State League Two Grand Final Preview

Hakoah is an iconic Sydney football identity. NSL champions as Sydney City four times they also hold four Premier League trophies and five Super League titles in their eastern suburbs cabinet.
A slide down the rankings culminated in division two oblivion last year when they finished stone cold last with just two wins, but behind a name that means ?strength? Hakoah has decidedly turned things around in 2011 as they narrowly missed winning the premiership, going down 1-0 in the final game to eventual winners Northbridge.
The Hakoah defence has been incredible in conceding just 36 goals in 29 competitive games this year. Aided by the introduction of wily goalkeeper Terry Dal Broi only Bathurst has scored more than a goal against Hakoah in the past 15 weeks, but they?ll definitely need to be on their toes against a Roosters side that?s netted 21 times in five straight wins to the grand final.
At the start of the year coach Mark Robertson didn?t know too much about the competition having only taken over the Hakoah reins following last year?s wooden spoon effort, but he?s all too aware of the damage a rampant Roosters outfit can do.
?I?m always confident in my boys but Roosters are a decent side, let me tell you,? he said. ?They have some terrific individual players, but whether they can put it together as a team is still a question mark. We changed our system up a bit [against Northbridge] and that worked well for us in the first half, so whether we revert back to our old system or not for the grand final we?re not really sure.?
Roosters have also long been a force to be reckoned with and a couple more favourable results (one, if Roosters had beaten Northbridge in round 16) and Musti Akca?s men would?ve been crowned 2011 division two premiers.
It didn?t happen that way and now Roosters are determined to show their pedigree by claiming the club?s first ever grand final win and end a topsy-turvy year on a high note.
Akca, 26, is the youngest State League 2 coach and he?s done an extraordinary job in mustering his motley crew together following the pre-season departure of club stalwart Ercan Topal to Luddenham.
A steady start to the year (following consecutive losses to Belmore and Bathurst to start the season) gained further momentum when Topal returned to lead the side after a few rounds and Roosters began their rise to the top of the roost.
They ruffled feathers at Hurstville to forfeit one victory and losses to top-five sides Northbridge, Hakoah and Prospect (while Akca was overseas) in the run home eventually cost them the premiership.
Akca missed Hakoah?s preliminary final win last week but said the result didn?t change anything for them. ?It doesn?t really matter for us who we meet in the grand final,? he said. ?We know how Hakoah play and we knew it would be close between them and Northbridge. We?re ready for a big game, for sure.?
Interestingly Akca didn?t perceive Hakoah as much of a threat at the start of the year, picking Luddenham, Hurstville and Wanderers as the competition?s top three sides. But then, disposing of Hakoah 1-0 and premiers Northbridge 9-2 in finals football would give you a strong sense of self-belief.
As for the other masterminds only the coaches that finished fourth, fifth and sixth picked Hakoah to win on grand final day, with one not interested, one unwilling to pick a winner, while the bottom six coaches all picked premiers Northbridge. No-one picked Roosters.
Luddenham coach Andrew Montgomery said he had to stick his neck out to pick Hakoah, while Prospect coach Tony Caruso said his top-five side had only been outplayed twice this year, both times by an experienced Hakoah outfit.
Roosters have won 10 of their last 12 matches (one-goal losses to Hakoah and Prospect) and Hakoah 12 of their last 14 games (one-goal losses to Roosters and Northbridge) to both come into the grand final with impressive form under their belts.
Historically Roosters have enjoyed five wins from their last seven meetings with Hakoah but the last four encounters have been split two victories apiece, Hakoah even managing to beat Roosters during their last year?s barren spell that only produced two wins.
Good luck to both sides this weekend in a fitting finale to what has been another terrific season of NSW State League Two football. Supporters of all clubs are encouraged to come along and be part of the final game of 2011.
Reserve grade
In the reserve grade title decider Hawkesbury City meet Fairfield Wanderers in a tantalising match-up of the competition?s top-two ranked teams on Sunday afternoon.
Fairfield pipped Hawkesbury for the premiership by a slender two points in an exciting title race that went right down to the wire. City responded by beating Wanderers 2-1 in the second week of the finals to take the first grand final spot on offer and consign the premiers to sudden death football.
Fairfield then held off a gallant Northbridge 2-1 in last week?s preliminary final to set up a thrilling rematch against Hawkesbury this weekend.
The two sides split their regular season results, Wanderers winning their round six meeting 2-0 and City returning serve with a 1-0 win down the finishing straight that wobbled Fairfield?s premiership boat, but they beat Belmore 1-0 in the final round to secure the title.
Hawkesbury president David Bertenshaw last week said he believed his club?s youngsters were very unlucky not to win the premiership and looked forward to meeting Wanderers in this weekend?s grand final on home turf.
Fairfield coach Barry Zambrano reflected the sentiment. ?I?m glad that Hawkesbury now carry the favourites tag, but the boys want to put the result from our last meeting right,? he said. ?There?s always butterflies when it comes to grand finals, but that?s a good thing.?
-By Dan De Nardi