Dandaloo Win IPL Grand Final and Complete Clean Sweep

This win completes for the fledgling club, a dynamic treble of trophies this season after previously winning the League Championship and Bert Bampton Cup, a feat last completed by Port Kembla in 1995.
With the club playing in it?s first ever Grand Final, they were the hottest favourites in recent memory to win on the biggest stage and they did not let their supporters or pundits down with a most polished display. Dandy?s form leading into the big one had not been the best which had raised one or two question marks but with such a star studded side all indicators pointed to a win for the ?Orange?.
With the two sides playing out a seven goal thriller in the Major Semi Final, the stage was set for a titanic struggle between the two best sides in the competition.
Dandaloo got off to the best possible start when they scored inside the opening two minutes and triggered what was to become Bulli?s nightmare. Bulli conceded the first free kick of the game, and a soft free kick at that, in the worst possible area, just outside the right hand corner of the penalty area. Has he has done so many times in his illustrious career, Alvin Ceccoli stepped up to the mark and drilled his effort into the top left hand corner with Bulli keeper, Alan McLeish rooted to the spot. Ceccoli has one of the sweetest left foots in the game and what a dynamic start to the game it provided.
This was just what Bulli were dreading and chasing the game in the Grand Final against such an experienced side was something that needed to be avoided. They may have given Dandaloo three goals start two weeks ago but today was always going to be a different kettle of fish.
After the early set back Bulli were starting to give as good as they got but were set back on their heels once more when Jason Kencevski doubled the lead on 25 minutes. Kencevski displays such great strength and speed when he is on the ball and faced with one on one challenges. On this occasion he burst up the middle of the park 30 metres from goal and brushed passed a couple of defenders and appeared to push the ball a bit to far with McLeish going down in attempt to claim the and in a challenge from the attacker the ball squirmed free and has Kencevski fell to the ground he was able to stick his foot out and steer the ball home. Their was also an element of handball by Kencevski when running clear which went undetected and at this stage the rub of the green appeared to be going their way. On top of that they were also playing well and deserved to be in front at this stage.
There were no more goals before half time with Dandaloo in a comfortable position at 2-0 and in a desperate effort to get something from the game Bulli?s Coach, Adrian Alston made a couple of changes. He threw on another big striker up front to try and shake up the Dandaloo defence which had been as solid as a rock in the opening half with Ceccoli mopping up superbly and ably supported by Captain David Kerr.
Despite Bulli?s best efforts Dandaloo held firm in the second half and went further ahead when Kencevski scored his second on 69 minutes to put the game out of reach of the boys in blue. It was now a case of ?steady as she goes? for the Dandy as they went about closing the game out and to rub salt into the wounds they scored a fourth goal with only three minutes left and it was that man Kencevski who made another powerful run to cap off a memorable performance with his hat trick.
To their credit Bulli never gave up the ghost and worked really hard to try and break down Dandaloo to get something out of the game but this was a day when all of Dandaloo?s star players played well together and were excellent in a supreme team effort. On top of the defensive effort, Noel Spencer and Chris Jackson were at their dominant best in midfield and what about the efforts of the hat trick hero. Kencevski?s goals were identical in the making and finishing and he was a real handful for Bulli defenders Michael Blaine and Rohan Daley.
Ceccoli was awarded the Scott Chipperfield Medal as man of the match for his commanding role at the back and just pipped Kencevski and Kerr for the award.
This was a thoroughly professional effort by the winners and the 4-0 score line indicates what a convincing performance it was in front of healthy crowd of 3070.
Congratulations to Dandaloo on such an outstanding season in which they proved that their side has been one of the best ever to grace the Illawarra Premier League. From Bulli?s point of view they also have had an excellent season. To finish runners up in both the League and Grand Final to such a great side is a commendable effort.