Division One Youth League The Finals Series

Grade 13
Elimination Semi Final
St George had taken the first round points from Gladesville Ryde Magic with a 1-0 result and then the second round game ended in a scoreless draw.
Those close results served fair warning that this match would be a real battle and that is exactly what happened. Neither team could find the back of the net despite many chances falling at both ends of the pitch during an action packed first and second halves of normal time.
Extra time was called upon but still there was no breakthrough and so it was off to the penalty spot for a decision and that is where the real drama occurred. After an exhausting thirteen kicks to each team we finally had a winner when Gladesville came through with a 10-9 win.
They will now play in the Minor Semi Final while the Saints have completed their commitments to the finals series.
Preliminary Semi Final
Fraser Park had bagged the first round points from the match against Stanmore Hawks and then the second round match was a 1-1 draw.
After a scoreless first half the Hawks sparked to life in the second stanza when G. Kounis provided them with the lead five minutes after the break. Fraser Park gave their all to trying to get back into the game but they simply could not score  The Hawks kept looking for another goal and they were rewarded when Kounis found the net again in the 53^rd minute.
That was enough to take Stanmore into the Major semi Final where they will be up against Mt Druitt town rangers while Fraser Park will meet Magic in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 14
Elimination Semi Final
When they met during the competition Fraser Park and St George had battled out a 3-3 first round draw while Fraser Park had taken the second round points with a 1-0 result.
While the action flowed relentlessly from one end of the ground to the other and back again and there were plenty of chances to score, no goals were forthcoming in an otherwise very entertaining clash.
When the final whistle indicated the end of normal time, extra time was called upon but still the goal drought continued and so the penalty shootout was required.
It was here that Fraser Park gained the upper hand as they ran out 3-1 winners to claim a berth in the Minor Semi Final while the Saints will play no further part in the finals series.
Preliminary Semi Final
The clashes between Hurstville City Minotaurs and Southern Branch during the competition had ended in draws, 1-1 in the first round and then 0-0 in the second round.
The first half of this match produced plenty of action but there were no goals and so we had to wait for one of the teams to make a vital breakthrough. That came in the second half when Hurstville?s A. Pijcke found the back of the net and that proved to be enough to take the Minotaurs through to he Major Semi final where they will play Mt Druitt Town Rangers while Southern will meet Fraser Park in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 15
Elimination Semi Final
Springwood United had claimed the points when they met Gladesville Ryde Magic in the first round of the competition and then the second match was a 2-2 draw.
As had been the case earlier in the day, the first half of this match was very entertaining but there were no goals to enjoy despite the very best efforts of both teams.
Springwood finally got their noses in front when Caleb Moore found the back of the net in the 55^th minute and that proved to be enough to assure the mountain men of a place in the Minor Semi Final while magic have bowed out of the finals series.
Preliminary Semi Final
Fraser Park had grabbed the first round points from Stanmore Hawks with a 3-1 result but then Stanmore came up with a 2-1 success in the second round.
The first half was scoreless despite a multitude of scoring chances coming and going for both teams and we had to wait until the 51^st minute for the first and only goal of the game. It came from a strike from Stanmore?s J, Spyrakis and it proved to be enough to carry the Hawks through to the Major Semi Final where they will be up against Hakoah while Fraser Park will meet Springwood in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 16
Elimination Semi Final
Springwood United had grabbed all the points from their competition clashes with Hurstville City Minotaurs, winning the first round match 4-2 and then they posted a 2-0 result in the second round.
Hurstville started like a house on fire and their efforts were rewarded when they took the lead in the 14^th minute through G. Koimanis. They continued to apply pressure to their opponents and they stretched their lead to 2-0 when R. Arditti found the net in the 28^th minute.
The second half saw a dramatic change in the game as Springwood began to take charge. They pushed forward in numbers as they sought ways to get themselves back into the game. The mountain men pulled a goal back in the 53^rd minute through B. Diaz and then they really rolled up their sleeves as they looked for an equaliser.
Despite their very best efforts, that search was in vain and so Hurstville have advanced to the Minor Semi Final while Springwood have bowed out of the finals with their pride intact.
Preliminary Semi Final
When they met during the competition Fraser Park had claimed the first round points from Mt Druitt Town Rangers with a 1-0 win and then the second round encounter was a 1-1 draw.
Fraser Park started very strongly and they drew first blood when C. Gomes found the back of the net in the 22^nd minute and that seemed to stir the Rangers into an increased intensity but they could not turn that into goals.
The early stages of the second half were very even and both teams looked likely to score. However, Fraser Park were the more capable in this area as D. Papoulsis took the scoreline to 2-0 a minute before the full-time whistle.
Fraser Park will meet Camden Tigers in the Major Semi Final and Mt Druitt will face Hurstville in the Minor Semi Final.
Grade 18
Elimination Semi Final
St George and Mt Druitt Town Rangers had played out a 2-2 draw when they met in the first round and then the Saints grabbed the second round points with a 3-1 scoreline.
This time the Saints pushed forward in an attempt to dominate the game and they managed to not only achieve that aim but they also scored a goal in the process.  I came from M. Dimitropoulos in the 16^th minute and it appeared to be only a matter of time before they would add to their tally.
While the Rangers were on the back foot for long periods their defence held firm to deny the Saints any more goals until the interval and then well into the second half.
Mt Druitt were relying on counter attacks to get back into the game and that paid off in the 75^th minute when H. Cakal ripped through the defence to provide and equaliser. When the same player repeated the effort with a second goal eleven minutes later the Rangers were through to the Minor semi Final while St George will play no further part in the finals series.
Preliminary Semi Final
In the competition matches Fraser Park had produced a 3-2 first round win over Gladesville Ryde Magic and then the second round match was a 2-2 draw.
On this occasion the teams went at each other at a frantic pace from the beginning with Gladesville appearing to have the slightest advantage. Chances went begging at both ends of the ground and the game was sitting on a razor?s edge.
It took until the 78^th minute for the first goal to come when Fraser Park?s T. Biggins-Gilchrist scored from a free kick and then, just two minutes later, L. Evans made sure of the result with a strike that took the scoreline to 2-0.
Fraser Park will now play Camden Tigers in the Major Semi Final and Magic will meet Mt Druitt in the Minor Semi Final.
-By Barry Davis