NSW Super League: Spartans secure Super League double with Grand Final triumph
After clinching the Premiership last month, the Spartans were relentless in the 3-0 defeat of the Berries to cap secure the ?double? in what has proven a tremendous season for the club.
Both sides fought tooth and nail from the opening whistle, as the Berries did have their chances throughout the 90? minutes to etch their name on the winner?s trophy. In the end, a second-half brace to Todd Macrae and a goal to Glen McPherson proved too much for the Berries in an entertaining finale.
The Berries carved out the opening chance of the match via the head of Dimitri Zakilas. The burly striker rose highest on 2? minutes inside the penalty-area to head Ryan Emerton?s cross from the right though the final attempt finished over the crossbar.
Blacktown Spartans replied with a swift counterattack though Glen McPherson was closed down quickly on the edge of the penalty-area.
Ante Deur tried his luck via a set-piece on 12? minutes, though the Berries captain blasted his long-range attempt well over the crossbar.
Deur was in the thick of the action again 3? minutes later with another set-piece. The midfielder delivered a tanatalising cross from the right though no Berries player managed to latch onto the effort.
The Berries should have taken the lead on 22? minutes following Alex Becerra?s exceptional through ball into the path of Kodjo Adjassou. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Adjassou took a heavy touch after rounding the shot-stopper and failed to get a shot on goal.
West Sydney Berries kept the pressure on the Spartans as Zakilas had another headed attempt finish over the crossbar. Zakilas latched onto Damon Collina?s flick-on, though Carlos Saliadarre was not called upon to make a save.
The Spartans came to life just shy of the half-hour as Glen McPherson and Todd Macrae combined for the latter to shoot on goal. Macrae?s effort packed a real punch though Nick Tantalos got his body behind the ball to keep the score level.
In the 36? minute, Simon Zahra centred a dangerous ball into the path of Macrae inside the Berries penalty-area though the striker was thwarted by some strong West Sydney defence.
Spartans? striker James Young squandered a golden chance to open the scoring in the 39? minute. With only the goalkeeper ahead of him, Young drove his effort from the edge of the penalty-area directly at Phil Zabaks.
The opening half was brought to a close as Saliadarre cleared his line to make a brave save off Steve Wright to deny the Berries defender.
The second-half was brought to life inside of 2? minutes as Adjassou attempted a shot on the turn. The striker failed to connect cleanly, though the dipping effort cleared the crossbar as Saliadarre collided with the post in the process.
The Spartans? goalkeeper had the crowd in deep concern as he remained on the surface in anticipation of some treatment, though the shot-stopper was on his feet moments later to guide his defensive line during another Berries forward foray.
On 50? minutes, a West Sydney counterattack led by Adjassou released Deur on the edge of the penalty-area. Deur lined up his shot nicely, though the scrambling Spartans? defenders got their bodies behind the ball to clear any danger.
Blacktown Spartans found the lead on 54? minutes in neat style. Greg Kondek dispossessed Wright down the right-flank before delivering a picture perfect low cross into the path of Macrae who skillfully converted past Zabaks with a first-time effort.
Macrae nearly squeezed out an opening for Young on the hour with a perfect through ball in behind the Berries defence. Despite Young?s best efforts to latch onto the ball, Collina cleverly shielded the ball for his goalkeeper to claim.
West Sydney went close to equalising on 67? minutes as Deur played Adjassour into a positive position. With time to line up his shot, Adjassour blasted his effort over the crossbar.
Berries? second-half substitute John Tsironis nearly carved out an opening for Zakilas with a flick-on moments later, though the side was denied again by some swift Spartans? defending to clear the danger.
Zakilas went close again in the 70? minute as he rose highest to head Deur?s corner. The striker got some power behind his attempt, though it finished on the wrong side of Saliadarre?s post.
Blacktown Spartans found their second goal in the 72? minute, again via Macrae. The speedy attacker made the most of a Berries defensive lapse to go one-on-one with Zabaks before coolly slotting past the shot-stopper.
The Spartans put the result beyond the Berries reach 2? minutes later as McPherson chimed in with a strong finish. The midfielder received a square ball from the left before blasting his left-foot drive first time past Zabaks.
Berries captain Deur tried his best to get his side back in the match with a glancing header in the 78? minute, though his attempt finished wide of the target before Tsironis followed up with a headed attempt of his own moments later; again the ball failed to hit the target.
The Berries continued to pepper the Spartans in the closing stages though again the Berries fell short of finding a consolation, as Collina got forward before curling an effort wide of the target on 87? minutes.
West Sydney?s afternoon was summed up on 90? minutes as captain Ante Deur?s long-range effort finished well over the crossbar.
The Spartans? went close to adding a fourth in injury-time via captain Tom Spencer. The midfielder turned onto his left foot before unleashing a curling effort inches over Zabaks? crossbar.
Scenes of jubilation followed on the Jensen Park playing surface following the referee?s final whistle with a very happy Spartans? coach Ben de Haan expressing his delight:
?I am very proud of the boys for a wonderful performance today and a great season.
?We were very well organised today, from start to finish, and we managed to take our chances which was vital in the final.
?I was a little concerned as we had only played two matches over the past four weeks though the boys really brought their game today and we secured the Minor Premiership and Premiership double which is a great achievement by the club,? de Haan ended.
West Sydney Berries captain Ante Deur was gallant in defeat:
?The boys put a big effort in today, though we fell short unfortunately.
?Full credit to Blacktown Spartans? they held the wood on us this season, and they continued that today,? Deur concluded.
Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans 3 (Todd Macrae 54?, 72?, Glen McPherson 74?)
West Sydney Berries 0
Saturday 17th September, 2011
Jensen Park, Sefton
Referee: Adam Susz
Assistant Referees: Craig Fisher and Thomas Lee
Fourth Official: Chris Young
Blacktown Spartans: 13.Carlos Saliadarre; 4.Danny Wells, 5.Luke Boyd, 6.Greg Kondek, 7.Michael Todd, 8.Tom Spencer (C), 9.James Young (10.Mario Ghobrial 78?), 11.Glen McPherson (2.Nathan Agbinya 86?), 17.Peter Hubbard, 18.Todd Macrae (15.Marty McCaffrey 84?), 19.Simon Zahra
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Mushi Moheebee
Yellow Cards: Tom Spencer 41?
Red Cards: Nil
Coach: Ben de Haan
West Sydney Berries: 99.Phil Zabaks; 6.Nick Tantalos (10.John Tsironis 46?), 5.Liam McKenna, 7.Damon Collina, 2.Steve Wright, 14.Ryan Emerton (11.Aram Tayebi 75?), 27.Alex Becerra (15.Nick Paras 65?), 12.Stefan de Jesus, 8.Ante Deur (C), 19.Dimitri Zakilas, 9.Kodjo Adjassou
Substitutes Not Used: 3.Louis Duchesne, 22.George Bouropoulos
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Coach: Steve Karavatakis
-By Joseph Carlucci
