No goals at Seymour as Sharks and Tigers settle for point
In as early as the 5? minute, Michael Katz played in Matthew Hall who beat his marker before sending a rasping shot that was well saved by former Sharks shot-stopper Phillip Zabaks.
Panni Nikas picked out Hall via a free-kick in the 14? minute that was side-footed wide of the mark. The home-side?s attacking intentions were clear from the outset as the Tigers were reduced to hitting on the break when playing the ball long for the likes of Robert Younis, Carlo Musumeci and Franco Parisi to get on to, without much success in the opening exchanges.
Hall, making a rare start was enjoying a terrific run of form playing in the Jimmy Bakis role on the right by using his pace and sent over several telling crosses that Brad Boardman was unlucky not to latch on to with his height as the Sharks continued to press the Tigers back.
Nick Stavroulakis weaved some magic on the left-flank, leaving a trail of defenders in his wake, to put Boardman through the hole but his shot was deflected and extremely well held by Zabaks.
Chris Price then sent over a looping cross to the far post for Michael Katz, though the wing-back sent his effort over from a good position.
With the home-side making all the running, the Tigers managed a brief look-in on 25? minutes via Parisi. The Tigers playmaker tried his luck from distance, though failed to trouble Nathan Denham in the Sharks goal.
Nikas? corner shortly after was powerfully headed toward goal by Neil Jablonski, denied only by a reaction save by Zabaks ? the shot-stopper proving his worth as one of the best goalkeepers in the competition.
Another former Sharks player Shane Lyons fired in a free-kick for the Tigers. Younis dummied the attempt but Denham got his body behind the ball in what was only the second attempt by the Tigers.
Ben Spruce was next to send over a cross from the Sharks left and again Boardman was first with the head but he couldn?t gain enough purchase on the ball to send it past Zabaks who saved well at full stretch down his right.
Sutherland?s Denham was called into action in the final stages of the half when Parisi played in Younis and the goalkeeper made a point blank save to send the ball over the crossbar.
The second period started in much the same vein with Hall again going close on 50? minutes, but his effort failed to hit the target.
The Tigers hit on the counter-attack as Parisi played Bishara Stephan towards goal. Stephan turned a couple of defenders and tried his luck from distance, though a weakly struck shot posed no problems as again the Sharks went back up-field and almost opened the scoring with a Michael Katz long-range attempt that had Zabaks performing to his best once more.
Zabaks again kept his side in the match when saving a Nikas free-kick and followed it up with a very brave save at the feet of Spruce as the deadlock prevailed against the odds as Sutherland totally dominated the match.
Sydney Tigers did have another chance to snatch the opener as Younis was presented a half-chance at the other end, though Denham again was well composed to make a fine save.
Hall was involved again moments later as he played the ball across field to Chris Price who sent over a cross that Zabaks misjudged. The loose ball fell into the path of Hall who hit a fierce curling effort inches wide of the mark.
Boardman couldn?t connect sweetly with a Price cross in the 74? minute and saw the ball slide across goal just after Jason Trifiro had a free-kick saved for the visitors.
Tigers? goalkeeper Zabaks made another top-class save denying Nikas once more with a fine out-stretched save, before Zabaks denied the same player again on 85? minutes following some good build-up play by Price and Hall.
In stoppage time, Katz cut the ball back for Jablonski but still the Tigers net led a charmed life as some desperate defending ensured a share of the spoils following the referee?s final whistle.
Sydney Tigers? coach Luke McGuire was by far the happier coach at the conclusion of the match:
?That?s the first time we?ve had some luck this season.
?We haven?t won since Round 11 and with maybe a little more luck in front of goal we would be in a better position.
?Sutherland are by far the fittest team in this league and they really made us work hard tonight but we?ll take the point and hopefully build from here.?
Sharks coach Robbie Stanton was in a more reflective mood:
?It was a very high work rate performance from us tonight and none of the boys have anything left in the tank.
?We?ve dominated the match but got little reward for it but that?s football and I?m proud of the way the players took the game to the Tigers because we have had to play tough matches all season long to be where we are in the league and we still have a few more to go so we?ll just concentrate on the next game.?
Sutherland Sharks were triumphant in the Grade-20 match by two goals to nil.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 0
Sydney Tigers 0
Saturday, 11th of July, 2009
Seymour Shaw Park
Referee: Andrew Best
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields and Paul Faithful
Fourth Official: Scott Robertson
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 4.Michael Robinson, 6.Chris Price, 9.Brad Boardman, 10.Matthew Hall, 11.Ben Spruce, 12.Neil Jablonski, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 15.Michael Katz, 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes Not Used: 8.Nathan Ralph, 13.Andrew Smith, 17.Jordan Nikolovski, 18.Blake Powell, 22.Yanni Fragogiannis
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney Tigers: 99.Phillip Zabaks; 2.Mark Byrnes, 3.John Kelso, 6.Shane Lyons, 9.Robert Younis, 10.Franco Parisi, 11.Carlo Musumeci, 15.Danial Cummins, 16.Michael Hawrysuik, 18.Bishara Stephan (8.Marino Musumeci 80?), 24.Jason Trifiro
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Giancarlo Papaianni, 7.Stephen Kayes, 17.Joseph Cantisana, 21.Sebastian Petralito
Yellow Cards: Byrnes 68?
Red Cads: Nil
-By Micky Brock
