Parramatta Eagles win in cliff hanger Grade 20s Grand Final over St George

The Saints had looked the goods in taking the 2-0 lead. It was only three minutes in when Sean Thomas rose to head in a corner in their first attack of the game. It was an impressive start too by St George who could have had a couple more in quick succession.
Jordan Figon hit the bar just a minute after the Saints went a goal up with a wonderful left footer while he also came close not long after that but just failed to connect to sweet cross.
The Eagles were under early pressure with some indecision across the back but after finally settling, they began to make some inroads. Brima Kamara had their opening chance but he was just wide of the post with a good opportunity and then Christian Bucciarel drove from distance but failed to threaten.
But the Eagles should have equalised when Luke Grima had a shot cleared off the line, from only metres out. In a cruel twist, St George immediately counter attacked and doubled their advantage.
Figon had space to run, and as he has done many times this year, stroked the ball home, giving Oliver Lovell little chance.
Figon and Zekarias Sampson were a dangerous pair up front, causing strife to the Eagles defence but it was when Mitchell Duke took an a more attacking role that Parramatta started to threaten.
Within minutes of moving further forward, Duke gratefully received a poor Saints headed clearance and strode away to score, bringing the Eagles back into the game.
Parramatta began to exert some control as they dominated the remainder of the half but Sampson, for St George, had a fantastic chance to make it 3-1 but instead of placing the ball, chose instead to blast, missing the opportunity.
It was here that Costa Dadonna then came into his own. As Parramatta piled on the pressure after the break, Dadonna made save after save, flying through the air on one occasion to thwart substitute Adam Issa. The Saints were starting to feel the strain, having difficulty at times in clearing the Eagles attacks, but there was no doubt that Dadonna was doing his level best to keep the Saints in front.
But then, with just ten minutes to go, a foul by Dadonna, bringing down an Eagles attack, gave Parramatta a penalty. Grima made no mistake and brought the scores level.
The impetus was clearly with Parramatta as St George began to tire. And with just two minutes to go, and extra time looming, the Eagles got their long awaited breakthrough.
An error of judgement in the back allowed classy substitute Issa to win possession, and turning inside, left Dadonna with no chance.
3-2 to Parramatta and they could have hardly have left it any later. It was a cruel blow for St George who had battled all the way from fifth spot to the Grand Final, but a great effort by Parramatta Eagles to come back from two goals down.
Match Stats
Paramatta Eagles 3 (Mitchell Duke 27?, Luke Grima pen 80?, Adam Issa 89?)
St George 2 (Sean Thomas 3?, Jordan Figon 22?)
12 September 2010
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills 
Referee: Leigh Pigram
Assts: Mike Robertson and Thomas Lee
Parramatta Eagles: 20. Oliver Lovell 21. Adam Luzi 22. Ryan Marchant 24. Jeff Surace 29. Christian Bucciarel (29. Foday Kamara 90?) 30. Karim Reda 32. Justin Camara 33. Luke Grima 35. Brima Kamara (26. Adam Issa 61?) 36. Mitchell Duke 37. Shayne Ardle (31. William Freitas 70?)
Subs not used: 27. Christopher Doumanis 38. John Triantis
Coach: Justin Bucciarelli
St George: 20. Costa Dadonna 3. Daniel Firth 21. Liam Cole 22. Dario Espejel 26. Tom Gollins 27. Shaquille Ali (28. Andrew Pineda 75?) 29. Jordan Figon 30. Lachlan O?Connor (37. Alex Becerra 88?) 31. Simon Di Natale 34. Sean Thomas 39. Zacharias Sampson (33. Marc Svinos 59?).
Subs not used: 38. Mohammed Choucair 1. Daniel Nash
Coach: Nass Martino
-By Peter Rowney