Premier Youth League The Grand Finals Review

As always, the venues were decorated with the colours of the participating teams and to add to the atmosphere, there were lots of nervous giggles and hushed conversations among the proud supporters of all the teams.
The teams had all been well prepared during the past week or so and the result was five magnificent matches to compliment the very high quality of the play to be found at this level of the game.
The reports on those matches are below and next week we will present the regular End-of-Season Review which takes a look back on the performance of each club and each team in the 2010 season.
Grade 13
Marconi Stallions have enjoyed a phenomenal season by any measure, winning all twenty-three of their matches during the competition and scoring one-hundred-and-forty-nine goals at an average of 6.48 goals per game. They claimed the title as Premiers with three rounds to be played and they reached this match following a 4-0 win over in the Major Semi Final.
Second placed West Sydney Berries had won twenty of their twenty-four competition matches, losing only four times over the course of the season and finishing nine points ahead of the third placed team. They reached this match with a 2-1 win over Sydney Olympic in the Preliminary Semi Final, a 4-0 loss to Marconi Stallions in the Major Semi Final and then a penalty shootout win over Manly United in the Preliminary Final after the match was locked at 1-1 at full-time and at 2-2 at the end of extra time.
In head-to-head action during the competition the Stallions had claimed all the points with a 5-0 victory in the first round and then a 3-1 result when the teams met in the second round.
This time the match turned into a battle of wits as the Stallions continued with the formula that had proven to be so successful for them all season while the Berries adopted a more defensive approach which relied very heavily on counter attacks to create scoring chances.
The Berries continually closed down the space around the ball and so the Stallions found that they had very little room in which to play their normal free-flowing style and that stifled their ability to create scoring opportunities.
As a game plan, this concept proved to be quite successful for the Berries as they denied the opponents time and time again while they were occasionally able to catch the stallions out with a quick counter attack.
In the 14^th minute one of those counter attacks brought a huge reward when striker Bai Antoniou made a break from the halfway line and his strong run with the ball shrugged off three challenges before placing his shot beyond the reach of the diving Marconi goalkeeper to give the Berries the lead.
Marconi responded immediately by lifting their intensity but West Sydney kept their heads and their game plan intact as they continued to deny space to the best attacking team in all of Youth League for the remainder of the first half.
Throughout the second half the pattern of play became very familiar as Marconi launched wave after wave of attack only to be thwarted at the crucial moments by some disciplined defensive efforts while West Sydney continued to rely on the quick breaks that were keeping their opponents on the back foot.
The match became a dual question of whether Marconi could produce something very special to get back into the game or whether West Sydney would crack under the seemingly relentless pressure being applied to them and that kept everyone in the spectator areas on the very edges of their seats as the heart-stopping moments continued.
When the final whistle sounded the Berries were still 1-0 ahead and the relief they showed was very quickly replaced by celebrations and unbridled joy while for the Stallions the disappointment and frustration they felt was there for all to see.
The record books will show that West Sydney Berries are the 2010 Grade 13 Champions and Marconi Stallions are the Premiers. Those records will not show the intensity, skill, passion and determination that were on display from both teams in this memorable match.
Grade 14
Manly United completed the season in third position on goal difference with fourteen wins and four draws coming from their twenty-four matches. They qualified for this match with a penalty shootout win over Marconi Stallions in the Preliminary Semi Final and then a 1-0 victory over Premiers Blacktown City in the Major Semi Final.
Marconi Stallions were the competition runners-up, finishing five points behind the premiers and edging ahead of Manly United on goal difference. They reached this match after a penalty shootout loss to Manly United in the Preliminary Semi Final, a 2-1 win over Sydney Olympic in the Minor Semi Final and then an extra time victory over the Blacktown City in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the competition Marconi had taken the first round points with a 1-0 win and then Manly were 3-0 winners in the second round.
This match began at a frantic pace as both teams attempted to make an early impact on their opponents, setting the stage for a game that will live long in the memories of all who were fortunate enough to watch it.
End-to-end play was the order of the day with the thrills and spills combining with high level skills to provide first-class entertainment from the first whistle to the last.
Marconi drew first blood in the 16^th minute when Daniel Joya found the back of the net and then they doubled that advantage just moments before the interval with a goal from Richard Darko, the Grade 13 striker.
As the second half began Manly showed that they were really going to make a game of it as they when at Marconi with a renewed energy and that brought a reward with eleven minutes thanks to w strike from George Blackwood to reduce the deficit to a single goal.
Marconi upped their intensity and Manly matched it as both teams knew that they had to be the next to score if they were to gain the desired outcome. As a result the nerve tingling drama continued at both ends of the pitch with scoring chances falling in equal measure.
The Stallions restored their two goal lead in the 50^th minute thanks to a strike from Du?Shaun Youlley but that was not enough to deter the Manly team as they simply rolled up their sleeves and redoubled their determination.
While the lads from the northern beaches had some opportunities to get back into the game, their best efforts were stymied by a combination of very good goalkeeping and some very near misses.
When the final whistle sounded Marconi were 3-1 winners and they were crowned as the 2010 Grade 14 Champions while Manly could hold their head high with the knowledge that they had given everything they had to this match.
Grade 15
Marconi Stallions were crowned Premiers after they finished the competition one point clear of their nearest rivals after they posted eighteen wins and three draws from their twenty-three matches. They reached this match by taking the direct route with a 3-1 win over second placed Sutherland Sharks in the Major Semi Final.
Manly United completed their competition commitments in fifth place with thirteen wins and two draws coming from their twenty-four matches. They qualified for this match with a 4-1 success over Blacktown City in the Elimination Semi Final, a 1-0 win over Sydney Olympic in the Minor semi Final and then a 3-1 victory over Sutherland Sharks in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the competition Marconi were first round winners with a 2-0 scoreline and then the Stallions took the second round points with a 2-1 result.
This was arguably the best match on a day of good matches and it stands out because it was clear from the outset that both teams had a game plan which involved all-out attack, providing maximum entertainment value for everyone in the spectator areas as the match rested on a razor?s edge.
The teams went at each other with plenty of skill and innovation resulting in a plethora of goalmouth action at both ends of the stadium causing the pulse rates of those watching to match that of the players.
Manly drew first blood thanks to a goal from Dominic Ferguson in the 11^th minute but both teams knew that it was not going to be the only goal as they stepped up a gear.
Marconi were back on level terms in the second half when James Demetriou rattled the back of the net and yet again both teams upped the ante as they sought to gain the advantage.
The second half produced an even higher level of skill and determination to delight the large crowd and to keep their nerves jangling as each goal was peppered with shots.
Manly were back on level terms in the 53^rd minute when Callum Elder netted for them and no-one need to be reminded that it was very much a case of ?game-on?.
The defences held firm as they dealt with the seemingly relentless pressure being applied by their opponents and so, with no more goals coming during normal time, the match moved into extra time for a decision.
With both teams digging deep it was perhaps inevitable that something had to give and that is exactly what happened midway through the second period of extra time.
Marconi?s Anthony Francl was on hand to take full advantage of a rare mistake in the heart of the Manly back line and his quick thinking combined with accurate shooting to provide the Stallions with the breakthrough goal only seconds to go in extra time.
Manly were far from a spent force as they immediately resumed their attacking commitment but time beat them in the end.
Marconi Stallions were crowned 2010 Premiers and Champions and the Manly United team can hold their heads high after a match that once again proved why the Premier youth League is regarded as the best youth competition in Australia.
Grade 16
Manly United finished the competition in third place on goal difference after they had posted twelve wins and eight draws from their twenty-four matches. They qualified for this match after the defeated APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1-0 in the Preliminary Semi Final, winning 2-0 to Sutherland Sharks in the Major Semi Final going to the Grand Final.
Sutherland Sharks were the Premiers after they finished the competition ten points clear of their nearest rivals thanks to an undefeated season in which they registered sixteen wins and six draws from their twenty-two matches. They reached this match following a 2-0 loss in the Major Semi Final and a 2-0 victory in the Preliminary Final against Sydney United.
In head-to-head action during the competition the first round match was a scoreless draw and then the second round match produced exactly the same result.
From the first whistle, everyone expected this match to be very tight indeed and that is exactly what we got as the teams went at each other with the skill, determination and passion expected at this level of the game.
Throughout the first half it was anyone?s guess about which team would produce the first goal as their clever attacking play was more than matched by some resolute defending as the action moved from one end of the pitch to the other and back again.
While there were no goals scored in the first half, there was enough goalmouth activity to keep both sets of supporters on their feet.
When play resumed after the break it was evident that both teams were digging deep as they continued to press forward in search of the goal that would give them a vital advantage.
We had to wait until the 74^th minute for the breakthrough and that came when Manly?s Adam Wilson rattled the net to give his team the lead.
Rather that treat that as a setback, the Sharks simply rolled up their sleeves and redoubled their efforts in an attempt to find an equaliser but their backs were against the wall as time became as big an enemy as the rock-solid Manly defence.
In the final analysis that single goal was sufficient for manly united to be crowned Champions in Grade 16 for 2010 but it will not be forgotten that the Sutherland Sharks made them work very hard for that title.
Grade 18
South Coast Wolves were placed second at the end of the competition after they had produced thirteen wins and five draws from their twenty-two matches. They qualified for this match with a 3-0 win over Sutherland Sharks in the Preliminary Semi Final and then a 6-0 success of Premiers Bonnyrigg white Eagles in the Major Semi Final.
Sutherland Sharks completed the competition third position with thirteen wins and four draws to show for their efforts. They reached this game after losing the Preliminary Semi Final 3-0 to the Wolves, defeating Marconi Stallions 2-0 in extra time in the Minor Semi Final and then beating Bonnyrigg 3-0 in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the competition the Wolves claimed the first round points with a 2-1 victory and then they repeated that scoreline to take the second round points.
This was a first-class game of football from beginning to end as the teams produced a stunning array of skills combined with the tactical expertise and sheer determination need to make it to the top in this competition.
The Wolves gained an early advantage when guy knight found the back of the net in the 7^th minute but it was clear that the sharks were not going to allowed that to upset them.
Ignoring the fact that they had not beaten South Coast this season, the Sharks went about their tasks with confidence and aplomb as they sought a goal that would get them back into the contest.
Their efforts were rewarded in the 32^nd minute when Michael Stuart scored an equaliser and that seemed to lift their spirits and confidence enormously.
Just six minutes later the Sharks took the lead thanks to a strike from Aaron Daly and that was a just reward for their commitment to attacking play.
After some well chosen words of advice from the coaching staff in the respective dressing rooms both teams resumed the action with a renewed vigour and the quality of the match stepped up a gear from its? already high standard.
The play flowed back and forth and there was plenty of goalmouth action to keep the crowd on edge as some very near misses combined with some excellent goalkeeping and rock solid defensive play.
While both teams went close, there was no addition to the scoreboard and so Sutherland Sharks were crowned Grade 18 Champions for 2010 while the South Coast Wolves had plenty to be proud of from a memorable match.
-By Barry Davis