Premier Youth League Grand Final Review
Grand Finals
The early morning fog lifted just in time to reveal that Gabbie Stadium was in perfect condition for the biggest day of the season and what a day it turned out to be.
Four weeks ago the best five teams in each age group began a short journey to discover which of them would be crowned Champions for the 2008 season. They each experienced their share of thrills and spills, joys and disappointments and three teams from each age group had fallen by the wayside.
So, it all came down to this ? the battle of the best two teams from the finals series for the highly respected prize awarded to the Grand Final winners.
The standard of play was excellent throughout the day, as expected of teams playing at the top level of the game. That was supported by the cheers, the oooohs and aaaahs and the spontaneous applause from the spectator areas in every match.
Football NSW Chief Executive Officer Michael Quarmby was on hand to officiate at the first two presentations and then Football NSW director George Jackson officiated at the later presentations.
A special match day programme was produced and distributed free of charge. It featured the squad lists, the competition table, the finals series results so far and match previews to further enhance the enjoyment of the day.
Competition Secretary Luke Cevolani said afterwards, ?I was delighted with the day. It was absolutely fantastic. The quality of play was superb and the atmosphere was electric all day.?
Grade 13 Marconi Stallions v Sutherland Sharks
Marconi Stallions had not lost in the eighteen games leading up to the finals series and it is quite remarkable that they did not concede a single goal in the last thirteen of those. They completed the competition in second place and they promptly defeated Blacktown City Demons 3-2 in the Preliminary Semi Final. They went on to beat the Sharks 2-0 in the Major Semi Final.
Sutherland Sharks were the Premiers, finishing one point ahead of the Stallions on the final competition table for the season. They had remained unbeaten in the twelve games immediately before the Finals series but that ended when they met the Stallions in the Major Semi Final. They recovered from that to defeat Manly United 3-0 in the Preliminary Final last week.
In head-to-head action during the competition their first meeting was a scoreless draw and then the Stallions won the second clash 3-0.
This was the classic confrontation of the two best teams in this age group and it was clear from the outset that neither team was prepared to conceded the other a single centimetre.
The defences held firm through a mixture of good organisation and skill and there was plenty of industry and flair as well as defensive commitment from the midfielders. The strikers were giving their all but they found the going tough.
Play flowed from end to end and it really was anybody?s guess as to which of the teams would claim the spoils.
Despite the very best efforts of both teams, the scoreboard read 0-0 at the interval and that had every spectator clinging to the edge of their seats in anticipation of a second half breakthrough.
From the resumption it was evident that the teams had stepped up a gear in an effort to gain an advantage and that served to intensify the drama of the occasion.
Several very near misses at both ends of the ground and excellent displays of goalkeeping prowess from both custodians conspired to keep the game goal-less at the final whistle and so it was necessary to go to extra time.
Unbelievably, both teams were able to find another gear to take the game to yet another level after the superb exhibition they had provided during normal time.
The chances came thick and fast. First Marconi, then Sutherland, then the Stallions again, then the Sharks again, but the scoreboard attendant had to be patient as he waited for the goal that would make all the difference.
It finally came four minutes into the second period of extra time through a quality strike from Cameron Salevski that gave the Sharks a foot in the door.
The Stallions recovered from the shock very quickly and threw everything they had at the Sutherland defence but it was not quite enough and so the Sharks were able to claim the double crown ? Premiers and Champions.
It is certain that this match will live long in the memories of all who were fortunate enough to watch it.
Grade 14 Sutherland Sharks v Blacktown City Demons
Sutherland Sharks were the Premiers for 2008 after they won the competition on goal difference. They came into the finals series on the back of three consecutive wins in which they scored a total of seventeen goals and conceded none. They accepted the most direct route to the Grand Final when they defeated Marconi Stallions 3-0 in the Major Semi Final.
Blacktown City Demons were the competition Runners-up. They were unbeaten in the fourteen games leading up to the finals and it is worth mentioning that they kept a clean sheet in thirteen of those games. The Demons lost the Preliminary Semi Final 3-0 to Marconi and they bounced back to beat West Sydney Berries in a Minor Semi Final penalty shootout before they downed the Stallions 3-0 in the Preliminary Final .
The honours were shared in the head-to-head matches this season with the Sharks taking the first round game 4-0 and the Demons responded with a 1-0 result in the second round.
As expected of the competition?s two best performed teams, the action was relentless from the very first whistle and everyone knew this match would be something special.
The quality of play throughout the first half was exceptional as the Sharks and the Demons displayed their full array of skills, tactical understanding and commitment.
Unfortunately, the enterprise shown by both teams was unrewarded at the break with some very close shaves and some wonderful goalkeeping being the order of the day.
Sutherland found yet another level of play early in the second half and that put Blacktown on the back foot, a situation they had rarely experienced and they found it difficult to recover their momentum.
Stevan Ilic gave the Sharks the lead in the 47th minute and that seemed to inspire them even further as they showed a commitment that virtually locked their opponents out of the match.
The Demons were not about to lie down though and they gave their all in their attempts to find an equaliser but they were continually frustrated by the well oiled Sharks defensive machine.
Two minutes from the final whistle the Sharks made sure of the result when that lad Ilic bobbed up with a second goal that broke the hearts of the Blacktown boys.
Sutherland have finished the season with the dual crowns of Premiers and Champions.
Grade 15 Wollongong FC v Marconi Stallions
The Wolves were crowned Premiers when they were first past the post by a single point and they arrived at the finals on the back of an eight game winning streak. They extended that when they were 1-0 winners over Blacktown City Demons in the Major Semi Final and that gave them direct passage to the Grand Final.
The Stallions completed the competition in fifth place and they produced a win and a draw from the three games leading into the finals. They defeated Sydney Olympic 5-3 in an Elimination Semi Final penalty shootout and then they downed APIA Leichhardt Tigers 2-1 in the Minor Semi Final before they were 2-0 winners over Blacktown City Demons in last week?s Preliminary Final.
Wollongong had taken all the head-to-head points with a 4-0 win and then a 2-1 result.
As Premiers, Wollongong started this match as red-hot favourites against a Marconi team that had reached this game the hard way with every one of their previous three games in the finals series being a do-or-die affair.
However, from the outset it was apparent that the Stallions were not there to make up the numbers as they really took the game to the Wolves and forced the Premiers to back-pedal for long periods.
Marconi drew first blood when Daniel Petkovski found the net as early as the 8th minute and that goal seemed to further boost his team?s already high level of confidence.
Wollongong knew that they had to pull out all stops at that stage if they were going to drag themselves back into the contest and they set about their work with the skill and commitment that is expected at this level of the game.
Marconi fully realised that they had to raise their own standards and they did so with extreme ease, as if to show that they feared no-one, at any time, for any reason.
The game became a genuine thriller as each of the teams launched their attacks only to see them end with either very, very near misses or excellent saves from the opposing goalkeeper, both of whom put in outstanding displays of their craft.
The second half produced more of the same with the end-to-end action flowing at a frantic pace with all the thrills and spills that could come from a match of this quality.
Marconi probably had a slight edge on Wollongong because they looked hungrier and marginally sharper but that can take nothing away from the Wolves as they gave everything they had to find an equaliser.
Their hopes were finally dashed three minutes from full-time when Petkovski buried his second goal of the game to seal the result for the Stallions.
So Marconi had made their own fairy tale come true as they proudly took possession of the Champions plaque while Wollongong?s good season was rewarded with the Premiers plaque.
Grade 16 Marconi Stallions v Blacktown City Demons
Marconi were placed third on the last competition table for the season and they had not lost any of the last seven games before the finals. They then beat APIA Leichhardt Tigers 3-0 in the Preliminary Semi Final and that was followed by a 3-0 victory over Premiers Manly United in the Major Semi Final, a result that gave the Stallions the first place in the Grand Final.
Blacktown City Demons were fourth at the end of the home-and-away series and they were unbeaten in the three games immediately before the finals. They started this series well with a 4-1 result in the Elimination Semi Final over Sydney United before they defeated APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4-3 in the Minor Semi Final. They then went on to win the Preliminary Final in a penalty shootout with Manly United.
In head-to-head action the honour were shared with the Demons winning the first game 1-0 and then the Stallions took out the second one 2-0.
On a day of great matches, this one really stood out for the enthusiasm, skill and determination shown by both teams as well as the edge of the seat thrills they provided for the spectators.
Neither Marconi nor Blacktown took a backward step from the first whistle to the last as the action moved smoothly from one end of the ground to the other, providing the goalkeepers with plenty to do.
Blacktown always appeared to have a slight edge with their short passing, high energy style of play allowing them to keep possession of the ball for long periods.
However, Marconi?s more direct approach showed plenty of promise and they were well in the game at all stages.
The Demons scored first through Bernie Ibini and they were able to take that lead through to the interval despite some very close calls that could have provided Marconi with an equaliser.
The second half saw both teams step up the pace without damaging the standard they had shown during the action packed first stanza.
Marconi?s perseverance was rewarded when they were awarded a penalty for a foul which saw defender Sam Feaver sent for an early shower and it was calmly converted by Michael Pirrello to put the game on an even sharper razor?s edge.
While there were several chances at both ends, there was no addition to the scoreboard before the final whistle and so the game moved into extra time.
There were plenty of heart-stopping penalty area skirmishes to be seen during both halves of this match extension but no goals came from them and so it was off to the penalty spot to find the winner.
Blacktown goalkeeper Matt Ryan had scored from penalties in each of the last two finals series matches and he had saved his team in last week?s Preliminary Final. With the Demons staring defeat in the face at 3-4, Ryan stepped up to take Blacktown?s fifth spot kick and he found the mark again. He then faced Marconi?s fifth kick and he pulled off a spectacular save to keep the score at 4-4. Both teams converted their next kicks and while the Demons converted their seventh kick, Ryan was able to pull off a match winning save from Marconi?s final kick.
Manly United, who bowed out of the finals last week, were the Premiers and Blacktown City Demons claimed the Championship plaque, their third in as many seasons.
Grade 18 Blacktown City Demons v A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers
The Demons were the Premiers after they won the competition by a margin of seven points and they arrived at the finals on the back of a five game winning streak. That run of success continued when they were 1-0 winners over Leichhardt in the Major Semi Final and they earned the direct route to the Grand Final.
The Tigers were placed third on the ladder and they came into the finals with a win and two draws to show for their last five competition games. They had won the Preliminary Semi Final with a 3-1 result over Penrith Nepean United before losing the Major Semi Final to the Demons. They bounced back from that to produce a 7-1 win over Penrith in the Preliminary Final.
The teams had split the head-to-head points with Blacktown winning the first clash 3-0 and the Leichhardt won the second one 2-1.
While Blacktown City came into this game as the favourites, Leichhardt had shown all season and in the finals that they were a force to be reckoned with.
The floodlights were needed and the rain tumbled down but nothing could dim or dampen the intensity of the play displayed by both teams.
The match was chock-a-block full of passion and unrelenting commitment as the teams went at each other as if their very lives depended on the outcome.
As expected, both goalkeepers were kept very busy and they both needed to make first class saves to keep their teams in the game. There were plenty of near misses as both teams showed that they were ready, willing and able to shoot on sight of the target.
Just when the first half was drawing to a close at 0-0 Leichhardt gained the upper hand when the referee awarded a penalty against Blacktown for what appeared to be a mere body clash between two players who were looking skyward at the approaching ball at the time. Kevin Oliveira stepped up to confidently convert the spot kick, giving his team a 1-0 lead as they went to the dressing rooms.
The Demons started the second half showing even greater determination as they sought a way to get back into the game by pushing players forward but the Tigers simply absorbed the pressure and relied on their frequently productive counter attacking style.
In the 58th minute Thomas Taylor took full advantage of the opportunity presented to him as he slammed the ball into the back of the net to give the Tigers a two goal lead.
Blacktown redoubled their efforts in a desperate attempt to recover the lost ground but, try as they might, the challenge proved to be too great for them.
The Demons were presented with the Premiership plaque and the Tigers gratefully received the Championship plaque.
-By Barry Davis
