Super Youth League – Grand Finals
In all the spectator areas there was a mixture of nervous laughing, hushed conversations, furtive looks in the direction of the opposition supporters and lots of colour as the family, friends and supporters of each team had dressed appropriately for the occasion. .
The matches were terrific throughout the day and the quality of this level of play was there for all to see, a credit to the players, coaches, managers and clubs involved in this event.
Football NSW wishes to thank Mounties Wanderers for the use of their facilities for this special day, for their attention to detail throughout and their magnificent hospitality.
Now, let?s look at what happened on the field of play.
Grade 13
Central Coast ended the season as Premiers, nine points clear of their nearest rivals. They were the competition?s top scorers and they had the best defensive record. They took the most direct route to this game when they were 1-0 winners over Western NSW Panthers in the Major Semi Final.
Blacktown Spartans were the Runners-up this season and they reached this match by losing 2-1 to Western NSW Panthers in the Preliminary Semi Final, defeating Macarthur Rams 5-0 in the Minor Semi Final and then posting a 3-0 win over Western in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the competition Blacktown Spartans took all the points, winning both matches 1-0.
As expected from the two top teams, this was a classic match chock-a-block full of skill and commitment and plenty of thrills and spills in the goalmouths.
The Spartans drew first blood when Jack Stewart found the back of the net in the 19th minute after a very even opening period of play in which both teams had chances to score. Blacktown took that lead through to the break.
Play moved from one goal to the other and back again and it looked certain that another goal was coming and that is exactly what happened.
In the 50th Minute Central Coast?s Jack Ellwood cancelled out the earlier goal with an equaliser and that really set the nerves jangling with everyone in the spectator areas.
Despite a number of very near misses, neither team could break the deadlock before the fulltime whistle and so extra time was required to determine the winner.
In the first half of the additional period the teams threw everything they had at their opponents and the result was a dramatic increase in the tempo of the match.
Blacktown found the net when captain Jordan Gomez converted a penalty kick six minutes into the first period and while the Spartans had the advantage, Central Coast showed that they were far from a beaten team as they rallied once again.
The Spartans were playing with a renewed confidence and that was rewarded just one minute from the end of the second period when Domenic Vaccari sealed the result with an absolute screamer from twenty-five metres.
Blacktown Spartans were crowned 2011 Champions and Central Coast can hold their heads high after a wonderfully entertaining match.
Grade 14
Mounties Wanderers completed the season in third position and they qualified for this match by winning the Preliminary Semi Final match with Sydney University 2-1 in extra time and then beating Central Coast 1-0 in the Major Semi Final.
Central Coast are the Premiers by a margin of seven points. After losing 1-0 to the Mounties in the Major Semi Final, they went on to win the Preliminary Final in a penalty shootout over Spirit FC.
A glance at the final competition table for the season shows that there was very little between these teams in terms of scoring and conceding goals.
In head-to-head action during the season Central Coast won the first game 2-1 and then the second match was a scoreless draw.
Central Coast started this match like a house on fire and they were rewarded for that early spurt when they took the lead in the second minute thanks to a strike from Zane Smith.
The Mounties shook off the disappointment of that setback and rolled up their sleeves in a very determined attempt to get back into the game and they result was a thrilling spectacle in which both teams launched wave after wave of attacks only to be thwarted by well organised defences at the other end of the pitch.
Central Coast managed to hold onto their lead until the interval and then the second stanza produced more of the same with each team desperately seeking ways of breaking down the opposing defences.
Midway through the second half Central Coast?s Brandon LeMay extended his team?s lead to 2-0 but the Wanderers refused to give in as they somehow found the resolve to rally once again but their very best efforts were to be in vain as the scoreline remained in place when the final whistle sounded.
Central Coast were crowned Champions for 2011 and Mounties Wanderers can be very proud of their fabulous contribution to a terrific Grand Final.
Grade 15
Blacktown Spartans were declared the Premiers when they finished the season one point ahead of their nearest rivals. They were the top scoring team in the competition. To reach this game the Spartans took the most direct path by beating Sydney University 2-0 in the Major Semi Final.
Mounties Wanderers finished the competition in third position. To qualify for this match they had lost 3-2 to Uni in the Preliminary Semi Final, won the Minor Semi Final with a 3-0 result over Dulwich Hill and then beaten Uni 1-0 in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the competition Blacktown had won the first match 3-0 and then the second game ended in a 2-2 draw.
What a nerve-tingling match this turned out to be as the teams went at each other from the first whistle to the last in a fine exhibition of ball skills and determination.
The Spartans drew first blood when Paul Kelaiditis rattled the net and that seemed to send a signal to both teams to redouble their efforts as the match became even more intense.
Blacktown maintained their lead through to the interval and then the second half produced more of the same, much to the pleasure of those in the spectator galleries.
The Wanderers equalised through Asmir Kadric five minutes into the second stanza and then Blacktown restored their lead just four minutes later courtesy of a strike from Erhan Evin.
In a clear indication that they were far from finished, Mounties equalised again with a goal from Omer Cetin in the 53rd minute.
Try as they might, neither team could find a winning goal before the final whistle and so extra time was required. However, there was no addition to the score and so the match had to be settled from the penalty spot. It was here that the Spartans came to the fore as they won the shootout 5-3.
Blacktown Spartans were crowned Champions for 2011 and Mounties Wanderers can hold their heads high as they more than held their own throughout the match.
Whilst I did not witness the event, I was reliably told that Spartans President John Todd was seen to be dancing an Irish jig in the post-match celebrations.
Grade 16
Spirit FC are the Premiers after they won the competition by three points and they were the leading goal scorers in this age group. They qualified for this match by winning the Major Semi Final by a 2-1 scoreline over Fraser Park.
Blacktown Spartans were in fourth position on the final table for the season. They reached this game after they posted a 2-1 victory over Sydney University in the Elimination Semi Final, a 1-0 Minor Semi Final win over Granville Rage and a penalty shootout win over Fraser Park in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the season, the Spartans were3-2 winners in the first round then Spirit took the second round points with a 2-1 result.
Spirit got off to the best possible start when they held a 2-0 lead just five minutes after the start thanks to strikes from Daniel Jovic in the 3rd minute and Blake Cameron just two minutes later.
While some teams may have thrown in the towel at that stage, the Spartans simply shook off the disappointment and got on with it as they sought ways of clawing their way back into the contest.
The rest of the first half was very even as the play moved from one end of the ground to the other in a display of the best this age group has to offer.
Spirit stretched their lead to 3-0 eight minutes into the second half through Daniel Stewart and that Blacktown?s captain Christian MacDonald found the back of the net to take the scoreline to 3-1.
One minute before the final whistle Spirit?s Duane Tennent made it 4-1.
Spirit FC accepted the crown as Champions for 2011 while Blacktown Spartans were far from disgraced.
Grade 18
Granville Rage were at the top of the final table for the season on goal difference and so they were declared Premiers. They reached this match through the direct route by defeating Northern Tigers 2-1 in the Major Semi Final.
Western NSW Panthers finished the season in third place. They have qualified for this game after they lost the Preliminary Semi Final 2-0 to Northern Tigers and then they went on to win the Minor Semi Final with a 3-1 victory over Spirit FC before beating the Tigers -2 in the Preliminary Final.
In head-to-head action during the season, Granville took the first round points with a 1-0 win on the opening day of the season and then Western took out the second round match with a 1-0 scoreline.
This match was a thriller from go to whoa as the teams produced a fine display of commitment and determination throughout.
Western scored first when Thomas Meehan rattled the net in the 14th minute but Granville squared the ledger only eight minutes later when Akuoch Nyarnhom scored.
The Panthers then stepped up a gear, fine tuning their attack and keeping their and defence rock-solid. They were rewarded with further goals from Mitch Hutchings and Jack Clough to take the scoreline to 3-1 and that is the way the match finished.
Western NSW Panthers stepped forward to be crowned Champions while Granville Rage were worthy of praise for their contribution to the match.
– Barry Davis
