Premier Youth League The Finals Series Review

The playing surface was in magnificent order for a day that would decide which teams would claim the second berths in the respective Grand Finals.
Grade 13 Preliminary Final
West Sydney Berries had won both competition clashes with Manly United, 3-2 in the first round and then 1-0 the second time around and so they came into this game as the warm favourites..
However, Manly showed from the outset that they were not about to lie down as they rolled up their sleeves for what was to be the game of their young lives as they showed their true credentials to their opponents.
The Berries opened the scoring when J. Hall found the net in the 14^th minute but Manly went in search of a way to get back into the game and the result was a truly memorable match as the action flowed from one goalmouth to the other for the full sixty minutes.
That never-say-die attitude, now adopted in equal measure by both teams, produced high level skill and determination as well as many thrills and spills as the folk in the spectator areas became more and more aware that this match would not be decided until the final whistle.
It took until the final minute of play for Manly to find an equaliser and it came in the form of a spot kick which was duly converted by A. Kauk. In the process the Berries were reduced to ten players as the referee produced a red card.
Extra time was called upon to find a winner and Manly took the initiative when G. Blackwood rattled the net in the first minute of the first period. The Berries were forced to dig even deeper and they responded with an equaliser through A. Keith five minutes into the second period.
The dreaded penalty shootout was called upon to settle the issue and it was here that the Berries came to the fore as the won the contest five kicks to three. They have now qualified for the Grand final where they will face Marconi Stallions once again while Manly have bowed out of the finals series after winning a great many more admirers.
Grade 14 Preliminary Final
When Blacktown City faced Marconi Stallions in the first round of the competition the result was a scoreless draw and then the Stallions claimed the second round points when they were 1-0 winners.
This match started at a frantic pace as both teams clearly showed that they were ready to play and very keen to take the result and so the entertainment value was second-to-none.
There was action aplenty in both penalty areas as the teams sought to gain a vital edge over each other but there were no goals to please and excite the crowd until the 22^nd minute.
Blacktown had won a free kick some forty metres from goal and C. Gonzalez took control of the situation. His kick was clearly aimed toward goal and it floated over the best jumping attempts of the Stallions? goalkeeper to find the back of the net and give the Demons a 1-0 lead.
That was to last only seven minutes as Marconi were awarded a free kick some thirty-five metres from goal and off-centre. Not to be outdone by the earlier goal D. Youlley found the top corner of the net, giving the Blacktown ?keeper no chance, to square the ledger in more ways than one.
Despite the best efforts of both teams and plenty of chances at both ends, the scoreboard stood at 1-1 at the final whistle and so it was necessary to go into extra time to find a winner.
After an action-packed first period had produced no further goals the decided came in the second period and again it was from a free kick. On this occasion Marconi?s P. Awad took the free kick quickly, catching the Demons? defenders and goalkeeper in a state of disorganisation and finding the net to put his team in front for the first time.
The remaining time on the clock was used by both sides to try to fins another goal but it was not to come and so the Stallions have moved into the Grand Final where they will meet Manly United while the Demons have completed their commitments to the finals series with considerable style and grace.
Grade 15 Major Semi Final
Played at Marconi Stadium on Tuesday, 17^th August
Premiers Marconi Stallions had beaten second placed Sutherland Sharks 2-0 when they met in the first round and then the second round encounter ended in a scoreless draw.
The Stallions got off to the best possible start when James Demetriou put them in front in the very first minute but then the Sharks equalised just seven minutes later through C. Naumoff.
Anthony Frankl restored Marconi?s lead in the 18^th minute and then the same player put the issue beyond doubt in the 37^th minute to give the premiers a 3-1 victory on the night and secure their place in the Grand Final while Sutherland progressed to the Preliminary Final
Grade 15 Minor Semi Final
Played at Marconi Stadium on Tuesday, 17^th August
Third placed Sydney Olympic and fifth placed Manly United had battled out a scoreless draw when they met in the first round of the competition and then Olympic had taken all the second round points when they were 3-2 winners.
This match proved to be an absolute thriller as the teams went at each other as if there would be no tomorrow. After the first half produced no goals the winner was eventually found by Manly?s D. Ferguson during the equally thrilling second stanza.
That goal was enough to take manly into the Preliminary Final while Olympic have bowed out of the finals series for this campaign
Grade 15 Preliminary Final
When they met during the competition Sutherland Sharks and Manly United had shared the spoils with Manly winning the first round match 3-0 and then Sutherland claimed the second round points with a 1-0 victory.
From the start it was clear that the winner would be the team which took best advantage of the chances to score and that is exactly what happened.
Manly drew first blood when D. Chung found the back of the net as early as the 13^th minute but then Sutherland were back on level terms three minutes before the break when A. Baker beat the ?keeper.
Five minutes after the interval Manly resumed the lead thanks to a strike from J. Green and while the Sharks fought back valiantly, they were unable to find a second equaliser. Manly put the icing on the cake when J. Priest added their third goal with just three minutes remaining on the clock and then putting a fourth to make it 4-1 on the day.
Manly will now meet Marconi Stallions in the Grand Final while Sutherland?s memorable season has drawn to a close.
Grade 16 Preliminary Final
Meetings between Sutherland Sharks and Sydney United during the competition had been very close affairs with the first round match ending at 1-1 and then the Sharks took the second round points with a 1-0 result
While the first half of this match produced no goals there were plenty of moments of high drama as the teams showed the skill and determination required to play at this level of the game.
Three minute after the resumption Sutherland grabbed the lead after some very attractive lead up play ended with a successful strike from F. Bihakaj and then, just three minutes later they doubled their advantage with a goal to break teams? hearts.
The United goalkeeper had played the ball toward the half-way-line where it was met by Sutherland?s who immediately played a solid through pass toward goal. That pass caught the United defenders flat footed and the goalkeeper out of position as the ball continue to roll forward until it found the back of the net to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead.
While United showed that they were far from a spent force they could not find a way to break down the well drilled Sharks? defence and so they have completed their commitments to the finals series while Sutherland have progressed to the Grand Final where they will meet Manly United.
Grade 18 Preliminary Final
Premiers Bonnyrigg White Eagles were 1-0 winners when they faced third placed Sutherland Sharks in the first round of the competition and then the second round match ended in a 2-2 draw.
Keen to atone for last week?s big loss, Bonnyrigg started very strongly but their best efforts were equally by a well marshalled Sutherland team who were equally keen to achieve the best possible result.
There was plenty of goalmouth action at both ends of the pitch but there were no goals to warm the spectators until the 38^th minute when P. Savor put the Sharks ahead.
The intensity of play increased in the second half as both teams stepped up a gear or two but once again the goals were few very hard to find.
The Sharks doubled their advantage in the 79^th minute thanks to a second goal from Savor and then they sealed the result when J. Wolstenholme netted in the 86^th minute.
Sutherland will now meet South Coast Wolves in the Grand Final while Bonnyrigg have bowed out of the finals after the very good season.
-By Barry Davis