Under 12 Metropolitan Representative Grand-Final winners ? Gladesville-Hornsby Association

A scrappy first-half affair was brought to life in the second period as goals to William Foristal, Jackson Bandiera and Mitchell Wyatt were too much for Stefan Pupovac?s single effort for Southern District.
A rather even opening with a solid battle in midfield developing failed to provide any real openings in the early moments of play, though Southern District did get a sight of goal on 5? minutes via Nikola Djordjevic who failed to hit the target from the left.
Gladesville-Hornsby replied with a swift counter-attacking move moments later as William Foristal was fed a through ball onto goal. With the goal at his mercy, Foristal was denied by a fine last ditch tackle by Austin Khannara.
Southern District got in behind the defence on 8? minutes as Ante Vrlic anticipated goalkeeper Connor Hammond on the edge of the penalty-area. With the goal unattended, the Gladesville-Hornsby defenders got back in cover quickly to deny Vrlic?s second effort on goal.
Gladesville-Hornsby?s best forward forays arrived via the feet of tall striker Jackson Bandiera. Bandiera?s height and pace constantly had Southern District on the back foot, and his slalom effort on 15? minutes inside the penalty-area very nearly carved out an opening if not for some scrambling defensive work by the Southern District rearguard.
Southern District?s Gino Cerasoli caught the Gladesville-Hornsby defence out with a fine through ball into the path of Leo Guzman. The striker, under the close attention of his marker, was brought down on the edge of the penalty-area allowing Cerasoli a dead-ball situation from a positive position. Cerasoli?s free-kick packed a real punch, though failed to hit the target, with the ball finishing over the crossbar.
Jackson Bandiera?s left footed in-swinging corner from the right had the Southern District goalkeeper Adrian Sanchez back tracking as the ball, only just, skimmed the top of the crossbar.
After the break, Southern District attempted to up the tempo and it was Domenic Vaccari?s shot-turn-cross from the left-flank that called Gladesville-Hornsby shot-stopper Connor Hammond into a save.
Hammond was forced into a more difficult save moments later as Vrlic tried his luck with a half-volleyed attempt from distance. Hammond positioned himself nicely, and coolly claimed the ball down to his right.
With second-half momentum following Southern District, Gladesville-Hornsby hit back with a fine counter-attack that produced the opening goal of the match. Bandiera?s powerful run and shot from the left-side of the penalty-area forced Karim Salah to parry the attempt ? the follow-up fell into the path of Foristal who was quick on the spot to slot home to put his side ahead.
The goal appeared to spur Gladesville-Hornsby into action as Bandiera again showed his pace and skill to get in behind the defence on 35? minutes, denied only by some scrambling Southern District defence.
Stefan Pupovac created himself an opening on the edge of the penalty-area for Southern District, hitting a very good effort on goal, though again denied by some very sound goalkeeping by Hammond.
Gladesville-Hornsby doubled their lead in the 41? minute courtesy of Bandiera. The tall striker finished perfectly with a looping effort from the edge of the penalty-area finishing in the top right-hand corner, out of the reach of goalkeeper Salah.
Southern District put their best foot forward to find an opening to get back into the match, though some stout defending by Gladesville-Hornsby kept the deficit at two. Pupovac tried his luck from a set-piece though Hammond was again well positioned to save.
Pupovac did find a goal in the final minute of play following a goalmouth scramble. A series of failed clearances by the Gladesville-Hornsby defence saw Pupovac get a final touch to slot home past Hammond.
Despite Southern District?s final attempts to find an equaliser, Gladesville-Hornsby found a third goal to seal the win. Mitchell Wyatt capitalised on a fabulous forward foray from Bandiera down the left to pick his spot and finish with aplomb from close-range for the 3-1 win.   
Match Stats
Under 12 Metropolitan Representative Grand-Final
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Lily Homes Stadium
Gladesville-Hornsby Association 3 (William Foristal 30?, Jackson Bandiera 41?, Mitchell Wyatt 50?+1?)
Southern District Association 1 (Stefan Pupovac 50?)
Gladesville-Hornsby Association: 20.Connor Hammond (C); 2.Adrian Leeds, 3.Samuel Paslis, 4.Frank Sorbello, 5.Isaac Dandan, 6.Connor McPhie, 7.Nathan Philips, 8.Jacob Basden, 9.Mitchell Wyatt, 10.Daniel Bounpraseuth, 11.Jackson Bandiera, 12.Hugo Wiggins, 13.Daniel Bouman, 14.William Foristal
Coach: Allan Tasses
Assistant Coach: Chris Kinsella
Manager: Geoff Basden
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Southern District Association: 1.Adrian Sanchez; 2.Jack Munro, 3.Austin Khannara, 4.Matthew Liemich, 5.Brandon Vegas, 6.Jamie Auciello, 7.Joseph Castagnella, 8.Justin Trajcevski, 9.Leo Guzman, 10.Domenic Vaccari, 11.Gino Cerasoli, 12.Nikola Djordjevic, 13.Cameron Caligiuri (C), 14.Ante Vrlic, 15.Stefan Pupovac, 16.Karim Salah
Coach: Danny Grant
Assistant Coach: Dean Meyer
Manager: Electo Alvarez
Yellow Cards: Adrian Sanchez 13?
Red Cards: Nil
 -By Joseph Carlucci