Mounties FC crowned State League 1 Champions
The fans had taken their place in the grandstand for the ultimate match of the season, with Mounties having a strong representation, reflected by both the numerous coaches parked outside the ground, plus the black and gold scattered amongst the crowd.
Much had been documented about Dulwich Hill being under manned for the big one, missing three of their most potent attackers in Neil Philippou (honeymoon) and Harry James and Nick Paradisis (both suspended).
But Mark Strachan?s men took no notice of the tabloids by taking a 5th minute lead which set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Captain Rafael Bove curled over a tantalizing free kick from wide on the edge of the box, and Sam Messam met the ball with a towering header goalwards.
The ball was somehow blocked by the desperate Mounties defenders, and in the ensuing scramble, Marcus Frost stabbed the ball home to give Dully just the lead they had dreamt of.
Steve Biviano had taken the field nursing a heavily strapped hamstring, and predictions were he was not going to last very long indeed.
How the Dully faithful had hoped he had stayed away as the predator responded with two clinical strikes to put the Mounties in front within half an hour.
Mounties captain courageous, Daniel McCann, was already making a nuisance of himself, and after taking possession out wide on the left hand touchline, he whipped over a ball towards the edge of the penalty area on 12 minutes.
Stephen Tresoglavic flicked it first time to the drooling Biviano, and he took a touch to steady himself before dispatching the ball low, and to Peter Sestak?s left, to equalize for the Mounties.
Just minutes later and both Christian Care and Stephen Tresoglavic had snapshots in the one movement as the Mounties looked to turn the screws on the retreating Dully defence.
Dulwich Hill responded in the 20th minute when the evergreen Norman Tome took hold of the ball out on the left flank, cut inside Gustavo Orcajo before unleashing a projectile towards the far bottom left hand corner of the goal.
Mounties goalkeeper, Anthony Costa, was alert to the danger, and pulled off a fantastic save to deny Tome by tipping the ball around the post.
Joe Bruni was definitely up for it in the grand final, making early in roads at the Dully defence with some great runs.
One such run in the 27th minute saw Bruni slalom in and out of a few defenders as he cut in from the left touchline, before slipping a pass through for Christian Care to run onto.
Care tapped it past the onrushing Peter Sestak, but the ball kept rolling until it was out of reach and out of play.
No need to worry for the Mounties faithful, as within sixty seconds they had goal number two, and no prizes for guessing the goalscorer.
Steve Biviano beat the offside trap, controlling the ball expertly on a six pence, before executing a low shot past Dully keeper, Peter Sestak, from outside the penalty area to put the Mounties in front.
The first half action had been frantic to say the least, and play went from end to end as both teams went at it with a view to seeing their ribbons on the Championship trophy.
Sam Messam almost equalized on the half hour mark, bustling his way past Fernando Pellegrino and into the box before his angled, low shot was brilliantly parried for a corner by Mounties keeper, Anthony Costa.
Daniel McCann was working tirelessly across the park, and he was instrumental in two final opportunities for the Mounties in first half injury time.
Firstly, McCann beat his man into the left hand side of the box before sending over a teasing cross that was desperately cleared by Dully defender, Mahmood Chahine.
McCann took the ensuing short corner, and after exchanging passes, unleashed a thunderous drive from the corner of the box that was superbly tipped over the bar by Dully?s custodian, Peter Sestak.
One of the competition?s best referees David Christie, was given the honour of officiating this year?s Grand Final, and he had been busy, no doubt, keeping up with the speed of the action during the first half.
So it was with some relief that he blew his half time whistle, giving the teams a well earned breather before resuming for another battle in the second half.
Three minutes after the break, and Mounties almost wrapped up proceedings with a third goal, except for a brilliant point blank save by Dully keeper, Peter Sestak.
Joe Bruni sent over a fantastic far post cross that eluded all of the Dully defenders, and Steve Biviano punched his header goalwards, only to be left bewildered by Sestak?s effort in keeping the ball out.
Dulwich Hill?s stand in skipper, Rafael Bove, had, minutes before the halftime whistle, signaled to the bench to be substituted as he had suffered a hamstring strain.
Somehow, during the half time break, Bove had been convinced to stay on, and returned to the fray with heavy strapping occupying his upper thigh.
Despite Bove?s bravery, it really was a little too much for Dully to bear, already without three attackers prior to the match, and much of their creativity went out the window with his restricted access.
Steve Biviano could run no longer either, and he was substituted for the Mounties just after the hour mark by the speedy Greg Baldock.
Baldock himself had a great chance to put the match beyond Dully?s reach on 72 minutes, beating the offside trap and dribbling around Dully keeper, Peter Sestak, who had forced Baldock out wide.
The substitute steadied himself before cracking a shot goalwards from a tight angle, but, alas for Mounties, Jose Mendes had tracked back and deflected the ball wide for a corner.
Norman Tome started to show some urgency for Dulwich Hill, and he had a blast on 77 minutes from 20 yards that went inches wide of Anthony Costa?s upright.
Both teams threw caution to the wind in the final few minutes, Dully keen to force extra time, whilst Mounties could smell the kill, and were hoping to bury the match.
Peter Sestak was at his acrobatic best in the 87th minute, throwing himself mid-air to thwart another effort from Greg Baldock, this time from point blank.
Dully responded a minute later, when Dusan Mihajlovic skillfully beat his man on the left of the penalty area, before squaring a perfect pass across the face of the Mounties goal that eluded everyone.
?Oh, Neil Philippou, where are you?!!? he may have well been screaming!
Defender Mahmood Chahine had the whole of the Dully support out of their chairs right on 90 minutes, as his cracker from the edge of the box flashed just wide of the left hand upright.
And with that went Dully?s final opportunity, as referee Christie brought proceedings to a halt, sending the Mounties traveling support into a frenzy.
Mounties head coach, Aidan Desmond, was understandably proud of his troops.
?We remained composed when we went 0-1 down, and responded immediately with a couple of goals. We have had a self belief in our ability all year, and it showed again tonight,? said an ecstatic Desmond.
?I thought our defence held strong, our midfielders worked hard, just as they have all year, and when you have someone like Steve Biviano to finish off, you?re always a chance,? added Desmond.
Dulwich Hill?s stand in skipper, Rafael Bove, was disappointed with the way the night ended.
?They came out of the blocks quick during the first 20 minutes or so, and a little bit of miscommunication cost us dearly in defence when ?Bivi? (Steve Biviano) finished off,? reflected Bove.
?I thought we got on top during the second half, and created some good opportunities. If we had Neil (Philippou), Harry (James) or Nick (Paradisis), we may have pulled a goal or two back. But overall, we are happy with the way the season went ? our aim was promotion for the club, and we achieved that,? added Bove.
For Dulwich Hill, they have had to endure their second successive Grand Final loss, after losing last year?s decider in a penalty shootout to Spirit FC.
But they have at least won the Premiership this time round, and can look forward to taking their spot in the Super League in 2010.
Dully?s best performers in the Grand Final were ; goalkeeper Peter Sestak did well to keep his team in the match at crucial times, with some acrobatic saves, and could not be blamed for the two goals he conceded ; Mahmood Chahine did well to win a glut of possession for his team, playing out of a defensive role but often adding support as Dully went forward ; Jose Mendes showed all of his vision as he read the play well, more often than not intercepting Mounties passes as he set his team on their way with quick distribution ; Norman Tome tried hard all day, and his experience showed as he was always on the look out for a way through the Mounties defence.
For the Mounties, best performers in a solid team effort were ; skipper Daniel McCann, who was a standout, biting in the tackle, energetic with his work rate, and played like his life depended on the result of this match ; Joe Bruni took a mortgage on the left hand side of the park had a very strong game, showing great vision, and was pinpoint with his passes and crosses ; Stephen Tresoglavic worked hard in attack, chasing every loose ball in the final third, and was a great foil for Biviano, assisting in the first goal ; despite being hampered with a hamstring injury, Steve Biviano was his usual clinical self up front, and worth his weight in gold, by scoring two goals in a polished display, making all the difference on the night.
Under 20?s ? They say it is almost impossible to come from the sudden death semi final in week one of the final series to win the Championship. Well, someone forgot to tell the Sydney Wanderers Under 20s side, who did just that by beating Schofields Scorpions in the Division One Grand Final at Belmore Sports Ground on Saturday morning.
After accounting for Inter Lions, Blacktown Spartans, and Mounties in do-or-die battles, the Wanderers took a first half lead in the Grand Final with a goal by Pablo Alcantara.
Ben Lam made it two with a goal midway through the second half, and so emphatic were the Wanderers celebrations, that the Scorpions pulled a goal back from the kick off by shooting over their retreating goalkeeper.
Despite a frantic finish, the Sydney Wanderers held on to record a remarkable victory, and congratulations must go to their players, coach, and indeed all associated at the club.
Match Stats
MOUNTIES FC 2 (Biviano 11? / 29?)
DULWICH HILL 1 (Marcus Frost 5?)
Saturday, September 12th, at Belmore Sports Ground
Referee ? Mr.David Christie
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Matthew Samson & Mr.Paul Faithfull
Fourth Official ? Mr.Mario Tedone
MOUNTIES FC: 21.A.Costa, 2. D.Petrovic, 3.J.Savage, 17.F.Pellegrino (16.D.Provan 92?), 10.G.Orcajo, 9.M.Viera, 5.J.Bruni, 20.C.Care, 18.D.McCann (capt), 8.S.Biviano (4.G.Baldock 65?), 14. S.Tesoglavic (11.M.Noro 83?).
Subs not used ?7.P.Down, RGK.O.Lovell.
DULWICH HILL SC: 1.P.Sestak, 2.J.Mendes, 6.A.Scicluna (17.F.Calcagno 60?), 7.N.Tome, 8.S.Messam, 16.A.Rao, 18.M.Frost, 5.R.Bove (capt) (12.D.Radojkovic 83?), 4.M.Chahine, 15.B.Burrows (14.M.Pinto 76?), 10.D.Mihajlovic.
Subs not used ? 3.L.Papadopoulos, 39.K.Perestrelo.
-By Frank Speranza
