State League 1 Golden Boot 2009 as Neil Philippou grabs the plaudits

An integral part of the Division One champions, Dulwich Hill, Philippou scored an average of a goal a game to finish on 18 goals, given he missed four matches out of the 22 rounds through injury.
A previous golden boot winner in 2006 with Stanmore Hawks, I asked the Australian-born striker, with Cypriot heritage, whether he sets himself a numerical target at the beginning of each season.
?Yes, I do,?said Philippou, ?and this season I set myself a target of 20 goals.?
?I was happy with my total of 18 goals, given I missed a few games early on through injury,? he added.
I asked Neil what he put his success in front of goal down to.
?A combination of hard work at training, determination, and team work,? was his response.
Finally, is there anyone you would like to thank for helping you achieve this milestone?
?I couldn?t have done it without the help of my team mates at Dulwich, the support of my coach, Mark Strachan, and all the people at Dully. I would also like to thank my father, Stelios Philippou, for everything he has done for me over the years,? added Philippou.
Division One defences no need to worry any more in 2009 ? Neil Philippou is getting married on Saturday, 22 August, and his honeymoon will mean he is unable to play any of the semi final series! All the best from Football NSW to Neil and his fianc? for their pending wedding.
Division One was not short of clinical sharpshooters this season, with no less than three strikers just one goal behind Philippou, on 17 goals.
Stiven Kostanic of Hurstville actually lead the goalscorers charts for many weeks during the latter stages of the competition, only to be pipped at the post.
The big target man had a splendid season, nevertheless, scoring half of his team?s goals (17 out of 34), remarkably from playing in a team that finished second from bottom. Kostanic was also the player who scored in the most number of games in the competition – twelve.
Schofield?s striker, Glenn McPherson, started and ended the season on fire, and also scored 17 goals, including two hatricks (one a four goal haul).
UNSW striker, Stuart Meney, was the other player who finished on 17 goals, being one of the main architects behind the students march into the finals series with an incredible second round performance.
Meney scored two hatricks in his goal tally, and will be in action come Sunday, in the elimination semi final against Inter Lions.
Within striking distance of the top four was the mercurial Steve Biviano, of Mounties, himself a deadly finisher. Biviano finished with a total of 16 goals to his credit for the year, mirroring the exact figure he managed last year when finishing third in the list.
Here?s a list of the top marksmen in Division One for 2009 –  
18 – Neil PHILIPPOU (Dulwich Hill) Golden Boot Winner
17 – Stiven KOSTANIC (Hurstville ZSC)
17 – Glenn MCPHERSON (Schofields Scorpions)
17 – Stuart MENEY (UNSW)
16 – Steve BIVIANO (Mounties FC)
12 – Wissam HIJAZI (Stanmore Hawks)
9 – Todd MCCRAE (Schofields Scorpions)
8 – James KOVAS (Inter Lions)
8 – Dusan MIHAJLOVIC (Dulwich Hill)
7 – Sam MESSAM (Dulwich Hill)
7 – Rafael BOVE (Dulwich Hill)
7 – Lorenzo MERLINO (Balmain SC)
7 – Stephen TRESOGLAVIC (Mounties FC)
-By Frank Speranza