The Youth League Report (Super Youth League) Grand Final Review

Melita Stadium showed the signs of a long hard season but it was still in very good condition for this wonderful day. Football NSW has asked me to acknowledge and thank PCYC Parramatta Eagles for making their facilities available and for providing top quality support throughout the day. Club president Chris Gardiner and football manager Osman Jebara combined with their band of helpers to make sure that the day flowed very smoothly from beginning to end.
Football NSW left no stone unturned to make certain that the administration on the day matched the football provided. Competition secretary Luke Cevolani was more than ably assisted by match commissioners Bill Lodge and Lyn Doull as well as referees coordinator Steve McAppion. In addition Football NSW general manager Ian Holmes and director George Jackson were on hand to officiate at the presentation ceremonies.
You could not possibly hope for a better atmosphere in the spectator areas throughout the day. Mingling with the crowd is always a delight and it was a pleasure to be a part of all the familiar sights and sounds of the carnival atmosphere that is Grand Final day.
The nervous laughter and chatter were accompanied by some very bold predictions and several unspoken prayers in the minutes before each match. Loads of folk chose to wear their club?s colours and a few applied the ?war paint? to add much to the spectacle of the day.
During the matches the vocal support, the cheers and sighs and the spontaneous applause combined to urge the players on to even greater heights. The crowd?s appreciation for both teams during each presentation ceremony was an absolute pleasure to hear. It was also nice to hear the healthy round of applause provided as the referees were presented with their awards.
On the field of play six of the twelve clubs were represented on the day with Dulwich Hill having three teams in action, PCYC Parramatta Eagles and Macarthur Rams having two teams each while Central Coast Lightning, Northern Tigers and Western Panthers were all represented by one team.
When the dust had settled Parramatta had claimed two titles, while Dulwich Hill, Western Panthers and Macarthur Rams had one each.
Before taking a look at the main attraction, the matches played on the day, a reminder that next week The Youth League Report will provide review of the season on a club-by-club and team-by-team basis.
Grade 13
The Background
Premiers PCYC Parramatta Eagles were five points clear on the final table for the season .They took the direct route to this game when they were 4-0 winners over Central Coast Lightning in the Major Semi Final.
Central Coast Lightning were the competition runners-up and they earned their place in the Grand Final with a 1-0 win over Spirit FC in the Preliminary Semi Final, a 4-0 loss to Parramatta in the Major Semi Final and a 3-1 victory over Blacktown Spartans in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action Parramatta were 5-0 winners in the first round and then Central Coast took the second round points when they won 1-0.
The Match
While the opening moments of the game were fairly even, it did not take long for Parramatta to stamp their authority on the contest and it came in the form of a seventh minute penalty kick. Adding to the drama of the situation was the fact that it had to be taken three times. On the first occasion, the kick was successful but attackers encroached into the penalty area. On the second attempt the spot kick was saved but the goalkeeper had moved forward before the kick. Finally, Ayuga Tanner stepped forward to slot the ball into the back of the net.
One minute later Parramatta doubled their advantage when a sweeping move culminated with a successful strike from Mark Rizoski and that sent the Parramatta supporters into seventh heaven.
Conceding two goals within a minute early in the game would cripple many a team but that was most certainly not the case for the lads from Central Coast as they merely shook off the setback, rolled up their sleeves and got on with the job.
As play flowed from end to end it seemed certain that more goals would come but it became a real guessing game about which team would be next to find the net.
In fact, it was to be Lightning who struck next and that came in the twentieth minute when Callum Blinco?s goal reduced the deficit. That, quite rightly, caused equal measures of elation and concern among those good folk in the spectator areas.
The 2-1 scoreline remained intact through to the interval and so the observers could only wonder about what would happen next.
When the teams returned they provided a highly entertaining exhibition of quality football as the game moved from one end of the ground to the other and back again.
Both sides had clearly raised the bar on their own performances and the result was a truly inspiring match in which some very good goalkeeping and some very near misses conspired to keep everyone?s nerves jangling.
It took until the fifty-sixth minute for the next goal to arrive and it came from Parramatta?s Richard Darko whose strike took the scoreline to 3-1. While that should have been enough to kill off most opponents, the lads from Lightning were not about to throw in the towel and they kept on battling until the final whistle sealed their fate.
While PCYC Parramatta Eagles received their rewards as Premiers and Champions, Central Coast Lightning will be long remembered for their never-say-die approach to this fantastic game.
Grade 14
The Background
Northern Tigers are the Premiers after they finished two points ahead of their nearest rivals thanks to an unbeaten season. They reached this match following a 1-0 win over second placed Central Coast Lightning in the Major Semi Final.
Dulwich Hill finished the competition in third place, five points behind the leaders. In the finals series they lost the Preliminary Semi Final on penalties to Central Coast Lightning, beat Western Panthers 4-0 in the Minor Semi Final and then defeated Lightning 1-0 in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action the first round clash was a 1-1 draw and then the Tigers were 3-2 winners in the second round.
The Match
What a game this one turned out to be! It had everything you could possible hope for in a season decider and more as the teams went at each other from start to finish.
Dulwich Hill, resplendent in their specially embroidered Grand Final playing shirts, started very strongly and that reaped a reward for them when they opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute with a strike from John Marantos.
Northern Tigers then began to show the qualities that had taken them through twenty-three games without loss as they produced some exhilarating football in their quest for an equaliser.
The game settled into a even contest as the teams gave their all to their attempts to keep the scoreboard ticking over but, despite some desperately close things, their was to be no addition to the goals before the break.
The evidence that the coaches had chosen their word wisely during the interval was there for all to see as both teams upped the ante for an action-packed second stanza.
Both teams had their share of chances to bulge the net but the opposing defences were seemingly always up to the challenge and whenever an attack broke through, the respective goalkeepers were on hand to clean up.
Every time one of the teams increased their flair and imagination, the other countered with a rock-solid defensive effort that made the match look like a highly entertaining and very exciting game of chess as each gave their all to out-thinking the other.
Alas, there were no goals scored in the second half and so Dulwich Hill were able to claim the spoils as Champions and while the Tigers had a monetary look of disappointment, that was washed away when they received the medals and plaque that declared them to be Premiers.
Grade 15
The Background
Western Panthers finished the season in third position on goal difference, seven points behind the leaders. They came into this game after a 2-1 win over PCYC Parramatta in the Preliminary Semi Final and then they won the Major Semi Final on penalties over Dulwich Hill.
Dulwich Hill are the Premiers after they finished seven points clear of their nearest rivals. Following their Major Semi Final loss on penalties to Western Panthers, they defeated PCYC Parramatta Eagles 1-0 in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action Dulwich Hill had won both matches with a 1-0 scoreline on each occasion.
The Match
Western Panthers began like a house on fire as they began to take the game to Dulwich Hill from the very first whistle in a very clear attempt to gain the early advantage.
That enterprise was rewarded when, following the trend of the earlier matches, the Panthers scored the opening goal in the sixth minute thanks to a strike from Grant Koch.
While that may have been a bit disappointing for them, Dully rolled up their sleeves and threw everything they had into looking for an equaliser while the lads from Western were not about to rest on their laurels.
As a consequence, we were treated to a fine display of committed, attacking football which lacked nothing in the combination of flair and hard work but the very best endeavours of both teams were consistently repelled by the well organised opposing defences.
Western took their one goal advantage into the sheds at the interval but they could not be sure that it would be enough as Dully had kept on coming at them since the goal was scored.
With increased determination, passion and skill in evidence from both teams the second stanza produced an excellent display of end-to-end football with plenty of goalmouth action. The tempo of the game was thrilling and no-one knew or would even hazard a guess about what would happen next.
Twenty-four minutes after the resumption of play, Western doubled their advantage when Zach Hanman found the back of the net but even that was not nearly enough to affect Dulwich Hill adversely as they seemed to redouble their efforts to get themselves back into the event.
Western took the scoreline to 3-0 when Jayden Tumeth-Mcleod rattled the net and while that may have been the death of most teams, Dully simply got on with the job of giving their all to the game.
When the final whistle blew in the match Western were elated as they were to be crowned as Champions and the disappointment felt by Dulwich Hill was soon diminished when they received their rewards as Premiers.
Grade 16
The Background
PCYC Parramatta Eagles completed the home-and-away season in second spot, three points behind the leaders. They qualified for this game with a win on penalties over Northern Tigers in the Preliminary Semi Final and then they defeated Premiers Western Panthers 3-2 in the Major Semi Final.
Macarthur Rams were placed fifth on the final table, eleven points behind the leaders. They reached this match with a win on penalties over Blacktown Spartans in the Elimination Semi Final, a 1-0 win over Northern Tigers in the Minor Semi Final and a 3-1 victory over Western Panthers in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action Parramatta had won both competition matches, 3-0 and 2-0.
The Match
What a thriller this match turned out to be as both teams forced their opponents to earn every centimetre of space from the first whistle to the last and that provided non-stop entertainment for everyone present.
Showing a high regard for skill and enterprise, the teams went at each other with great determination and that produced loads of thrilling goalmouth action. However, some fine goalkeeping and some excellent displays of defensive play conspired to prevent either team from open their account during the first half.
The lack of goals seemed to inspire both teams to increase the tempo of play from the opening whistle of the second half and there was no sign of that intensity dropping off until the final whistle had sounded.
Parramatta finally drew blood in the forty-sixth minute when Akuoch Nyarnhom?s strike beat the Ram?s goalkeeper to rattle the net.
That goal served as signal for both teams to take their play to even greater heights as Parramatta wanted to increase their lead and Macarthur sought an equaliser and that further enhanced the level of entertainment the game provided for those fortunate enough to watch it.
While there were no more goals, both sides should be extremely proud of the part they played on the day as they provided a game that will live long in the memory.
Parramatta claimed the spoils as the Champions and Macarthur left the ground with their pride well and truly intact.
Grade 18
The Background
Macarthur Rams finished the competition in third position on goal difference, five point behind the leaders. They reached this game after they downed Schofields Scorpions 3-0 in the Preliminary Semi Final followed by  a 2-0 win over Dulwich Hill in the Major Semi Final.
Dulwich Hill are the Premiers after they finished five points ahead of their nearest rivals. They qualified for this match with a 2-1 victory over Schofields Scorpions in the Preliminary Final after they had lost the Major Semi Final to Macarthur Rams.
In head-to-head action the Rams had taken the first round points with a 1-0 win and then the second round game was a 1-1 draw.
The Match 
On day that had already produced four great games this one certainly kept the momentum going.
The teams were evenly matched from the very beginning as they showed that neither was prepared to give away a single centimetre that was not earned by their opponents.
Chances fell and disappeared at both ends of the ground in equal measure as it became evident that it would take something a bit special to win this match and it really was anyone?s guess as to which of the sides would produce it.
We had to wait twenty-eight minutes for the first goal of the game and it went to the Rams when a strike from Matthew Sadler gave his team the lead.
However, eleven minutes later Dulwich Hill were back on level terms thanks to a goal from James Villazon and that posed a lot more questions that it answered.
Both goalkeepers had many opportunities to display their full range of skills as they were kept very busy throughout the thrill-a-minute second half in which the statistics would have told us that the scoring opportunities fell in equal measure.
There were no goals scored in the second half and so it was necessary to go into extra time to find a winner. The only thing that changed in these two periods was that both teams increased the pace of the game as they became desperate to be the next team to score. It was not to be though and, for the first time on the day, the penalty spot was required to settle the issue.
It was here that the Rams gained the upper hand as they won the shootout four kicks to three and that was enough to allow them the get their hands on the Champions plaque while Dulwich Hill stepped up to receive the rewards as Premiers.
-By Barry Davis