Fairfield Bulls crowned Champions of State League 2
This year?s Premiers held a 2-1 halftime lead all the way to the fulltime whistle as Hurstville squandered a string of chances to take the game into extra time, Alaa Ali Khan?s 24th minute dance through the Minotaurs defence and Niram Kanoun?s penalty on the stroke of halftime canceling out Nicholas Goumis? equaliser for Hurstville on the half-hour mark.
It was a terrific way to end the season for Fairfield, who came from third last on the ladder in round eight to win the minor premiership in the final round of football. They dropped just one of their last 13 games and were the only State League Two team to win both the minor premiership and grand final trophies in 2010.
Unfortunately, their reserve graders spoilt a remarkable season and lost just their second match of the year to a stubborn Minotaurs 2-1 in a spicy final to start the day.
A healthy crowd of about 300 turned up on a murky but cosy day as Hurstville City Minotaurs started the first grade decider in a blaze of glory, young Fairfield Bulls goalkeeper Luke Hormis punching clear a Minotaurs freekick in the fourth minute.
Hurstville coach Peter Sarikakis was forced to hold his breath a second time as star striker and division two?s Golden Boot Michael Di Meglio went down clutching his leg after he went to block a clearance from the Bulls defence not long after, and with his side a man down receiving treatment Fairfield?s Paul Oudicho had a cheeky attempt picked up by Minotaurs keeper Joshua Da Palma.
The tit-for-tat affair turned into a test of nerves for both custodians as Hormis had to stretch out to gather in a Stefano Marconi header from a dangerous Hurstville corner kick in the 18th minute and then charge down Alexander Obeid?s look on goal a minute later after Di Meglio had thieved the ball from a sloppy Fairfield defence.
With the wind in their sails the Minotaurs launched another raid on the Bulls goal and Terry Sidiratos could only hold his hips and mutter something unprintable as his promising run into the box was scrambled out for yet another Hurstville corner.
It would take a moment of brilliance from Fairfield midfielder Alaa Ali Khan to break the tension and his 24th minute canter down the left hand side to cut back inside two defenders and shoot across goal produced the game?s opener, despite a sharp Da Palma getting a glove on the blistering strike.
The Bulls supporters erupted with joy but it didn?t take long for Hurstville to respond as Nicholas Goumis tested Hormis with a low drive in the 26th minute before Di Meglio wound up for another go just before the half-hour mark and his goal-bound powerdrive could only be parried by a diving Hormis into the path of Goumis, who had the simplest of tap-ins to level the scores up once again.
The goals sent an already electrified crowd into a frenzy as the chants, drums, horns, and even the dreaded vuvuzelas, picked up pace, pitch and volume in a whirlwind of passion on the sidelines.
The light-hearted banter between the good-spirited fans only heightened the atmosphere as Hurstville surged forward searching for a second goal and Goumis perhaps could have played square to Di Meglio in front of goal instead of blasting high, while Bulls defender Oudicho was brave in diving in front of another Di Meglio shot on target as the clock ticked towards halftime.
A minute before the break Fairfield Sargon Georges decided to unleash a beauty from inside the penalty area that was only stabbed by Da Palma as far as the six-yard box. Unfortunately his defence were a little slow off the mark and Khaled Elkerhani, who was a nuisance all game, pilfered and he was tripped up while trying to make a little bit more space for himself, referee Michael Weiner pointing straight to the penalty spot.
Somewhat surprisingly the ball was handed to leading Bulls scorer Niram Kanoun, who was still recovering from a hamstring injury picked up earlier in the month, but he coolly converted to give Fairfield a 2-1 lead at the break.
The second half started with a neat Di Meglio freekick that was cleared out of play after Hormis spilled, but the young Bulls keeper made amends when he tipped Terry Sidiratos? header onto the crossbar and out for another corner after the Minotaurs captain rose high to meet Di Meglio?s well-placed grenade.
While Di Meglio was causing mayhem for the Fairfield defence at one end the Bulls were creating their own chances in front of goal and sent Hurstville legs flying everywhere in the 55th minute as first Kanoun and Ashur Zia had shots blocked before Ali Khan rifled one over the bar.
Minutes later and Daniel Georges had drifted a missile wide to the right, his brother Sargon had a cross/shot well taken by an out-stretched Da Palma, and Elkerhani ruined Ali Khan?s dashing run down the centre of the park with a skyward finish.
And when Kanoun was brought down following another light-stepped waltz for Fairfield only to follow up with a lollipop freekick, and Nenos Filips had a shock blocked and Kanoun a shot saved in the same sequence of play inside the final half-hour, you could see Hurstville rocking back on their heels.
But the Minotaurs picked themselves up off the canvas to launch a spirited counterattack and Goumis did well to open up a path towards goal but left his shot late and the angled drive lifted over the Fairfield crossbar.
Moments later and the Bulls had to endure a knife-edge goalmouth scramble that saw the ball fall to the feet of Hurstville attackers 2-3 times only for it to somehow be scrambled out for a corner kick that Hormis then had to punch clear, and they were fortunate Minotaurs midfielder Mudar Sultan didn?t connect better on his attempt with five minutes left and his attempt went out for a goalkick.
But the Hurstville defenders were tiring as their team desperately searched for an equaliser and Fairfield?s Janon Kako almost took advantage, his last-minute try sliding left of goal.
The referee was by now looking at his watch as the Bulls faithful screamed for fulltime but Hormis was called into action one last time and his timely intercept in front of a running Hurstville attacker was the final action of the day as Weiner blew his whistle to proclaim Fairfield champions.
Bulls coach Michael Mamoo called this one the best of his four State League titles and paid tribute to wonderful support of the Fairfield club committee, and especially the supporters, ?the friends and family, and everybody who comes out each week to give every one of our games a special feeling,? he said in a follow-up phone call after the game. ?It is an amazing club and one that is great to be a part of.?
Needless to say Mamoo was delighted with his team?s performance but admitted he had pre-game concerns, mainly due to injuries to key players Kanoun (hamstring), Roy Sharma (fractured elbow), Daniel Georges (fractured ribs) and Ali Khan (fractured jaw) but also because his systems didn?t match up well against a ?defensively-solid? team like Hurstville.
?Even though I?ve done this before I still got nervous today because Hurstville are such an awkward side for us to play because they sit so deep. The way Hurstville plays does not suit our style of play at all, so I knew it would be tough for us to build-up play towards goal.?
?But this just shows the type of commitment the players have for the club, that they could get on with the job and find a way to win. I?ve coached some really good sides but I rate this one as the best. I would also like to really thank my assistant coaches, especially the manager Tony Yawanis, the committee, players and supporters. This is a terrific reward for a lot of hard work.?
Mamoo held special praise for his division two counterparts, the clubs and coaches, acknowledging the incredible efforts, camaraderie and competitiveness that made for a terrific and close 2010 season. He hoped that division two would one day produce a player that would go on to compete in the A-League.
?Some people say division two is nothing, that this is a nothing competition? but this is still State League,? he said. ?These are clubs that represent different areas and everyone has aspirations to go onto a higher level; and there are players in every team that could play at a Premier League level and, who knows, maybe even higher one day,? he said.
Hurstville coach Peter Sarikakis was understandably deflated after a tense second half but knew his team didn?t take the chances that fell their way. ?I thought we had the better of the second half, but we didn?t lose by six, did we?? he said, with The General?s glint in his eye.
?I?m obviously disappointed because I believe we had a point to prove that we were the best team in the competition, and that?s what I believe. It could?ve gone either way but good luck to them [Fairfield], they did all they could to win. I still would like to thank all the supporters who came out; the young kids and all the players who were part of this season.?
Minotaurs captain Terry Sidiratos extended the gratitude in his post-game speech. ?I?d like to thank Football NSW for putting on such a strong competition,? he said. ?Congratulations to Fairfield, they deserved it, well done. To our boys, it wasn?t meant to be for us today, but we?ll be back next year.?
Fairfield skipper thanked the Minotaurs for yet another grinding test. ?We?ve played four games this year and all of them have been tough ? thanks for that,? he said. ?I want to thank my boys; it was an unbelievable finish to the season. I also want to thank our supporters; they made a lot of noise and a lot of music and it?s been great all season.?
With the division two first grade Premiership and grand final trophies, and reserve grade Premiership, headed back to the Bulls cabinet, and possible promotion to division one on the cards, you can bet the Assyrian Cultural Club was bouncing all night long after a tremendous and successful 2010 season.
To view the Full match report from the Reserve Grade clash between the Fairfield Bulls v Hurstville City Minotaures click here
Match Stats
Fairfield Bulls 2 (Alaa Ali Khan 24m Niram Kanoun 45m pen)
Hurstville City Minotaurs 1 (Nicholas Goumis 29m)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Jensen Park, Sefton
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistant referees: Robert Klein & David Ward
Fourth Official: Terry Goodhew
Fairfield Bulls: 3. Ramsin Orahim, 4. Roy Sharma, 5. Andy Matloub, 6. Paul Oudicho, 7. Ashour Zia, 8. Daniel Georges, 9. Niram Kanoun, 11. Ninos Filip, 15. Nirary Kanoun, 16. Janon Kako, 17. Khaled Elkerhani, 18. Alaa Ali Khan, 19. Sargon Georges, 21. Andi Ibrahim, 30. Ibrahim Daniel, 40. Luke Hormis, coach Michael Mamoo, manager Anthony Yawanis.
Yellow cards: Alaa Ali Khan 32m, Niram Kanoun 45m, Janon Kako 57m.
Hurstville City Minotaurs: 1. Joshua Da Palma, 2. Paolo Di Mauro, 4. Nicholas Andreou, 5. Nicholas Kambounias, 6. Mudar Sultan, 7. Angelo Vagenas, 9. Nicholas Goumis, 10. Michael Di Meglio, 11. Alexander Obeid, 13. Domenico Battaglia, 14. Sasho Stevoski, 15. John Gymellas, 16. Stefano Marconi, 19. Emmanuel Papageorgiou, 20. Shawn Malkic, 25. Terry Sidiratos, coach Peter Sarikakis, manager John Augustis.
Yellow cards: Nicholas Goumis 38m, Stefano Marconi 85m & 96m.
-By Daniel De Nardi
