Division One Finals Series Review and Preliminary Final Preview

Major Semi Final ? 1^st Grade
SPIRIT FC 4 INTER LIONS 0
In the eagerly awaited clash between the competition?s heavyweights, Spirit FC prevailed over Inter Lions with a 4-0 victory at Christie Park, all the goals coming in the final 23 minutes of play.
After a fairly even and scoreless first period, a scramble on the goal line on 67 minutes gave Simpson the chance to open the scoring for Spirit, and he duly obliged to break the deadlock.
When Peatey made it two for Spirit just four minutes later, the Inter players seemed to drop their heads, and Paradisis and De Kelly both scored late on to give the scoreline a lop sided look.
The Premiers now will have the weekend off, and head straight into the grand final, Sunday week at Melita Stadium, where they will come up against the winner of this Sunday?s preliminary final (see below).
Minor Semi Final ? 1^st Grade
DULWICH HILL 4 STANMORE HAWKS 1
Dulwich Hill bounced back from their semi final loss against Inter Lions in the first week of the finals, to comprehensively beat Stanmore Hawks 4-1 at Hajduk Stadium on Thursday evening.
Biviano was back into the swing of things for Dully with a brace of goals, whilst Paradisis and Celini were the other scorers for the winners.
Predictably, the league?s equal top sharpshooter, Chavez, grabbed the consolation goal for Stanmore as their season came to an abrupt end.
1^st Grade Preliminary Final
Sunday, September 14
Hajduk Stadium – Edensor Road, St Johns Park
INTER LIONS vs DULWICH HILL (kick off at 3-00pm)
Inter Lions have enough quality and determination in their squad to regroup, lick their wounds from Thursday?s loss, and come out all guns blazing on Sunday, where their opponents in the Preliminary Final will be, once again, Dulwich Hill.
Inter Lions and Dulwich Hill must be getting sick of the sight of each other by now, with Sunday?s game at Hajduk Stadium being the fourth time they have met this season.
Inter lead the head-to-head by two victories to one, but each game has been a very tight and tense affair, and given both teams are backing up with their second semi final in four days, don?t expect anything different this time around.
DIVISION ONE ? Under 20s
Major Semi Final ? U/20s
Spirit FC 6 Inter Lions 1
The U/20s Major Semi Final was played between the same clubs as in 1^st Grade, with almost the same result, a thumping win for Spirit FC against Inter Lions by six goals to one.
The game was in Spirit FC’s favour as they took a 2-0 lead into the break. 
The floodgates continued to open in the second half as Spirit FC bombarded the Inter defence.
The goalscorers for Spirit were Orgad, Griffin, Bradley, Lee (penalty), Kury (penalty) and Browne, whilst Puglisi replied for Inter.
Minor Semi Final ? U/20s
Blacktown Spartans 0, Schofield Scorpions 1
The young Scorpions backed up after their penalty shootout victory last weekend over Sydney Wanderers to knock over Blacktown Spartans by the only goal of the game.
The scorer for the Scorpions was Simone in the 35^th minute in what was an extremely tight encounter, and try as they did, the Spartans just could not peg back the deficit.
U/20s Preliminary Final
Sunday, September 14
Hajduk Stadium – Edensor Road, St Johns Park
Inter Lions vs Schofield Scorpions (kick off at 1-00pm)
Both teams in this week?s Preliminary Final in the U/20s will find the going tough as they look to back up with their second big match within four days.
Despite finishing the season below their opponents, Schofield Scorpions have the wood on Inter Lions, beating them 1-0 in the first round at CSI Ground, and backing that up with a 5-0 hammering in the return at Concord Oval in early August.
Will the Scorpions continue to sting this week, or will the young Lions roar back into action with revenge on their mind? All will be revealed on Sunday afternoon at Hajduk Stadium.
-By Frank Speranza