Super Youth League Preliminary Finals Review

It was damp and a bit uncomfortable for the players and the Melita Stadium pitch had all the tell-tale signs of a soft surface but the quality of the play was not affected in any way as the teams put their best feet forward in their attempts to secure places in the respective Grand Finals.
Grade 13
Sydney University were the Premiers and Mounties Wanderers had finished in fourth place and when they met in the firs round the score was 0-0 but then the second round points went to the Wanderers when they won 2-1.
Uni grabbed an early advantage this time when J. Mayer found the back of the net in the 5^th minute but then the Mounties fought back to level the scores in the 20^th minute thanks to a strike from L. Hinton.
The second half was very closely contested but unfortunately there were no more goals and so extra time was needed but once again neither team could find the back of the net.
In the nail-biting penalty shootout Uni gained the upper hand and they were 4-3 winners, giving them the spot in the Grand Final while the Wanderers have bowed out of the finals series.
Grade 14
Spirit FC had finished in second position and Mounties Wanderers were fourth at the end of the competition and in their head-to-head meetings so far this season the Wanderers had taken all the points with a 2-0 result in the first round and then a 4-0 success when they faced off in the second round.
With a place in the Grand Final at stake both teams showed that they were prepared to produce the match of their lives to claim that prize. This match was of the highest quality as the combatants displayed superb skill, fabulous commitment and a tactical understanding beyond their young years.
After an opening period in which the honours were even in terms of ball possession and territorial advantage Mounties opened their account for the day with a goal from Benjamin Yaran in the 18^th minute and they were able to maintain that slender lead through to the break despite the best efforts of the lads from Gladesville.
Two minutes after the interval the Wanderers doubled their advantage when Yaran struck again but Mounties knew there was still a long way to go and that Spirit would not lie down at that stage.
In fact, Spirit managed to claw their way back into the contest in the 44^th minute thanks to goal from Matt Dowd and then just eleven minutes later Matt Kremmer squared the ledger at 2-2.
Despite the fact that both teams were throwing everything they had at their opponents there were no more goals during normal time and so extra time was called upon to determine the winner.
Mounties resumed the lead through that man Yaran completed his hat-trick just three minutes into the first period but Spirit were far from beaten and they equalised once again, this time thanks to a 70^th minute goal from Nicholas Ballard.
The second period of extra time failed to produce the goal that would have given us a winner and so it was off to the penalty spot to solve the mystery. It was here that the Mounties gained the upper hand when they won the shootout 5-4 and that has given the place in the Grand Final. Spirit have acquitted themselves admirably and they have bowed out of the finals series with their pride intact.
Grade 15
When second placed Sydney University faced third placed Spirit FC during the competition Uni had taken all the points with a 3-1 win in the first round and then a 1-0 victory in the second round.
This battle for the final place in the Grand Final was a very even contest throughout with both teams producing the skill and determination needed for success at this level of the game.
Spirit gained the advantage in the tenth minute thanks to a goal from J. Stals and while both teams created a myriad of opportunities, there was no addition to the score before the half-time break.
Spirit increased their intensity form the first whistle of the second stanza and Uni immediately adjusted to match them but nine minutes into this period Spirit increased their lead when they applied enormous pressure at a corner kick to force an ?own goal? to take the scoreline to 2-0.
In the 55^th minute a twenty-five metre free kick was taken by Spirit?s J. Jelenicerian and the swerving strike found the top corner of the net with unwavering accuracy to give his team a 3-0 lead.
That was enough to break the hearts of the gallant Uni players but they refused to simply throw in the towel as they continued to play with a pride and passion that was a credit to them.
In the final analysis, Spirit have progressed to the Grand Final and Uni will not be forgotten.
Grade 16
During the competition second placed Parramatta Eagles had beaten third placed Macarthur Rams 2-0 in their first round encounter and then the second meeting ended in a 1-1 draw.
On this occasion the match was the most even of contests played between two teams who were clearly driven by the need to claim the final spot in the Grand Final.
The teams neither asked nor expected any quarter as they went at each other in a passionate clash but they were unable to produce the breakthrough goal that would have given one of them the advantage before the interval.
The second half saw more of the same as the teams battled away looking for the slightest of edges but it seemed that they were both concealing their weaknesses superbly and giving their all to their undoubted strengths. The good folk in the spectator areas had their nerves jangling at the spectacle before them but that did not affect the level of support they provided for their heroes.
Just when it seemed inevitable that the match would be prolonged by extra-time, that thought was cancelled when K. Dalton found the back of the net for the Eagles with less that two minutes remaining on the referee?s watch.
Parramatta Eagles have moved into the Grand Final and Macarthur Rams have completed their commitment to the finals series.
Grade 18
When they met earlier in the season fourth placed Parramatta Eagles had bagged all the points with a 2-1 victory in the first round and then a 3-2 second round win.
On this occasion the match was once again highly competitive with the teams concentrating on denying each other the vital attacking space, leading to a great deal of innovative and entertaining play when they launched attacking moves.
Parramatta drew first blood in the 26^th minute when J. Triantis found the back of the net and then the Eagles were forced to dig deep to maintain that advantage for the remainder of the first half as the Tigers went in search of an equaliser.
Seven minutes after play resumed the Tigers squared the ledger with a goal from G. Lynch and that caused the game to step up a level from an already frantic tempo. While there were several good quality chances at both ends of the pitch, there was no addition to the score and so extra time was needed.
While it seemed to be impossible, the teams raised the bar once again and the crowd were delighted with the quality of the play on display. The resolve of the respective defences indicated that it would be very difficult to find another goal.
Just when it seemed absolutely certain that this match would be decided from the penalty spot, the Eagles dug deep to conjure enough space for D. Nyarnhom to break the deadlock.
That goal gave the Eagles the second spot in the Grand Final while the Tigers can hold their heads very high indeed after giving their all to this match.
-By Barry Davis