State League One Finals Series Round 2 Review
Minor Semi Final
CSI Schofields 0 v UNSW 1
UNSW continue merry run as Schofields eliminated
The State League Division One Minor Semi Final took place on a windy Saturday evening at CSI Sport Ground, with Schofield Scorpions hoping to put last weekend?s loss behind them as they welcomed UNSW to their home turf.
Schofields were confident of a good showing, having had a reasonably strong run home in the competition to finish third, but they had lost their last two matches, one of those a 1-4 thumping against the very same opponents they were up against on the night.
Much has been documented about UNSW?s dramatic run to the finals, and they continued on their merry way with a 2-0 victory in last weekend?s elimination semi against Inter Lions. Against Schofields they would be without their ?Geordie? top goalscorer, Stuart Meney, who was handed a two match suspension due to last week?s red card against Inter.
UNSW had the breeze at their back in the first half, and they utilized it well enough during the initial half hour or so by creating a number of chances.
The first of these chances produced the solitary goal of the match, a goal which was worthy of winning a semi final.
A free kick was awarded to the students, some 25 yards out and to the right of goal.
Skipper Michael Janov, who has been a consistent performer for UNSW during their run to the finals, hit an absolute peach of a shot, the ball curling over the wall and hitting the inside of the far post as it wrestled into the back of the net.
The goal gave UNSW the ascendancy, and they held their lead by keeping their structure, and not allowing the Scorpions into the match.
Charlie Claridge was next to test Scorpions keeper, Akers, from distance, when his blast on 11 minutes from 25 yards was gathered by the custodian at the second attempt.
Schofields were finding it difficult to break through the stubborn UNSW defence, although Tim Aitken could?ve done better on 15 minutes when he scuffed his 10 yard shot straight at Mulroney after some weaving work on the left from Reece Iredale.
The compact pitch does not allow you to dwell when in possession, and given what was at stake, the tackles were fierce, especially in the midfield.
At the half hour mark, the students almost doubled their lead.
Patrick Lloyd got on the end of a Rocco Luca corner, and his strong downward header was well saved by Schofields busy keeper, Akers.
Tim Aitken almost equalized for Schofields on 32 minutes, managing to get his head to a Delaney corner, but knocked it frustratingly over the bar.
A few minutes later and Reece Iredale almost caught UNSW keeper Mulroney napping, hitting a real speculator from fully 30 yards, the custodian doing well to divert it for a corner after dealing with the awkward bounce.
Referee Adel Soliman was having a splendid game, and was quick to address any overzealous tackles as the Scorpions tried valiantly to get back into the game.
He duly blew his half time whistle right on cue, with UNSW good value for the lead.
Both teams took a quick breather before resuming the action, with the students remaining on the park such was their eagerness to get on with it.
Schofields came out in the second half determined to pull themselves back into the fray, and with the breeze at their back it seemed very likely they would do just that.
Glenn McPherson was the first Scorpion to threaten, entering the box on 56 minutes after playing a great one-two with Dale Southern, but clipping his shot over the onrushing UNSW keeper, Mulroney, and just wide of the mark.
McPherson was at it again on 66 minutes, hitting a sweet shot from the corner of the box with the outside of his left boot that swerved a metre or so over the cross bar.
Rather than being assistance, the breeze had picked up its intensity, and was, in fact, playing havoc with attacking moves of the Schofields. Many passes forward had too much weight and often raced over the UNSW goal line, albeit some of the time under the guidance of the UNSW defence.
Liam Delaney wasn?t being utilized on the right flank as much as he normally is for Schofields, but he did produce an angled piledriver on 70 minutes that UNSW keeper Mulroney did well to parry for a corner.
Schofields midfield pairing of McCaffery and Aitken were doing what they do best, competing in the tackles and winning possession for their team, but they had both received a caution, and had to be wary of a second one which could send them in for an early shower.
The students were very compact defensively, working tightly as a unit, and restricting Schofields attempts on goal despite their territorial advantage during the second half.
The Scorpions kept their foot on the pedal, with Tim Aitken heading over in the 81st minute from a Liam Delaney corner, and Reece Iredale forcing a one handed save from Mulroney after executing a free kick from wide on the left hand side of the penalty area.
UNSW had a great chance to wrap up proceedings in the 86th minute, Rocco Luca pinching possession before drawing a defender and putting Bryan away on goal.
The substitute drew Schofields keeper, Akers, but skied his shot much to the angst of the traveling contingent.
The full time whistle arrived shortly after, with the jubilation of UNSW there for all to see as they continue their march in this season?s finals series.
It was a disappointing end to the season for Schofields, after promising so much, but the facts don?t lie, the team having lost their last three matches of the season.
They definitely didn?t go down without a fight, and their best on the night were;
the midfield trio of Martin McCaffery, Tim Aitken and Dale Southern worked hard across the middle, especially in the second half, and were fierce in the tackle as they tried valiantly to conjure up opportunities for their side; Reece Iredale was effective with the ball, a technical player with a good touch, and a good eye for goal, his surprising shots from all angles a testament to this.
UNSW grabbed an early goal, defended stoutly, and were collectively focused in their mission. Best on a victorious night were ; skipper Michael Janov was solid at left back, tough defensively, read the play well as he made many interceptions, and scored a contender for goal of the year to win the match ; keeper Mulroney did so well to keep a clean sheet, being an effective shot stopper, and was commanding all night with the high ball ; central defender, Craig Richards, was a force in the backline, holding his own in challenges and doing a good job on Glenn McPherson ; Rocco Luca toiled hard up front, holding the ball up well, often drawing the foul, and always searching for that elusive second goal that never arrived.
Under 20?s ? Sydney Wanderers eliminated Blacktown Spartans with a 2-1 win, earning a spot in next week?s Preliminary Final against Mounties FC.
Match Stats
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS 0
UNSW 1 (Janov 5?)
Sunday, August 29, at CSI Sport Ground, Schofields
Referee ? Mr.Adel Soliman
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Mario Tedone & Mr.Thomas Diakos
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS ;1.P.Akers, 17.P.Hubbard, 12.T.Harrington (11.T.Macrae 72?), 13.S.Tyrrell, 3.D.McMahon, 9.L.Delaney, 10.M.McCaffery (capt), 19.T.Aitken (8.F.Daglis 84?), 4.D.Southern, 7.R.Iredale, 14.G.McPherson..
Subs not used ? RGK.R.Greenway.
UNSW ; 1.M.Mulroney, 6. A.Harb, 33.C.Richards, 2.P.Lloyd, 14.M.Janov (capt), 24.D.Rampono (30.M.Bryant 78?), 5.P.Asamoah (21.B.Smart 57?), 18.P.Di Natale, 22.R.Luca, 11.C.Claridge, 4. J.Byrne.
Subs not used ?27. M.Milicich,26.D.Rootes, RGK.S.Harriton.
Major Semi Final
Dulwich Hill 1 Mounties FC 2
Mounties FC advance to 2009 State League One Grand Final
Mounties FC are the first club into this season?s Division One grand final when they upstaged minor premiers, Dulwich Hill, by 2-1, in the Major Semi Final on Sunday afternoon at Gabbie Stadium.
Mounties did the business against Dully in the final round of competition a fortnight ago, beating them 1-0, and proved it was no fluke with yet another victory when it counted most.
After a tense and scoreless first half, Dully skipper, Harry James, put his team in front a couple of minutes into the second half.
But Mounties came back almost immediately, equalizing on 56 minutes when McCann netted.
Christian Care scored the winner in the 85th minute to put Mounties into the season decider, sending the fans into raptures with the late strike.
It was the second time in successive semi finals that Mounties have come back from a goal down to be victorious, a fantastic never-say-die attitude that will put them in good stead for the big one in a fortnight?s time.
Dully do have a second bite at the cherry, and it?s off to face the momentum of UNSW in next week?s Preliminary Final in what is shaping up as an absolute cracker.
Under 20?s ? Mounties FC could not replicate their first grade success in the early game, losing to Schofields 1-2 in the U/20s semi final. The Scorpions move into the grand final, whilst Mounties will play Sydney Wanderers in next week?s Preliminary Final.
-By Frank Speranza
