NSW Super League Round 22 Review (Final Round)

Some big scores, not least at Mount Druitt, some close tight games, and some departures finished off Round 22.
Despite great recent results, it was Mount Druitt who succumbed on the final day, suffering a dreadful 5-1 loss at home to Fraser Park to finish in the relegation spot, one point adrift of Dulwich Hill.
Northern Tigers cemented second spot and will meet St George at home in the qualifying final while Spirit FC and Macarthur Rams also extended their seasons and will meet next week in the elimination final.
Feature Match of the Week
St George v Spirit FC
Reigning champions Spirit FC made absolutely sure of being able to defend their title when they qualified for the finals series after defeating St George 1-0 at a gusty St George Stadium.
It was through the boot of Daniel Cunningham that they went in front, after a direct free kick evaded all but the tall defender on the far post, and he was able to sweep the ball home. It was an important lead for the visitors who really needed the three points while a shock to St George who still held hopes of finishing second.
And so it was that the Saints rallied, maintaining possession and pressurising Spirit for large parts of the first half. They managed to get the ball over the line at one stage, after some intense activity in the six yard box, but the assistant spotted a handball and the goal was disallowed.
Peter Crevani came very close a few minutes before halftime while Brad Gibson, also, went very close for St George but the Spirit goal remained intact.
The conditions worsened as the swirling wind picked up in the second half, making control of the ball difficult. Spirit gamely defended their lead while St George tried desperately to draw level.
Spirit, frustrated quite a few times by offside calls, did manage to threaten the Saints goal when a shot from Tim Simpson, after a nice touch from Leo Papanicolau, just went wide and Ben Gough, blasted over with ten minutes left.
The last chance of the match fell to St George, but the long range effort from Arthur Diles was always rising.
The game was no classic, and certainly not helped by the conditions, but both teams can take heart as the finals approach. St George were confident on the ball and dominated for large periods, while the Spirit defence, strong today, looks to be returning to their form of last year.
St George 0 v Spirit FC 1 (Daniel Cunningham 10?)
22 August 2010
St George Stadium
Referee; Chris Young
Assts: Dean Ward and Patricia Villagomez
St George: 1. Daniel Nash 2. David Smith 5. Simon Verrender (c) 8. Brad Gibson 9. Juan Chavez 11. Peter Crevani 12. Hussein Rachid 13. Adrian Heath (25. Ivo de Jesus 60?) 17. Christian Cevenini (10. Denis Cutura 60?) 19. Daniel Fallico (4. Arthur Diles 80?) 24 Aram Derakzala.
Subs not used: 20. Costa D?Addona
Coach: Nick Orlic
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson 18. Tom Lovell 2. Daniel Cunningham 4. Paul Nicolau (c) 20. Scott Wright 15. Agyei Akwasi (16. Evan Daglis 73?) 8. Josh de Kelly 12. Brendan Griffin 7. Ben Gough 9. Tim Simpson (11. Stuart Meney 73?) 10. Leo Papanicolaou.
Subs not used: 5. Nick Trimble 13. Adam Peatey
Coach: Tony Walmsley
Mount Druitt v Fraser Park
It was what described by Rangers coach Gilbert Yalda as their worst game of the season, Mount Druitt claimed the unwanted title of wooden spoon after a stunning
1-5 home reverse to fellow strugglers Fraser Park. 
Mount Druitt, in a must win game, fell behind almost from the off and were two goals down by half time. Pablo Cardozo got the first after just three minutes and it was downhill for the Rangers from there. They weren?t helped too by injuries to Eddie Georges and keeper Chad Taylor, both of whom had to be replaced inside twenty minutes.
Two goals to Alex Smith, either side of half time, put the visitors up 3-0 and it must have seemed all over the Rangers. Leigh Gunn made it four before Greg Kondek managed to pull one back but then Paulo Oliveira put the final nail in the coffin with a fifth after 82 minutes.
Gilbert Yalda couldn?t understand the poor performance.
?It was easily our worst game of the year. Even if we had played half as well as what we have shown, we could have been ok. It was just one of those days, nothing went right?.
It is now a ?wait and see? game for Mount Druitt, as to the makeup of next season?s competitions.
Mount Druitt 1 (Greg Kondek 75?) v Fraser Park 5 (Pablo Cardozo 3?, Alex Smith 35?, 50?, Leigh Gunn 60?, Paulo Oliveira 82?)
Dulwich Hill v Parramatta Eagles
Dulwich Hill can feel very relieved after drawing 1-1 at Parramatta Eagles, a result which helped them maintain their Super League status.
Despite going a goal down early to a Shayne Ardle effort, the goals at Popondetta Park meant it was a relatively relaxed Dully who played out their own game, knowing that the probable loss by Mount Druitt would see them safe.
But they were happy to be able to draw level, the equaliser coming from the work of Norman Tome, playing his last game before retirement. It was a fitting end for Tome, who has had a fine career in the Australian game, and in particular, Dulwich Hill. Tome had worked well into the area, his shot taking a deflection before going in.
?It was great to take a point?, said Mark Strachan, ?and it made it a little satisfying that we didn?t just rely on other results. It is good that we got there in the end?.
Dulwich Hill 1 (own goal 76?) v Parramatta Eagles 1 (Shayne Ardle 17?)
Macarthur Rams v FC Bossy Liverpool
Macarthur Rams had to do it the hard way but they eventually overcame FC Bossy Liverpool to take the fifth and final spot for the semis. It was a sweet result for the Rams who just failed to make the finals last season on goal difference.
They had gone a goal down though to a goal by David Wilson just before half time and things looked grim. But an equaliser to Mathias Kullstrom pulled the Rams level before two goals in three minutes midway through the second half sealed the points. Firstly it was Chris Gomez and then Alvaro Malmierca, against his former club, who scored to ensure that the Rams played on next week.
It was no doubt a disappointing finish to the season for FC Bossy Liverpool, their third loss in a row cruelling their chances.
Macarthur Rams 3 (Matthias Kullstrom 55?, Chris Gomez 68?, Alvaro Malmierca 70?) v FC Bossy Liverpool 1 (David Wilson 41?)
Granville Rage v Northern Tigers
It appeared that a shock may have been on the cards after Granville Rage took an early lead against Northern Tigers at Garside Park. An own goal eight minutes in put the Rage in front but Northern Tigers, in excellent form at the moment, responded well, and killed off any remaining hopes that Granville may have had.
The speedy Max Glanville, netted just before the half hour to draw the Tigers level and then Tom Geekie, fifteen minutes from time, secured the three points. The win means that Northern Tigers claim second spot in the final standings while the Rage, after an horrendous final part of the season, slide to eighth position.
Granville Rage 1 (own goal 8?) v Northern Tigers 2 (Max Glanville 29?, Tom Geekie 74?)
Sydney University v Central Coast
Ironically, Hensley Field was finally available for Sydney University in this, the final round, after false alarms all season. They welcomed Central Coast Lightning to Pagewood, and finished off their year with a 6-2 hammering of the visitors.
Uni obviously liked being at home, at last, and went 3-0 up by half time. Two goals to Liam Delaney, sandwiched between a strike by Carlos Villazon, set them up for the win. Jamie Lobb got one back for the Coast with twenty minutes to go but then a double to Michael Dowling in the space of three minutes gave Uni a healthy 5-1 lead. But the goals didn?t stop there, Brady Smith scored a belter for 5-2 and then Christian Soares, in the final moments, made it 6-2. It was Soares? final appearance for the Students, and he finished off in a manner befitting their top scorer over the past two seasons.
While it was the final game for Soares, who heads back to Brazil on Tuesday, it was also the final game for John Caruana as head coach of Uni. Caruana has decided to seek greener pastures elsewhere but will leave Uni amicably.
?It was a good way to say goodbye today? he stated. ?The team made a big effort for my last game and it makes me feel good to finish up like this?.
?We completely dominated today, probably around 80%. Liam Delaney ripped them apart and Michael Dowling?s two goals were also excellent. But their number 9 was very good?and they scored two bombs today from 35 yards.?
As to the future, Caruana is unsure at this stage.
?I feel that my time at Uni was successful. We avoided relegation in my first year and made the semis last year. The win/loss ratio is pretty good so I regard it as a successful stint. I am looking forward to the next challenge, but as to what that is, I will just see what happens?.
Sydney University 6 (Liam Delaney 13?, 39?, Carlos Villazon 21?, Michael Dowling 83?, 85?, Christian Soares 92?) v Central Coast 2 (Jamie Lobb 70?, Brady Smith 87?).
Top Scorers
20 –       Sam Messam (Macarthur Rams)
14 –       Christian Soares (Sydney University)
13 –       Shayne Ardle (Parramatta Eagles)
11 –       Alex Smith (Fraser Park), Tom Spencer (Northern Tigers)
10 –       Ben Gough (Spirit FC)
9 –        Pat Cappuccio (Granville Rage)
8 –        Nenos Bobo (Granville Rage), Tony Faria (Dulwich Hill), Eddie Georges (Mount Druitt), Max Glanville (Northern Tigers)
-By Peter Rowney