State League One Round 22 Review (Final Round)

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Featured Match
Balmain SC v Inter Lions

?INTER BEAT BALMAIN TO MAKE TOP FIVE?
Inter Lions produced a workmanlike performance to overcome Balmain SC 2-0 at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon, and, in the process, consolidate a semi final berth by retaining fifth position on the Division One competition ladder.
Going into the final match of the season, home side, Balmain , had nothing but pride to play for, sitting in eighth spot, and a gap either side that was to big to bridge irrespective of the result.
Pride was in fact, very high on the agenda, however, for a significant few players from Balmain, who had once donned the black-and-blue stripes of Inter in a previous life.
Inter Lions went into the final round sitting fifth, and with Mounties Wanderers and Stanmore Hawks within arms length, nothing short of three points would mean they could slip outside a finals berth at the final hurdle.
Both sides came into the clash minus some first team regulars, with experienced campaigner, Con Paradisis, a big loss for Balmain, against his former club, missing on the back of a second suspension this year.
Inter Lions were without Nick Ruoco and Peter Polistina, both on football missions overseas, and top scorer, Domenic Dimento, was also out, having accumulated five cautions and watching this crucial match from the dugout.
It was Balmain that needed to score first, and they had a great chance on 7 minutes.
Nick Paradisis has missed a large chunk of the season, through injury, but has managed to find the net a couple of times since his return recently.
Paradisis conjured up the opportunity himself, turning an Inter defender inside out on the edge of the box, but he sliced his shot high and wide from a tight angle, the ball bobbling off the uneven surface as he pulled the trigger.
Balmain were to rue the chance as they fell behind to a clinical piece of play from a couple of Inter?s youngsters in the 25th minute.
Hall received the ball just inside the box with his back to goal, turned inside, played a one-two with Chiandotto, and expertly clipped the shot into the top corner of the net to give Inter a 1-0 lead.
The goal came at the end of what had been a dour period of play, where most of the action occurred in the centre third of he pitch as both teams seemingly struggled to take control.
Balmain responded in the 34th minute, and it was Paradisis once more, hitting a snapshot inside the box that didn?t trouble Inter?s goalkeeper, Sestak, following good lead up work and a cross by Eddaoudi.
The last half opportunity of the first stanza arrived in the 44th minute, Balmain central defender, Leris, heading over the bar from a corner.
Referee, Mr O Ferguson, then brought proceedings to a halt, giving both teams a chance to regroup, and, Balmain especially, revisit their respective game plans in order to take something from this game.
Inter came out hoping to put the game to bed, and almost did just that in the 54th minute.
Chiandotto and Cremasco exchanged some swift passes inside the Balmain box, before Chiandotto steadied himself, cracking a low shot at goal from all of ten yards.
Balmain goalkeeper, Conway, did ever so well to get down quick and make an incredible save from point blank to keep his side in the match.
Balmain were struggling for ideas, their passes weren?t sticking, and you could just feel the game was slipping from their clutches.
In the 71st minute, the game did in fact slip away, when Leo Carle set up goal number two for the visitors.
Carle was a joy to watch on the ball, his composure, when surrounded by opponents an example to youngsters. He showed his class by controlling the ball on the right touchline, inside his own half, before knocking a long ball straight down the middle of the park.
Balmain?s defence were flat and static, and Anthony Ucchino, having just entered the fray minutes earlier, raced away, smacking the ball into the net at the second attempt after Conway?s initial parry fell back into his path.
Sixty seconds later Conway was at it again, holding position and saving brilliantly when Ellis ran straight through from halfway for a one-on-one confrontation with the Balmain custodian.
Balmain had thrown in the towel at this point, and Ucchino almost made it three in the 75th minute.
Chiandotto was played into a gaping hole down the right flank, and he gobbled up the yards before cutting the ball back to Ucchino on the edge of the box.
The robust striker took a touch before unleashing a rocket at goal, but Conway was having an inspired afternoon, and the Balmain goalkeeper diverted the shot away for a corner.
The remainder of the game then fizzled out, with Inter content to settle for a 2-0 win and the three points, and Balmain unable to do anything about it.
Balmain coach, Alex Kaltenegger, has had to endure a painstakingly disappointing season in 2010, with injuries, suspensions and postponements all playing a part.
His inconsistent side have been unable to string together a number of consecutive solid performances, leaving them stranded in the bottom half of the ladder for much of the year.
They ?huffed and puffed? against Inter, but lacked direction and precision in their play, and succumbed rather meakly on the day.
Best in a disappointing display for Balmain were ; goalkeeper, Conway, who was a real presence in between the sticks, quick off his line to reduce angles, direct with his communication, and kept his side in the game during the second half with a couple of great saves ; Leris was a tower of strength in the centre of defence, winning balls in the air and tackles on the ground ; Buonavoglia was always a threat, especially with the ball at his feet in the opposition penalty area, but the wee man?s efforts were often in vain on a day when it just didn?t go for Balmain.
Inter Lions must be congratulated on a marvelous achievement, having cleared an entire playing staff from 2009 (except the Dimento brothers), and with a relatively young squad, coach Nick Tarquinio has guided the side into a semi final position in his first year with the club.
Best for the winners were the players in the centre of the park ; Leo Carle had the ball on a string, his skills there for all to see as he flicked and twisted every which way he wanted, with his superb passing helping create many opportunities, including Ucchino?s goal in the second half ; Jacob Dimento played solidly as Carle?s support, often winning possession with his reading of the game, and holding post as the other midfielders pushed forward ; Ellis was excellent as anchor, playing an effective defensive midfield role, his good positioning allowing him to be the link between the defence and the midfield.
Match Stats
BALMAIN SC                            (0) 0  
INTER LIONS                           (1) 2 (Hall 25?, Ucchino 71?)
Sunday, August 15, at Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee ? Mr. O. Ferguson
Assistant Referees ? Mr.A.Barreca & Mr.G.Cassaniti
BALMAIN SC: 1.D.Conway, 2.A.Harvey (13.S.Speirs 77?), 3.T.Sowden (12.C.Townley-Jones 67?), 4.A.Trieste (capt), 5.A.Leris, 6.A.Eddaoudi (14.R.Bruno 58?), 7.C.Modena, 8.L.Merlino, 9.N.Paradisis, 10.J.Buonavoglia, 11.D.McPartling.
Subs not used- 15.V.Leto,16.H.Fujiwara.
Yellow Cards- 14.R.Bruno 81?, 12.C.Townley-Jones 90?.
Red Cards-NIL
INTER LIONS: 1.P.Sestak, 2.M.Cremasco (12.H.Park 82?), 3.A.Mansueto, 4.S.Perri, 5.D.Arcella, 6.J.Dimento (capt), 7.B.Ellis, 8.M.Khouri, 9.J.Hall (16.A.Ucchino 58?), 10.L.Carle (13.B.Davies 91?), 11.D.Chiandotto.
Subs not used ? 14. A.Chiandotto, 15.R.Maiorana.
Yellow Cards- 2.M.Cremasco 76?, 16.A.Ucchino 93?.
Red Cards-NIL.
Division One Review ? Round Twenty Two
Schofields Scorpions ? Stanmore Hawks 1-0
3-00pm, Sunday, August 15 @ CSI Sport Ground
Stanmore?s finals hopes evaporated at CSI Sport Ground when they succumbed to the solitary goal against Schofields Scorpions.
Sullivan put Schofields into the lead after just 11 minutes, and the home side held on to record a narrow but grateful home win, the three points keeping them in fourth position.
Stanmore had just completed their fourth match in eight days, a remarkable effort in itself, and just ran out of legs against a formidable opponent, finishing their promising season outside the semis in seventh spot.
Schofields now will tackle Inter Lions in an elimination semi final next week.
Mounties Wanderers ? Hurstville ZFC 5-1
3-00pm, Sunday, August 15 @ Cook Park
Hoping that Balmain could do them a favour by knocking over Inter Lions, Mounties took Hurstville apart by the tune of 5-1 at Cook Park on Sunday hoping to squeeze into the top five on the final day of the season.
After a scoreless first hour of play, Frankie Romeo started the ball rolling by scoring for the home side in the 63rd minute.
Youngster Nathan Schiccitano doubled their advantage in the 66th, before an own goal in the 79th put the game out of Hurstville?s reach.
Lagoudakis pulled one back nevertheless for the visitors in the 81st minute, but late strikes from Salvaggio (89th) and McCann (90th) completed the rout.
Mounties endured a season of injuries to quite a number of their first grade squad, and were never really in a position to replicate last year?s grand final triumph as a result, finishing their season in sixth spot.
Fairfield City Lions ? Camden Tigers 3-6
3-00pm, Sunday, August 15 @ Norford Park No.2
Camden Tigers came to Norford Park on Sunday, and took home three points and half a dozen goals in a scintillating display against Fairfield City Lions.
With one eye on the major semi final next week against Blacktown Spartans, the Lions lacked their usual spark, and missing the enigmatic George Issa didn?t help matters.
But don?t take anything away from Camden, who took on the competition?s entertainers head on, and came up trumps, in a wonderful way to complete their first season in Division One following promotion from Division Two.
It was Fairfield that hit the lead after 11 minutes when Ozcan Cetinay opened the day?s events, but Smutek (29th) and MacKechnie (30th) returned serve for Camden within a minute of each other.
Ongel then equalized for the Lions in the 35th minute, but Fuller restored Camden?s lead before the break.
Smutek made it 4-2 for Camden in the 75th minute, but Cetinay pulled one back for Fairfield with his second goal in the 85th.
But the visitors were not to be denied, and, taking advantage of the late substitutions of a number of Fairfield?s experienced players, Green (87th) and Cross (89th) both scored late on to end a remarkable afternoon?s entertainment.
Hills Brumbies ? Blacktown Spartans 1-3
3-00pm, Sunday, August 15 @ Second Ponds Oval
Blacktown Spartans will take some confidence heading into the semi finals as a result of their 3-1 away victory over competition minor premiers, Hills Brumbies.
In a match that had no bearing on the ladder, the Spartans showed their intentions by scoring in the 18th minute via Zahra.
Macrae made it 2-0 on the half hour, before grabbing his brace, and putting the match beyond doubt, with a goal on 62 minutes.
Jajaw?s goal in the 77th minute for Hills arrived way too late to make a difference to the outcome, and Blacktown held on to claim all three points.
Hills will have a rest as the semi finals begin next week, courtesy of their top spot on the ladder, whilst the Spartans will take on Fairfield City Lions in the major semi.
Gladesville Ryde Magic ? UNSW 1-0
2-30pm, Sunday, August 15 @ Magdala Reserve
Gladesville Ryde Magic finished their debut season in Division One on a high with a 1-0 victory over UNSW at Magdala Reserve on Sunday.
Nastoulis grabbed the al important winner after just three minutes, and despite frantic efforts from both sides, that was the way the score stayed.
The win lifted Gladesville to 22 points, in tenth position, well clear of the bottom two teams. UNSW remained on 12 points in eleventh spot, and they will look to regroup after what has been a very disappointing season.
Division One Golden Boot
Top Goalscorers
Congratulations to Yavos Ekinci of Fairfield City Lions, the 2010 Division One golden boot winner with 21 goals.
The veteran midfielder showed all his experience and technical prowess in a season where he consistently knocked in the goals, leading his team to third place on the competition ladder.
Young Stanmore sharpshooter, Wasim Hijazi, was second on the list, grabbing 17 goals of his own in a stellar season for the striker, his pace and nose for an opportunity in the opponents penalty box being two of his many strengths.
Third place was shared between Brendan Mitrovich (Hills) and Todd Macrae (Blacktown), from the top two sides in the division, both finishing on 13 goals each.
(Round Twenty Two)
21 – Ekinci (Fairfield City)
17 – Hijazi (Stanmore Hawks)
13 – Mitrovich (Hills Brumbies), Macrae (Blacktown Spartans)
12 – McPherson (Blacktown Spartans)
10Smutek (Camden Tigers), Squillacioti (Stanmore Hawks), Savic (Hills Brumbies)
  9 Cronk (Fairfield City)
  8 Dimento D (Inter Lions), Pannowitz (Hills Brumbies), Boyd (Schofields)
  7 – Paradisis (Balmain SC), McKie (Gladesville Ryde Magic), Zahra (Blacktown Spartans)
  6 – Issa (Fairfeild City Lions), Merlino (Balmain SC), Kabbara (Gladesville Ryde), Polistina (Inter Lions), McCann (Mounties)
-By Frank Speranza