State League One Finals Series Round 3 Preview
DIVISION ONE
Preliminary Final Preview
DULWICH HILL SC ? UNSW
We can look forward to an intriguing match indeed coming up this weekend, in the penultimate match of 2009, the Division One Preliminary Final.
Hajduk Stadium will be the venue, with an evening kick off time of 6-00pm, as Dulwich Hill SC take on UNSW.
Premiership winners, Dulwich Hill, finished the competition in first position, five points ahead of second place, and came into the finals series as red hot favourites to take out the double.
After a week off in the initial weekend of the finals, Mounties burst Dully?s bubble with a 2-1 victory in the Major Semi Final, allowing Dulwich the opportunity to exercise the second bite of the cherry.
UNSW on the other hand, have just been on a tidal wave of momentum, winning 13 out of their last 15 or so matches, including the Elimination Semi Final (2-0 against Inter Lions) and the Minor Semi Final (1-0 against Schofields).
Both teams are without two of their most influential players for the big one this weekend.
Stuart Meney, who has scored 18 goals for UNSW in 2009, including one in the Elimination Semi vs Inter Lions, is serving the second week of his two match suspension for a red card in the very same match.
But UNSW showed they can win without the red haired striker, just as they did last week against Schofields.
Dulwich Hill, on the other hand, will be without their inspirational skipper, Harry James, marched last week against Mounties, and they will no doubt feel the absence of his experience and unselfish play.
Both clubs shared the spoils this season during the competition, with one win each, and plenty of goals.
The first time the teams met, in Round 10, no one gave UNSW a chance, given they were second from bottom on the ladder, and Dulwich Hill were undefeated at the time.
It was May 23, a cool night at Arlington Oval, and UNSW upstaged Dully with a 3-1 away victory, coming from 0-1 behind at half time following Sam Messam?s 27th minute goal.
Stuart Meney grabbed a sensational second half hatrick to give the ?students? the points.
The second match gave Dully the chance for redemption, and they obliged with a 3-2 win at David Phillips Field.
Dulwich actually lead 3-0 at one stage, with two goals by Neil Philippou and one from Harry James, all in the opening half hour or so.
Stuart Meney and Dino Rampono added respectability to the score with late goals, but they came too little, too late on the day.
At stake is a spot in the following week?s grand final against Mounties at Belmore Sports Ground, so you expect fireworks, along with plenty of goal mouth action, in what is shaping up to be a real arm wrestle of a clash.
Under 20s – the Preliminary Final sees Mounties take on Sydney Wanderers, with the match kicking off at 3-30pm at Hajduk Stadium.
Mounties will be looking to bounce back from last week?s loss to Schofields in the Major Semi Final, going down 1-2 in a close encounter.
The Wanderers, on the other hand, finished the season proper in fourth position on the ladder, and will be hoping to continue their winning run following last week?s 2-1 victory over Blacktown Spartans.
For the winner, a spot in the grand final against Schofields awaits, whilst the loser will pack up their gear for 2009.
-By Frank Speranza
