TigerTurf Cup Final 2009 Preview
Contrary to last season?s edition, Football NSW?s answer to England?s FA Cup will feature two Premier League sides in the Final ? both sides still in the hunt for the TeleChoice Premier League Premiership.
Sutherland Sharks enter the Final with home ground advantage as Robbie Stanton?s men pose a strong case for victory following their recent return to form.
Stanton possesses one of the smallest player rosters amongst the TeleChoice Premier League sides and has been made to tinker with his squad somewhat this season. Stanton will need to tinker a little more this weekend as playmaker, and goalscorer, Panni Nikas will be watching from the grand-stands due to suspension.
The return to form of Brad Boardman ? whom has re-found his affinity with scoring goals after a mid-season slump ? along with the fine work of Michael Katz and Jim Bakis out on the flanks, have complimented superbly the running and creativity of Nick Stavroulakis and Neil Jablonski in the middle of the park.
In the defensive line, veteran George Souris continues to amaze with his consistent performances week-in week-out; the Sharks skipper has certainly made his experience count this season with his leadership qualities across the park.
Robbie Stanton is looking forward to the challenge on Sunday, and is well aware of the dangers posed by Manly United FC:
?Initially we were concentrating on the league but the TigerTurf Cup started to gain attention as the rounds went by. We were dealt with a pretty tough draw against the likes of Marconi and Bankstown City but we plugged along and to the players credit got to the final stage.
?We are certainly going for broke and I know my players will give it everything in taking the Cup out.
?Manly is a pretty confident team and I know they will be tough to beat today. For the past couple of seasons they?ve been part of the Finals Series so they?ve built up experience in big matches such as this.
?They have a lot of experience in the team with the likes of Spencer Prior, Matthew Bingley, Scott Thomas and Brad Swancott pushing the young boys through.
?They are a team that do not concede many and defend well but can score goals so coming up against them we know we need to be at our best.
Manly United FC suffered a slight hiccup in their Round 22 TeleChoice Premier League encounter against Sydney United. Following a difficult campaign this season ? where the side has been plagued with a long list of injuries ? Phil Moss? men returned to winning ways with their most impressive performance arriving at Jensen Park in Round 21 (2-0 defeat of Bankstown City). Normally impossible to beat at home, Manly United FC coughed up a 3-2 loss against the newly crowned Premiers Sydney United in the final Round of the season, somewhat bringing the side to attention insight of the Cup Final and finals series.
Phil Moss will again be looking at striker Giosue Sama to carry much of the weight in the attacking third, with the likes of Craig Midgley returning to action in recent weeks. Detrimental to the side?s chances of success in both the Cup Final and finals series will be the loss of striker Robbie Cattanach. The striker broke his leg in an unfortunate training collision, bringing to a premature end the former Football NSW gold medal winner?s season.
Captain Joey Schirripa will prove vital with his menacing runs down the touch-line and delivery of a set-piece one of the side?s strong points, meanwhile experienced duo Spencer Prior and Matthew Bingley will be kept busy with the likes of Brad Boardman to contend with.
Phil Moss is focused on his side making right of their Cup Final loss against Wollongong Wolves two seasons ago:
?This Final is a chance for us to show we are a smarter and wiser football side than we were two years ago. We found a way to lose that final against the Wollongong Wolves in 2006 and it?s taken us two years to get another opportunity to win something.
?We will be focused on the process this time not the silverware and I know the players are really looking forward to the challenge against Sutherland.
?There is a real belief in our squad this year that I think has been generated by our senior players.
?The injury to Robbie Cattanach (broken leg) a couple of weeks ago was gut-wrenching for him and the boys ? especially happening at this time of the year ? so I know that will provide a little extra motivation for us.
?Sutherland always provide a tough challenge for whomever they play and I believe there are some real similarities between the two squads ? not so much in the football we play but more so in the mentality and the attitude both sets of players possess.
?They are playing at home and are obviously the overwhelming favourites because they know the synthetic surface better than any other side, though we beat them at Seymour Shaw in the League this year so we will draw on the confidence of that result in the lead-up to the Cup Final.?
With both sides seemingly over their mid-season troubles, the Cup Final promises to be a memorable affair with two quality sides eager to land a big prize insight of the TeleChoice Premier League finals series.
The TigerTurf Cup Final kick-off is set for 3:00 PM on Saturday the 15th of August, 2009 at Seymour Shaw, Miranda.
-By Joseph Carlucci
