The Youth League Report (Premier Youth League) Finals Series Review

Valentine Sports Park was again in good condition on Saturday for the second round of the finals series and the quality of play throughout the day was an absolute joy to behold.
Grade 13
Minor Semi Final
West Sydney Berries had beaten Blacktown City Demons 1-0 when they met in the first round of the competition but the Demons had squared the account when they won the second round match 2-1.
It was clear from the outset of this match that the Demons were ready to take care of business and their fluent attacking play was rewarded with a 2-0 lead before the interval thanks to strikes from S. Berti. The Berries were far from out of the contest but they simply could not take advantage of the chances they created.
The Demons went on with the job in the second half as that man Berti completed his hat-trick and Blacktown settled into cruising mode. The Berries showed that they were far from a spent force as they bounced back with two late goals but it was not quite enough and so they have bowed out of the finals with pride while the Demons have moved into the Preliminary Final.
Major Semi Final
When Premiers Sydney Olympic met Wollongong FC in the first round the match ended in a 2-2 draw and then Wollongong claimed the second round points with a 1-0 win.
Olympic showed the sort of form that had taken them to the top of the table as they pressed hard throughout the first half yo establish and maintain a lead. They achieved that aim as the half-time score was 2-1 to their advantage. However, Wollongong showed that they had plenty to offer as they clawed their way back to 2-2 and it was to stay that way until the final whistle, forcing extra time to be played to find a winner.
It was here that Olympic rolled up their sleeves once again with only one thing on their minds. That objective was clearly achieved when they regained the lead and then added another goal for good measure to take the final scoreline to 4-2.
Providing the goals for Olympic were G. Bonanni, B. Appiah, T. Tipevski and V. Giannini while M. Ledwidge and S. Isabella found the net for Wollongong.
Olympic have gone straight into the Grand Final and Wollongong will face Blacktown in the Preliminary Final.
Grade 14
Minor Semi Final
The competition results honours were shared between Sydney Tigers and Blacktown City Demons after the Demons had won the first round encounter 3-1 and then the Tigers were 1-0 winners in the second round.
The Tigers began on a positive note as they went at the Demons in the do-or-die match. It was clear that the Tigers wanted to win this game and that carried then through the first stanza when they gained a one goal advantage thanks to a strike from A. Kontellis.
However, the Demons wanted the result just as much as their opponents and so they redoubled their efforts in the second half, producing some excellent football along the way. That brought them two goals from N. Pepper and that brace was to be enough to give Blacktown a place in the Preliminary Final while the Tigers have completed their commitments to the finals with their head held high.
Major Semi Final
Marconi Stallions had beaten Sutherland Sharks 1-0 when they met in the first round of the competition but the Sharks got even when they produced a 1-0 second round victory.
The Sharks looked a bit out of sorts from the beginning while the Stallions were obviously chasing the best possible result so they could take the direct route to the Grand Final. The Stallions looked as though their skill and determination would carry them through and they backed that up with a goal that gave them the half-time lead.
Try as they might, the Sharks could not crack the well marshalled Marconi defence while the Stallions produced some entertaining play throughout the second stanza and that enterprise was rewarded when they added two goals to their tally. The final scoreline was 3-0, giving Marconi the first berth in the Grand Final and forcing Sutherland into the Preliminary Final where they will face Blacktown.
Marconi?s goals were scored by D. Diroucco and a double by S. Kagaras
Grade 15
Preliminary Semi Final
This match was played last Tuesday night due to the need to settle the Premiership last Saturday. Blacktown City Demons had beaten Manly United 3-0 in the first round of the competition and 2-1 when they faced them in the second round.
In an even contest the Demons gained the upper hand when they scored two goals before the break with the strikes coming from P. Antelmi and A. Tabu  Manly gave their best to get back into the game but their hopes were dashed when D. Edosomwan added a third goal for the Demons.
Minor Semi Final
Penrith Nepean United had lost both competition matches to Manly United, 1-0 when they met in the first round and then 2-1 in their second round encounter.
Penrith started like a house on fire and they raced to the lead thanks to a goal from N. Colantario and then they held on while Manly threw everything at them, forcing Penrith to rely on counter attacks.
Manly squared things up with a goal from D. Pose-Glandian in the 42^nd minute and then T. Morrisey put the northern beaches outfit ahead with a strike eight minutes later. While the pressure applied at both ends of the ground was understandably relentless, there was to be no change to the score. 
PNU have bowed out of the finals with their pride intact and Manly United have progressed to the Preliminary Final.
Major Semi Final
Premiers Marconi Stallions and Blacktown City Demons had played out a 1-1 draw when they met for the first time this season and then the Stallions were 3-1 winners in the Round 3 catch-up match played last Saturday.
Blacktown settled into this match from the kick-off and their first reward came only two minutes after the first whistle when M. Capabianco found the net after only two minutes. Ten minutes later it was 2-0 after P. Antelmi scored.
Marconi dusted themselves off and gave everything they had to their attempts to get back into the contest but they could not find a way through the resolute Blacktown defences.
Blacktown took the scoreline to 3-0 with a goal from D. Edosomwan in the 43^rd minute and then the Stallions gave themselves some hope when A. Proia scored but their fate was sealed when F. Sosa added Blacktown?s fourth goal in the 68^th minute.
The Demons have secured the first berth in the Grand Final while the Stallions will meet Manly in the Preliminary Final.
Grade 16
Minor Semi Final
Sydney Olympic were 2-0 winners when they faced Manly United in the first round of the competition and then the second round match was a 1-1 draw.
What a game this turned out to be as the good folk in the spectator areas were left clinging to the very edge of their seats from beginning to end. There was nothing between these two teams and the outcome was anyone?s guess as the play flowed from one end to the other and back again.
Olympic drew first blood through a goal from D. Camel and they were able to maintain that lead through to the interval but then P. Gotsis provided a second half goal for Manly and that proved to be enough to force the teams into extra time.
When there was no addition to the score during this period, it was off to the penalty spot to determine the winner. It was here that Sydney Olympic prevailed when they won the shootout 4-2 and that has given them the place in the Preliminary Final while Manly have departed with their heads held high.
Major Semi Final
Blacktown City Demons are the Premiers and they had won their first round match against Wollongong FC 2-1 and they went on to claim the second round points with a 1-0 result.
Wollongong were on fire from the very first whistle and they established themselves as early as the sixth minute when P. Siminovski netted to give them a 1-0 lead. Blacktown were clearly out of sorts and their opponents took full advantage of the situation with a goal from M. Birkin in the 24^th minute and then another one from Siminovski a minute later and so Wollongong went to the break with a 3-0 lead.
The half-time words of advice certainly had a positive outcome for the Demons as they found the form that was missing in the first stanza and began to dominate the second half proceedings. They pulled a goal back through B. Pivato in the 56^th minute and then D. Han made it 3-2 seven minutes later.
Both teams increased the intensity from that point forward and that provided entertainment-plus for the spectators but there was to be no addition to the score. That has given Wollongong the direct route to the Grand Final while Blacktown will meet Sydney Olympic in the Preliminary Final.
Grade 18
Minor Semi Final
Manly United had lost their first round meeting with Marconi Stallions 2-1 and then the teams played out a 3-3 draw when they faced each other in the second round.
Manly stamped some authority on this game very early when T. Mountjoy gave them a fifth minute lead and then the game settled down into a very even affair as they teams went at each other with pride, passion, determination and plenty of skill.
Half-time came and went without a change to the scoreline despite a great many chances at both ends of the ground and then the intensity grew throughout the second half. Manly took their lead to 2-0 when T. Reading converted an 88^th minute penalty kick but then Marconi made it 2-1 within thirty second when T. Rhodes scored after a free flowing move. 
While the final moments of the match were packed with drama neither team could add to the score and so Manly will play in the Preliminary Final while Marconi have completed their commitments to the finals series.
Major Semi Final
Premiers Wollongong Wolves had claimed the first round points with a 2-0 win over Blacktown City Demons but then the Demons bounced back to win the second round encounter 3-0 in a match played only a fortnight ago.
This was a delightful match, crammed full of the sort of skill and commitment expected at this level of the game. Creative attacking play clashed with rock solid defences at both ends and that provided fabulous entertainment for all concerned.
Wollongong scored the only goal of the match when B. Cazic found the net in the 19^th minute but this was a clash in which many more chances were created and so a few more goals were expected.
Blacktown will meet Manly in the Preliminary Final while Wollongong have earned the first position in the Grand Final.
-By Barry Davis