State League One Round 2 Finals Series Review
Both sides started very tentatively, sparring at each other without giving too much away defensively.
UNSW had a very strong gale at their backs in the first stanza, and understandably had a few pots at goal from distance as they attempted to catch the home side unawares.
Lee Davelaar was the first to have a go, his shot from 30 yards in the 8th minute flashing wide of Tohouroglou?s left hand upright.
The Magic responded five minutes later when Alistair McKie intercepted a poor pass out from UNSW, and sent Corey Macri away down the left flank.
Macri sent over a tantalizing cross that Andrew McKie barely reached, stabbing his effort over the bar with the UNSW defence backtracking desperately.
UNSW?s pint sized Rocky Luca almost snuck one inside Tohouroglou?s left post with a curling effort from the edge of the box on 16 minutes, but the veteran keeper moved swiftly to tip the ball past the post.
Gladesville then went close in the 28th minute when Alex Morris reached a Ali McKie free kick, his flick header inches wide of the upright.
UNSW were playing the percentages during the first half, resorting to long punts upfield from their keeper, Jonathon Duggan ? it wasn?t pretty, but it sends the leather down the other end of the field and clears the danger 9 times out of 10?.more about that remaining ?1 time out of 10? later.
Duggan was called into action on 36 minutes when Corey Macri avoided the offside trap and raced in on goal. Macri?s first effort was low and Duggan got down to parry, and he then brilliantly diverted Macri?s follow up whilst still laying on the turf.
Mr David Christie was keeping all and sundry under control in the middle of the park, and he duly called a break in proceedings with neither side looking like breaking the deadlock.
Gladesville?s Andrew McKie was the first one to strectch his legs after the break, his 20 yard volley hit straight down Duggan?s throat in the UNSW goal.
The match was in dire need of a goal, and what a goal it was to open proceedings in the 63rd minute.
With the Gladesville side defending deep in their own half, a short ball was played towards Lee Davelaar, who had ventured slightly forward and slightly inside from his right back position.
Davelaar didn?t waste any time, and hit the ball first time from fully 25 yards, the leather swerving and finally hitting the roof of Tohouroglou?s net to send the visiting fans into a frenzy.
The UNSW fans had barely stopped celebrating when the Magic silenced them with an immediate reply.
Again it was the Alistair McKie-Alex Morris combination, this time Morris cracking a downward header from McKie?s free kick that Duggan couldn?t stop, and the home side were level.
With their tails up, the Magic pushed their luck a little, and started to inject themselves in the hope of snatching a winner to avoid extra time.
Scott Tonkin, who had toiled all day on the left flank in both defence and attack, hit a sweet volley on the turn in the 76th minute, too sweet in fact, the ball gobbled up by a relieved UNSW keeper, Duggan.
A minute later and Ryan fiercely won possession for the Magic in the middle of park, sending Andrew McKie away with a beautifully weighted pass. McKie drew Duggan, but the UNSW keeper smothered the chance by getting down to the turf swiftly.
Duggan was at it again on 82 minutes for UNSW, brilliantly diverting an angled blast from Andrew McKie who once more had been put into a gap by the marauding Ryan.
The percentages came back to haunt UNSW on 83 minutes, when Duggan miscued his attempted punt downfield. The low clearance landed at the feet of Magic striker, Corey Macri, and he took a touch towards goal before drilling his shot low past the unfortunate keeper for the winning goal.
For UNSW, the season comes to an abrupt end, but they did well to make the finals series, especially after their inconspicuous start to the year. They lost some major talent throughout, so to regroup and squeeze into fifth, and not to mention win the first semi final, was a solid achievement. Best for UNSW in the defeat were ; Lee Davelaar had a solid match at right back, his forays forward a great support in attack, and capped it off with a goal to remember ; goalkeeper Jonathon Duggan was the reason the ?students? did not suffer a heavier defeat, with some brilliant saves in the second half keeping his side in the clash right until the end.
The fans of Gladesville Ryde Magic had their hearts in their mouths when UNSW broke the deadlock on 63 minutes, but they need not worry, as the home side responded immediately and grafted their way to a victory. Gladesville will once again take on Fairfield City Lions, in next week?s Preliminary Final, and are now just 90 minutes from a potential Grand Final appearance. Best for the Magic were ; midfielder A Ryan had a whale of a game, fierce in the tackle, energy to burn, and determined to dominate the middle of the park ; Alex Morris was tight in central defence, quick to clear any danger, and added a much needed goal after almost scoring one in the first period ; Alistair McKie looked ominous every time he had the ball, and most of his side?s creativity comes from the boot of the busy number ten.
Under 20s ? Stanmore Hawks vs Schofields Scorpions 1-3
Schofields Scorpions came from behind to eliminate Stanmore Hawks from the 2011 Under 20 competition.
Groulo had put the Hawks in front after just 13 minutes, but their lead lasted only 120 seconds before Sceresini restored parity for Schofields.
The match was headed for extra time but the Scorpions grabbed two last gasp goals to claim victory ? Yarza edging them in front on 83 minutes, and Caller notching the third in the final minute.
Schofields now move into the Preliminary Final against Fairfield City Lions, whilst Stanmore will have a break before they start to prepare for 2012.
SEMI FINAL 1
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC (0) 2 (Morris 65?, Macri 83?)
UNSW (0) 1 (Davelaar 63?)
Sunday, September 4, 2011 at 2-45pm @ Magdala Park
Referee ? Mr David Christie
Assistant Referees ? Mr Jim Nicolou & Mr Mario Tedone
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC: 1.K.Tohouroglou (capt), 11.B.Townley-Jones, 2.A.Morris, 13.B.Kerr (8.J.Martinez 69?), 6.A.Ryan, 5.A.Khan, 9.S.Tonkin (14.S.Kanou 85?), 10.Alistair McKie, 4.L.Harte, 12.C.Macri (7.T.Nastoulis 91?), 16.Andrew McKie.
Subs not used ? 1.P.Ferrara,15.C.Robertson.
Yellow Cards ? 6.A.Ryan 19?, 5.A.Khan 54?.
Red Cards ? NIL.
UNSW: 1.J.Duggan, 38.P.Lloyd, 6.L.Davelaar, 40.B.Wiblew (24.M.Kastengren 37?), 19.H.O?Kelly, 3.J.Kirkland-Morris, 5.M.Bryan (capt), 7.J.Bracewell, 21.R.Luca, 13.M.Karagiannis (14.A.Kemmery 86?), 12.S.Bendall (18.A.Woodbridge 69?).
Subs not used ? 1.G.Diakos, 20.J.Christie.
Yellow Cards ? 19.H.O?Kelly 78?.
Red Cards ? NIL.
SEMI FINAL 2
Mounties Wanderers vs Fairfield City Lions 2-0
Saturday, September 3, 2011 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park
Mounties Wanderers put their charge toward a Premiership/Grand Final double well and truly on track when they became the first club into the 2011 decider, overcoming Fairfield City Lions at Cook Park on Saturday night.
The Wanderers came into the match on the back of a well earned rest after finishing Premiers, whilst Fairfield had their tails up after their semi final defeat of Gladesville Ryde Magic last week.
But it was the Mounties that prevailed in front of their home fans, and in the process have now beaten Fairfield City Lions in all three of their encounters this season.
The Lions started a lot better than the last time they played at Cook Park, where they conceded five first half goals. This time they went into the break at 0-0 and with faint hopes of an upset.
But the Mounties had other ideas, and stepped up proceedings to take the lead on the hour mark via their top goalscorer in 2011, Eli Squillacioti, who grabbed goal number 11 of the campaign.
Greg Baldock closed off the match five minutes before the end to give his side a 2-0 victory, and in the process notching his 10th goal of what has been a productive season for the speedy veteran.
The Mounties go directly into the 2011 Grand Final as a result of the victory, and will have yet another week?s rest as a result, whilst Fairfield City Lions have a second chance, and will take on the winner of the Gladesville Ryde Magic ? UNSW semi final in next week for the right to tackle the Mounties once more.
Under 20s ? Mounties Wanderers vs Fairfield City Lions @ 4-30pm 2-1
Mounties Wanderers have made it a day to remember for the proud club as the U/20s side joined their first grade in the 2011 Grand Final with a 2-1 victory over Fairfield City Lions.
The Mounties hit the lead as early as the second minute when Needham found the net, and an own goal on 77 minutes extended their lead.
Even though Hirmiz pulled a goal back on 87 minutes, the Mounties held on for a memorable victory.
All is not lost for Fairfield, as they will now meet Schofields Scorpions in next week?s Preliminary Final for the right to have another crack at Mounties.
-By Frank Speranza
