Grade 11 Metropolitan Representative League Final: Macarthur rain on Gladesville parade

Gladesville showed the early running and it took a last ditch timely tackle by Aidan Smith to deny Andrew Head when clean through after a weaving run left him bearing down on goal.
Shortly after, the Macarthur defender took a knock and received on field treatment before being taken to the sidelines with a niggling injury.
The first real save of the game was perfected by the Gladesville goalkeeper in the 8? minute although at this stage it was against the run of play as they had the majority of the opening exchanges before Macarthur were able to grow into the match and eventually take command in the worsening weather.
Brodie Clarkson came close for Macarthur in the 13? minute when looping a shot over the bar and was moments later the playmaker when sliding the ball across the face of goal with no-one able to make contact as Gladesville were forced to defend in numbers.
He was not to be denied in the 15? minute though when he opened the scoring with a sweet left-foot volley from a free-kick that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
One became two as Gladesville were rocking when Dauntae Mariner was brought down and Andrew Head stepped up to net the resultant free-kick for Macarthur.
2-0 at half-time, and a mountain to climb for Gladesville wasn?t helped when the heavens opened harder than ever for most of the second period that limited the excellent passing play both sides were generating previously.
Callum Watt almost added to Gladesville?s woes when chipping from the edge of the box that was dipping in under the angle of the crossbar and post that nearly caught the custodian off his line but recovering well in the conditions to keep the effort out.
31? minutes in and Gladesville were applying plenty of their own pressure as they adjusted to the watery conditions quicker and a speculative attempt was put out for a corner resulting in a scramble in the box before being finally cleared as bodies slipped and slid their way to end of the game.
With almost the last attack of the game, Macarthur?s Timothy Stewart curled a right-footed shot toward goal that Elliot Carwardine was able to tip around the post.
Andrew Head took the corner for Macarthur that went right through the heart of the defence with no-one able to connect.
It was the last act of the game as the referee blew for full-time and Macarthur were crowned Champions of the Subway Metropolitan Representative Grade 11 competition for 2011.
Special mention must go to the Referee and officials who officiated calmly, authoritatively and with great discretion in showing on-field officialdom is in excellent hands for the future.
Metropolitan Representative League Grand Final Grade 11
Bensons Lane, Hawkesbury
Macarthur 2 (Clarkson 15?, Head 17?)
Gladesville/Hornsby 0
Macarthur: 1.Nathan Rapley; 2.Jacob Beggs, 3.Jordan Ashe, 4.Jarrad Wiley, 5.Matthew Williams, 6.Aidan Limbrey, 7.Brodie Clarkson, 8.Andrew Head, 9.Kye Soares, 10.Callum Watt, 11.Billy Lampert, 12.Nathan Baker, 13.Jayden Barna, 14.Timothy Stewart, 15.Jared Flanagan, 16.Dauntae Mariner
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Coach: Greg Clarkson
Manager: Michael Stewart
Gladesville/Hornsby: 23.Ryan Frank; 4.Thomas Gold, 5.Stuart Gosling, 6.Thomas Hurst, 7.Oliver Kennedy, 8.Joey Lo Surdo, 9.Thomas Maclean, 10.Adam Nisbet, 11.Liam Scott, 12.Aidan Smith, 13.Robert Sudzum, 14.Tallon Zahra, 15.Christian Borskjaer, 30.James Wallace, 35.Elliot Carwardine
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Coach: Daniel Findlay
Assistant Coach:  Will Tan
Manager: Michelle Smith
-By Micky Brock