State League One Finals Series Round 3 Preview
Hills Brumbies lead the Division One ladder for much of the 2010 season, finishing worthy minor premiers by three points, and earning the first week off in the finals series as a result.
But the Brumbies steady and well structured performances for much of the campaign seem to have deserted them within the month of August.
Hills lost two of their final three competition matches, against fellow finalists, Schofields and Blacktown, and then came unstuck in the first semi final last weekend, against a nine-man Fairfield City, by 3-4 in extra time.
Inter Lions on the other hand, had to push home in their final matches, managing to sneak fifth spot at the completion of the competition proper.
Since then the Lions have gone from strength to strength, defeating league powerhouses Schofields (1-0) and Blacktown Spartans (4-1) in do-or-die, elimination semi finals.
Hills will, however, take some comfort from the fact that they finished victorious in both matches during the competition.
Round 3 on April 3rd gave Hills a 3-1 triumph on the back of a brace of goals to Micky Awad and one from Dragan Savic. Seb Petralito replied for Inter.
The return match was in Round 14 and was played on June 20th.
The Brumbies took a first minute lead via Miladinovic, and were never troubled from there, with a brace of goals to both Dragan Savic and Brendan Mitrovich giving them a resounding 5-1 victory. Daniel Chiandotto grabbed the solitary goal for Inter.
It?s an intriguing clash, and an unlikely one, that brings together 1st place against 5th place ? a very rare encounter in the structure of top five semi final football.
For one of these clubs, the 2010 season comes to an end, whilst the other will go on to contest the Grand Final against Fairfield City Lions at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday September 11th – get out to Bensons Lane to see who prevails on Father?s Day.
Preliminary Final
Sunday, September 5 @ Bensons Lane
1st Grade @ 3-00pm
Hills Brumbies ? Inter Lions
Fairfield City Lions will be hoping to make it a memorable day for the club if they can topple Schofields Scorpions and make the U/20s grand final against Gladesville Ryde Magic, given their first grade outfit are already there.
Under 20s
Sunday, September 5 @ Bensons Lane @ 12-30pm
Schofields Scorpions ? Fairfield City Lions
-By Frank Speranza
