State League Two Round 1 Finals Series Preview
Hakoah blew their premiership chance with a 1-0 loss to Northbridge last week and will be on guard against a Roosters outfit that boasts the best record against this year?s top-five sides (five wins from eight meetings), including an impressive 4-2 victory over Hakoah at the Athletic Field back in round six (Hakoah?s only home loss) on the back of a terrific Adem Taslak hat-trick. In fact, Hakoah haven?t beaten Roosters at Hensley for more than three years.
Roosters raced to a 4-0 lead in that April match with Hakoah perhaps still recovering from a draining 6-2 Waratah Cup win over Chullora Wolves only three days before.
Hakoah still made it interesting with two quick goals to make it 4-2 with 20 minutes to play, but they had to wait until round 19 to turn the tables again, beating Roosters 2-1 at Hills Sports High to ripen their premiership charge, Moshe Wakil scoring the matchwinner with 10 minutes remaining.
Hakoah have the league?s best home record on their side (10 wins, one draw from 12 games), and the competition?s most prolific goalscorer (Neil Jablonski, 25), and division two?s second best registered defense (34 goals conceded), so they certainly have a lot of statistics going for them.
But Roosters won more than half of their away games this year and won?t be afraid to test Hakoah at Hensley, although last year?s runaway 7-0 Roosters romp is but a distant memory as Hakoah have won two of their last three encounters (including a 2-0 Waratah Cup win in March).
Elimination final (4th v 5th)
Luddenham United hosts Prospect United in the knockout match at Luddenham Oval on Sunday afternoon (2.45pm kick-off), both teams coming into the fixture with solid wins under their belts.
Luddenham beat Prospect to fourth place by two points this season, despite Prospect conceding a league-low 28 goals in 26 games compared to Luddenham?s 50-goal leak.
Prospect has the worst record against top-five sides this year, winning just two and drawing one of eight games, and they might also be concerned by the fact they haven?t beaten Luddenham in their last five meetings, including losing each of their last three clashes by a measly goal.
Prospect couldn?t even get past a nine-man Luddenham in their 1-0 loss at The Oval back in April, a crisp Dujon Webster header deciding the matter for the home side, while a second-half Angelo Martino penalty lifted Luddenham to a 2-1 victory in the round-21 return bout at William Lawson Reserve.
Luddenham did stumble a bit following their second triumph over Prospect, losing two of the final five rounds and drawing with Gazy in a catch-up to fall out of the premiership race. Prospect however went on to win four of their next five to carry good form into this weekend?s affair. Don?t expect either side to leave anything on the field to chance.
Reserve grade
Reserve grade minor premiers Wanderers have the first weekend off while Hawkesbury City meets Northbridge in an interesting qualifying match-up at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday afternoon (4.45pm kick-off) after neither side could find victory in two entertaining draws this year, and Gazy Lansvale face Hakoah in the elimination final at Luddenham Oval on Sunday afternoon (12.30pm kick-off), Hakoah beating Gazy 2-0 three weeks ago following a 0-0 stalemate earlier in the season.
Don?t forget to apply for Football NSW 2012 State League competitions. Contact Competitions Manager Troy McColl via email troy@footballnsw.com.au for an official form involving a field facilities report, football stadium technical requirements and guidelines, plus essential criteria. It must be filled out and returned by September 16.
-By Dan De Nardi
