in the season decider?
Get yourself down to Mona Park on Sunday afternoon to witness what promises to be a cracker of a grand final!
Reserve Grade ? Grand Final
Mona Park, Auburn
Sunday, August 17th, 2008
Kick Off at 12-30pm
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC vs HAWKESBURY CITY
In the early match at Mona Park, the Reserve Grade Grand Final, kicking off at 12-30pm, two teams from the Northern Conference do battle as Gladesville Ryde Magic take on Hawkesbury City.
The two teams have met twice this season in the competition proper, and both games have been closely fought encounters. In the opening game of the season, way back in Round One on April 5, Gladesville came away from Benson Lane with a 1-0 win over the Hawks. The return fixture on June 8 at Magdala Park ended all square at 1-1.
Gladesville Ryde Magic remain slight favourites going into this match, having won the minor premiership, six points ahead of their opponents in this final, losing just the one match all season, and conceding a paltry 10 goals.
But don?t write off Hawkesbury, as a loss in the final round of the season proper vs Roosters, would?ve meant they finish fourth in the ladder. A win then saw them catapult into second position, and two weeks later, with two sudden death semi final wins under their belt, are now playing in the grand final.
Good luck to both teams in what promises to be a thriller of a match to end the season!
-By Frank Speranza
