Division One Finals Series Preview
Firstly, Spirit FC must be congratulated for being minor premiers in both first grade and U/20s, meaning both teams have a rest this weekend, and will await the respective winners in each grade of Sunday?s Preliminary Semi Finals.
In first grade, old foes Inter Lions and Dulwich Hill do battle at Concord Oval on Sunday afternoon, August 31, the match kicking off at 2-00pm.
Inter Lions finished the season in second spot, on 43 points, three points ahead of Dulwich Hill, who came third on 40 points.
During the competition proper, both teams finished with a win apiece in the head-to-head battle.
In a previously washed out encounter, played at Melita Stadium on a Thursday evening on June 12, Dulwich Hill stunned Inter Lions with a 2-0 victory. Rubbing salt into the wounds that evening were ex-Inter players Paradisis and Biviano, who both managed to get on the scoresheet to give Dully a valuable victory.
The return match came merely three-and-a-half weeks later, and Inter Lions exacted revenge on Dulwich Hill with a 2-1 win at Concord Oval.
Wright and Paras grabbed the goals for Inter that day, whilst it was Paradisis again who scored for Dully.
This promises to be a real battle ? will Wright weave his magic for Inter Lions, or will Paradisis score for the third game running this season against his former club? Get out to Concord Oval to find out the answers to these questions.
Kicking off at 3-00pm on Sunday afternoon, August 31, at Hajduk Stadium, is the duel between Stanmore Hawks and Sydney Wanderers.
Stanmore finished the season in fourth position on the ladder on 36 points, one ahead of fifth placed Wanderers, and they will meet in an elimination decider, the loser packing up their boots for 2008.
The two head-to-head matches during this competition were close encounters, both ending in one-goal away victories.
Back on April 5th at Hajduk Stadium, Stanmore Hawks came away with a 1-0 triumph, courtesy of a 28th minute goal by James.
The return clash was at Arlington Oval on June 22, and Sydney Wanderers got retribution with a 2-1 win. Mallia and Page were the goalscorers for the Wanderers that day, with Theodosiou grabbing a late reply for the Hawks.
Which team will prevail on Sunday? Will the Wanderers be able to continue their fantastic late season run which enabled them to snag a finals spot, or will the league?s top marksman, Chavez, catapult Stanmore into the next round of the finals? The answers will be provided come Sunday evening at Hajduk Stadium, so make sure you don?t miss the action.
DIVISION ONE
Preliminary Semi Final
Concord Oval
Sunday, August 31
First Grade ? INTER LIONS vs DULWICH HILL (2-00pm kick off)
U/20s ? Blacktown Spartans vs Inter Lions (11-30am kick off)
Elimination Final
Hajduk Stadium
Sunday, August 31
First Grade ? STANMORE HAWKS vs SYDNEY WANDERERS (3-00pm kick off)
U/20s ? Sydney Wanderers vs Schofield Scorpions (12-30pm kick off)
DIVISION ONE ? Golden Boot 2008
Congratulations to the Division One leading marksmen for 2008 ? joint winners of the golden boot, Leonardo Papanicolaou of Spirit FC, and Juan Chavez of Stanmore Hawks.
Both strikers have contrasting styles – Papanicolaou is a very strong, robust and direct striker, whilst Chavez is sharp around the box, with great technical ability.
But both styles have proven effective this season, causing quite a few headaches to many Division One defences, and no doubt allowed both players to contribute greatly towards their respective teams? successful results this season.
Papanicolaou has a rest this weekend courtesy of his team, Spirit FC, winning the minor premiership, and going directly into next weekend?s grand final qualifier.
Chavez, on the other hand, will be hoping to continue his form this Sunday, when his team come up against Sydney Wanderers in the elimination semi final at Hajduk Stadium, kicking off at 3-00pm.
Third and fourth in the goalscoring stakes came the Dulwich Hill duo, Steve Biviano, who grabbed 16 goals, and young Nikolas Paradisis, who bagged 15 goals ? both no doubt contributing a major part towards Dulwich Hill?s impressive third place in the competition.
Here?s a list of the leading marksman in Division One for 2008 ;
2008 TOP GOALSCORERS
20 PAPANICOLAOU (Spirit FC)
CHAVEZ (Stanmore Hawks)
16 BIVIANO (Dulwich Hill)
15 PARADISIS (Dulwich Hill)
14 SOANE (Sydney Wanderers)
MCPHERSON (Blacktown Spartans)
SIMPSON (Spirit FC)
9 DELANEY (Blacktown Spartans)
8 LLOYD (Mounties FC)
KOSTANIC (Hurstville ZSC)
CUNNINGHAM (Spirit FC)
DE KELLY (Spirit FC)
FARAC (Schofield Scorpions)
-By Frank Speranza
