Semi-Final TigerTurf Cup Matches set as Blockbuster looms at Seymour Shaw this Sunday
With officials from the respective clubs remaining as well as Football NSW officials on hand to witness the draw, two classic encounters have been set down with the eventual winners grabbing a spot into the 2009 TigerTurf Cup Final.
Semi-Final number one has pitted Manly United taking on the Blacktown City Demons with kick-off set for 12pm.
Phil Moss? men from the Northern Beaches have had a decent run into the TigerTurf Cup Semi-Finals.
In round 3 they defeated Association based side Pacific Hills/Dural 3-0, round 4 saw them dispose of Super League side Spirit FC 1-0 while in the Quarter-Finals they knocked out a strong Bonnyrigg White Eagles outfit 3-0.
Moss was up-beat about facing Blacktown City but expressed his push for some silverware in the Manly United trophy cabinet.
?It?s a great Semi-Final draw for two teams desperate to do well in the Cup and fighting to find form in the league,? Manly United coach Phil Moss said.
?I?ve a lot of respect for Kenny (Schembri) and the way he goes about his coaching and he has a lot of experience so it?s going to be a tough semi-final. We have Wollongong and Bonnyrigg in the league leading into the Cup semi-final so it?s a busy schedule for us.
?It?s that time of the year where every game is important and we?ll be doing everything possible to qualify for our second Cup final in three years ? the memory of losing the 2007 final to Wollongong still hurts so a shot at redemption would be nice.?
The likes of strikers Gosue Same and Robbie Cattanach, skipper Joey Schirripa and the tough defence duo of Spencer Prior and Matthew Bingley along with the experienced Brad Swancott in goals will certainly see Manly United as a tough nut to crack.
Blacktown coach Ken Schembri understands that this could be the only possible silverware the club may be chasing so he will certainly push his young chargers to the limit.
?This will be an important game for the club and I know the players themselves will lift as a TigerTurf Grand-Final spot is up for grabs.
?This has been set as a must win game for us and it is high on our priority list at the club so I am sure the players will rise to the occasion.
?I still believe that Manly are one of the best side?s in the TeleChoice Premier League. They have a great attack and I know our defence will need to be at their best to keep them quiet. They have a good coach and are well drilled across the park so it will be a tough match but it will be entertaining.?
Blacktown defeated State League One side Dulwich Hill 2-1 in their round 3 clash before hammering Super League side Granville Rage 7-3 and finally disposing of Super League cellar dwellers Fraser Park in the Quarter-Finals 5-0.
?We?ve had a really good showing in the Cup and have produced some great results so we are going all out to get to the final.?
The likes of midfield machine Joel Chianese, attacking stars Matt Lewis and Chris Bedzo, skipper Luke Casserly and defensive hard-man Paul Karbon will look towards steering their side towards a Grand-Final finish in the TigerTurf Cup.
While finally the second and final TigerTurf Cup Semi-Final will see the Sutherland Sharks tackle Penrith Nepean United at 2.30pm.
Sutherland Sharks will be buoyed by the fact that they will be using their home ground as the venue for this clash.
Coach Robbie Stanton understands the seriousness of the TigerTurf Cup and has vowed that the Shire club will be out to grab a spot in the Final in front of their faithful.
?I am encouraging the locals to come out and support the day as it will be a fantastic event at Seymour Shaw.
?To be honest in regards to the draw I didn?t care who we got. We played the likes of Bankstown and Marconi prior to the Semi-Finals so we were happy getting anyone.
?I know Penrith Nepean United will push us till the end and it will be a tough battle on the day.
?In regards to the match, I may opt to use a couple of younger players who I have tested out during the Cup and have done extremely well but that all depends on how we go this weekend.
?At the end of the day it is a Semi-Final and you want to win it as you are one win away from the Final so I am sure that this will be enough motivation for the players to kick on against Penrith Nepean United.?
Stanton was of course involved with Penrith Nepean United last season as he coached their Under 20s side before making the move to the Sharks as their first team coach.
The Sharks posted a 2-1 victory against Sydney University in round 3, before defeating Marconi 4-1 in round 4 then ending the 2008 TigerTurf Cup Champions Bankstown City Lions? run 2-1in the Quarter-Finals.
Midfield youngster Panny Nikas has had an outstanding TigerTurf Cup where he has notched up 7 goals in three matches, the likes of skipper George Souris, the tough tackling midfield duo of Nick Stavroulakis and Neil Jablonski, the consistency of full-backs Ben Spruce and Mike Katz and the presence of striker Brad Boardman up-front will definitely spur the Sharks on.
Their opponents Penrith Nepean United have had an up and down season but have had some decent results of late with new player/manager in charge Ante Juric running the show.
The former Australian youth International stated to Football NSW that they were facing possibly the best team out of the four clubs remaining in the Cup.
?It?s no secret that Sutherland are probably one of the strongest sides left in the TigerTurf Cup but in saying that we will be up for it.
?It is something we know we have a chance to win as anything can happen in a game of football but now that we are out of the TeleChoice Premier League Championship series we will be concentrating for that elusive victory.
?We have hit a bit of momentum of late and know that the players themselves will be taking this very seriously.?
Penrith Nepean United have gone through a tough TigerTurf Cup schedule having defeated State League Two side Roosters FC 5-3 after extra time before defeating Super League side Rockdale City Suns in a penalty shoot-out before defeating Wollongong Community FC 2-1 after extra time.
The likes of Ben Gough, Michael Dowling, consistent defender Mark Bariamis, both Evangelos and Dimitrios Petratos and keeper Matthew Nash will be out to spoil the Sharks party at their home ground.
All Semi-Finalists receive $3,000 for reaching it this far but all four teams will have their eyes firmly on the prize as $16,000 and the prestigious Cup will be up for grabs in the team that takes out the 2009 TigerTurf Cup while the runner up receives $6,000.
The 2009 TigerTurf Cup Final will be played on Saturday August 15th on the artificial turf at Seymour Shaw in Miranda.
TigerTurf Cup Semi-Finals
12pm – Manly United v Blacktown City Demons – Seymour Shaw Park
2.30pm – Sutherland Sharks v Penrith Nepean United – Seymour Shaw Park
-By Mark Stavroulakis
