The Youth League Report (Division One Youth League) Finals Series Review

There was nervous conversation everywhere you turned and then joy and disappointment were present in equal measure. In the final analysis, the football was fantastic and that is all that really counts.
Grade 13
Elimination Semi Final
Hills Brumbies had suffered a 5-1 loss in their first round clash with Springwood but the Brumbies bounced back in the second round when they posted a 2-1 win.
There was certainly no mucking about in this match as the Brumbies scored through D. Spillane in the first minute and then Springwood equalised a minute later with a strike from C. Goodlet. The lads from the mountains then took the lead in the 9^th minute thanks to a goal from N. Wilding but L. Bayliss found the net for the Brumbies seven minutes later.
Play was fairly even after that but Springwood sealed the result eight minutes from the end when J. New scored for them. They have qualified for the Minor Semi Final while Hills have completed their commitments to the finals series.
Preliminary Final
Fraser Park went down to a 2-1 scoreline when they met Rockdale City Suns for the first time this season and then the Suns completed the double when they won the second clash 1-0.
When the scoreline was locked at 3-3 at full time and then there was no addition to the score in the extra time period, the penalty spot was needed to decide the winner. It was here that Fraser Park gained the upper hand when they won 5-4 to claim the spot in the Major Semi Final while Rockdale will play in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 14
Elimination Semi Final
St George had beaten Stanmore Hawks 1-0 when they met in the first round of the competition and then the second round encounter was a 1-1 draw.
The Saints drew first blood this time with a 19^th minute goal from C. Papoulias and then they doubled their advantage two minutes later thanks to a strike from L. Grey. Stanmore refused to throw the towel in and they clawed their way back with a 46^th minute goal from J. Sotiropoulos but it was enough to prevent them from bowing out of the finals while St George have earned a place in the Minor Semi Final.
Preliminary Final
Sydney University were defeated 1-0 by Mt Druitt Town Rangers when they played the first round match and then their second match finished as a scoreless draw.
When Mt Druitt were 2-0 winners in this match they earned the right to play in the Major Semi Final while Uni will be playing in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 15
Elimination Semi Final
Camden Tigers were beaten 3-1 by Sydney University in the first round of the competition and Uni completed the double with a 2-1 victory the second time around.
The Tigers hit the front thanks to a 21^st minute goal from R. Al-Narber but then Uni evened things up with a goal from H. Maloney in the 37^th minute. Camden restored their lead in the 51^st minute with a strike from R. Hastie and that has given them a place in the Minor Semi Final while Uni had departed the finals with some pride in their achievements.
Preliminary Final
Hurstville City Minotaurs were 4-2 losers when they faced Rockdale City Suns for the first time but that account was squared when Hurstville won the second clash 2-0.
Hurstville claimed the spot in the Major Semi Final when they were 2-1 winners on this occasion while Rockdale will be in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 16
Elimination Semi Final
Hurstville City Minotaurs had won the first round encounter with Camden Tigers with a 3-2 scoreline and then the second round clash was a scoreless draw.
The only goal of this game came one minute before the interval when J. Mehew found the back of the net to give the Tigers a place in the Minor Semi Finals while the Minotaurs have completed their commitments to the final series.
Preliminary Final
Fraser Park were beaten St George in both competition matches this season and the scoreline was 2-1 on both occasions.
When the fulltime score was locked up at 1-1 and there was no addition to the score in the extra time period, the penalty spot was once again needed for a decision. It was here that Fraser Park edged out the Saints with a 4-3 win that put them into the Major Semi Final and pushed St George into the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 18
Elimination Semi Final
Mt Druitt Town Rangers suffered a 3-0 loss when they faced Gladesville Ryde Magic in the first round but the Rangers evened things up with a 1-0 second round win.
A goal from the Rangers? M. Cahal and one from Magic?s S. Warcedog took the fulltime score to 1-1 and so it was necessary to play extra time to determine the winner. When Cahal scored again it proved to be enough to take Mt Druitt through to the Minor Semi Final and that has forced Gladesville Ryde out of the finals series.
Preliminary Final
Fraser Park were beaten 6-4 in their first round meeting with Camden Tigers but Fraser Park made up for that when they won the second clash 3-2.
There was no score when the fulltime whistle sounded and then the teams score a goal apiece in extra time so another penalty shootout was necessary. On this occasion Fraser Park were 4-2 winners and they have taken the spot in the Major Semi Final while Camden will play in the Minor Semi Final.
-By Barry Davis