Boys/Mens Champion of Champions Final Reports
Under 11 Boys: Earlwood too strong for St Mary?s Eaglevale
The 2011 Champion of Champions Grand Final weekend kicked off on Saturday morning at 9-00am at Valentine Sports Park, with Earlwood (Canterbury Association) downing St Mary?s Eaglevale (Macarthur Association) by 4-0 in the Under 11s final.
Earlwood had won four matches on the way to the final, scoring 19 goals and conceding just the two, whilst St Mary?s had the solitary two victories to qualify for the final day of the season.
It was Earlwood who started the brighter, Joey Khoury sliding through two defenders before his cut back was cracked just past the upright by Joshua Karantz who hit the shot first time.
Joshua Alcorn responded within sixty seconds for St Mary?s, his mazy run into the box ending with a low shot that whistled wide.
The deadlock was broken on 6 minutes, and it came after St Mary?s failed to clear a scramble inside their penalty area. The loose ball fell to Karantz, and the midfielder didn?t need a second invitation as his shot sailed over the St Mary?s keeper, Brenton Rakebrant, to give Earlwood the lead.
Earlwood almost doubled the advantage on 15 minutes when Jacob Sleiman failed by inches to reach a high ball that was put across the face of goal by Karantz, after he himself was put into a gap down the right by a defence splitting pass from skipper, Nicholas Vertsonis.
Seven minutes into the second stanza and Earlwood extended their lead with a goal that had precision all over it.
Andony Martis was pulling all the strings in the centre of the park, and he was at it again with a beautiful curling pass behind the St Mary?s defence that allowed Sleiman to run onto.
The tricky left winger got to the by line before squaring the ball, and Joey Khoury was there to stab into the empty net to make it 2-0.
The Earlwood midfielders were adept at playing searching balls through gaps for their attackers to run onto, and Peter Giannopoulos did just that once again on 40 minutes, with Karantz racing through into space before he was upended by St Mary?s keeper, Rakebrant, inside the box.
Karantz dusted himself off to slot the penalty away, shooting to the keeper?s right hand side to give Earlwood an unassailable 3-0 lead.
There was time for one more goal, and it came via Jacob Sleiman, who collected the ball near the left touchline, before making an angled run inside toward the goal and hitting his low shot inside the near post to finish off the scoring at 4-0.
St Mary?s were gallant in defeat, and kept at it for the entire match, with Joshua Alcorn in attack and midfielder, Jordon Doris, leading the way with their high work rate.
Earlwood must be congratulated not only on the resounding victory, but the manner of the win.
The young players from Canterbury Ass held possession comfortably, showing composure as they pushed the ball around in triangles, stretching the St Mary?s side across the pitch.
Andony Martis was splendid in midfield, showing vision beyond his years with some fantastic passes, whilst Nicholas Vertsonis displayed composure in the sweeper position as he constantly broke up St Mary?s attacks by reading and intercepting the play. Jacob Sleiman was instrumental in many of his side?s attacks, his trickery down the left leaving many of the opposition defenders in his wake.
Earlwood 4 (Karantz 6? /40? pen, Khoury 32?, Sleiman 43?)
St Mary?s Eaglevale 0
-By Frank Speranza
Under 12 Boys: North Sydney dominate Forest Killarney
North Sydney United were crowned U12 Champion of Champions after a dominant 3-0 win against Manly based side Forest Killarney this Saturday.
From the opening whistle North Sydney looked to play the ball around and created a number chances early.
North Sydney took the lead in the 16th minute after midfielder Andre Biviano roofed the net from inside 18 yards after excellent work from winder Emerson Hunt.
Hunt dribbled in between two defenders and drilled across a lovely ball from the left hand side which split the Forest defence. Biviano did extremely well to control the cross and finish past the outstretched keeper.
North Sydney could have double their lead before half time through pint sized attacking midfielder Tyrese Franscois. The little number 10 was played through one on one with Forest keeper Lachlan Kerr but his cheeky chip sailed wide.
Forest came into their own in the back half of the first half. Ryan Cullam came closet for Forest with a volley from all of 20 yards that just sailed wide of Ronni Venitel?s right hand post.
As the match headed into the final 15 minutes, Forest continued to press forward in search of an equaliser. North Sydney absorbed the pressure and caught Forest on the break with substitute Joshua Costa earning United a penalty.
Costa broke free of the Forest defence and was in on goal, until Forest defender Joel Bramham was adjudged to have fouled the striker inside the area. Bramham was sent off for what looked to be a last man offence.
Costa coolly stepped up and converted not one, but two penalties, after a retake was ordered after United encroached the penalty area.
Forest went down to nine men soon after, midfielder Ryan Cullam was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
United completed the rout on 55 minutes after Biviano this time turned provider for Hunt. Biviano rounded the keeper after being played through and unselfishly played the ball back inside for Hunt to slot home.
North Sydney United 3 (Biviano 16?, Costa [p] 46?, Hunt 55?)
Forest Killarney 0
-By Bruce Da Silva
Under 13 Boys: Balgownie white wash Harington Park
Balgownie defeated Macarthur based outfit Harington Park 12-0 to claim the U13 Champion of Champions title.
The Illawarra Champions outclassed their opponents slotting in 8 goals in the first half.
Balgownie opened the scoring in the second minute after Jordan Koroskoski whipped in a fabulous ball which was nodded home by Nicolas Grozdanov.
Balgownie seemed to be in cruise control and added a second soon after via Cooper Buswell. The lanky midfielder was given too much space outside the area, hammering a thunderous shot into the top left hand corner ? keeper was no chance.
Koroskoski was again involved, assisting Matthew Galanti for Balgownie?s third after 14 minutes. Koroskoski got on the score sheet soon after Buswell rattled the wood work with another thunderous drive, the pint sized winger was on hand to bury the rebound.
Joel Willis soon found the back of the net, Grozdanov turned provider and Willis volleyed home expertly.
In what seemed like ground hog day, less than 60 seconds later Grozdanov again whipped in a low cross from the right hand side and Willis doubled his account finishing low into the right hand corner.
Galanti doubled his account on 23 minutes after Thomas Maloney cut back from the by line, Galanti was on hand to slot home inside two yards.
Just when it looked like the first half was drawing to a close, Harrington Park conceded an own goal after winger Koroskoski drilled across a hard low cross which the Harrington defender could do little about.
The second half mirrored the first with the match pretty much played inside the Balgownie attacking third. Musumeci made it 9 for Balgownie on 44 minutes ? Harrington Park?s shot stopper Maranesi who was under the pump the entire match saved the initial shot but could do little to prevent Musumeci burying the spoils.
Maloney made it 10 on 46 minutes after the midfielder was played through one on one by Buswell, Maloney made no mistake from inside 18 yards.
Galanti completed his hat trick on 48 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball inside the Harrington Park 18 yard box.
Musumeci rounded out the 12-0 result on 50 minutes with arguably the goal of the day ? a bicycle kick. The midfielder stormed into the 18 yard box and after mistiming his control on a cross, Musumeci finished emphatically, acrobatically burying the ball past Maranesi who had no chance.
Balgownie 12 (Grozdanov 2?, Buswell 12?, Galanti 14?, 23?, 48?, Koroskoski 17?, Willis 19?, 20?, Own Goal 29?, Musumeci 44?, 50?, Maloney 46?)
Harrington Park 0
-By Bruce Da Silva
Under 14 Boys: Unanderra too good for Springwood -By Mark Stavroulakis
Football South Coast Association club Unanderra were crowned 2011 Champion of Champions in what were hot and sticky conditions at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday as they proved too strong for Nepean Association?s Springwood winning 3-0.
Unanderra looked dangerous early on and only after 20 seconds went close through A Visnic who saw his shot sail wide from inside the box after some great lead-up play.
Two minutes later and J Ravnjak went close after he tried to chip Springwood keeper Jarrod McNicoll but the keeper held his nerve and kept the match scoreless.
Springwood?s first chance of the day fell to Riley Mitchell as he unleashed a stinging shot that just fell over M Jone?s posts.
Ravnjak caused Springwood many problems and he was at it again after he fell into a great position to score the game?s first goal only to see his shot spray wide off the post.
Springwood almost stunned Unanderra in the 16th minute as Daniel Wheatley danced his way through the Unanderra defence but his shot at goal let him down.
The game finally saw its first goal and it fell to Unanderra?s A Bassuni in the 19th minute as he slotted home from close range after some crafty build up play by the South Coast based side -it was to be the only goal of the half as the referee blew for half-time with Unanderra a goal up.
Springwood went in search of an equaliser and almost got it through Bradley Cameron but his shot was well handled by Jones in the 41st minute.
Unanderra however had other plans in locking up shop and they did so in the 49th minute when Visnic scored the game?s second pushing his side to a two-nil lead.
Springwood pushed for a consolation goal after that but it was Unanderra who again hit the back of the net in stoppage time as R Delbanco controlled the ball neatly and hit a sweet shot from the right side of the goal to gift Unanderra an unassailable 3-0 lead ? and that?s how it ended as the boys from the South Coast took home the silverware in what was a distinguished display of football.
Unanderra 3 (A Bassuni 19?, A Visnic 49?, R Delbanco 63?)
Springwood 0
Under 15 Boys: Impressive North Sydney United defeat Eschol Park
A dominant display of football saw North Sydney United grab three second-half goals to defeat a stubborn Eschol Park in the 15s Boys Champions of Champions final on Sunday morning.
North Sydney United looked the more dangerous of the sides and controlled the park throughout the match while Eschol Park looked to get forward on the counterattack in an entertaining match at Valentine Sports Park.
Brad Mowlam was in exceptional form between the sticks for Eschol Park and was well positioned to make early saves to deny Edward Wills and Jack Osborn.
Connor Caswell was also called into action early, racing off his line to pluck the ball from Bryce Saffrett?s feet.
Despite their dominance North Sydney were kept at bay throughout the first half due to a Mowlam?s saves combined with fine defence from Patrick Garcia and Sam Maksoud.
Panos Armenakas went within inches of breaking the deadlock in the first half as his 25-yard drive struck the crossbar and bounced clear before the sides went into the break scoreless.
Eschol Park went close to grabbing the lead soon after the restart as Saffrett low shot beat the keeper but also beat the post as it trickled wide of goal.
Wills should have grabbed the lead for North Sydney as he found space in the box, however his first time shot sailed harmlessly over the crossbar as frustration appeared to be setting in for the dominant side.
Wills made up for his miss soon after as he opened the scoring on 55? minutes with a powerful shot that found its way into the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar.
North Sydney doubled their advantage minutes later when Armenakas slotted home a spot kick following Josh Lovett?s unfortunate foul in the box.
Christian Calderan headed just over for North Sydney soon after before Wills completed his brace and rounded off the scoring with a low drive from the edge of the box that found its way inside the bottom corner.
North Sydney United 3 (Edward Wills 55?, 68?, Panos Armenakas 59? pen)
Eschol Park 0
-By Michael Shoolman
Under 16 Boys: Auburn District shines over Camden
Granville District Soccer Football Association?s Auburn District took out the Under 16 Boys Champion of Champions after a comprehensive 3-0 victory over a gallant Macarthur District Association?s Camden at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday.
Auburn started the brighter of the two and had their first crack at goal in the 15th minute when Omer Elustu had his shot saved by Camden custodian Brett Napper.
The pressure started to mount on Camden and a minute later Yasir Naderi got onto a great cross but his shot hit the Camden side netting.
It was only a matter of time until Auburn was set to open the scoring and they did just that in the 20th minute via the elusive James Keikura.
The tricky striker smashed home from close range after a corner bounced favourably to the number ten who calmed his team?s nerves with the game?s first goal.
Camden went close to notching up an equaliser in the 23rd minute when a scorching free-kick from Jake Lloyd was well handled by Auburn keeper Zane Brown ? the first half ended 1-0 to Auburn with everything to play for in the second half as both teams struggled at times with the heat.
It wasn?t to be the start Camden wanted though as Auburn went 2-0 up as Elli Esber looped a high ball to Keikura who headed home his second and celebrated in style pointing to the heavens after a well worked goal.
Auburn weren?t finished there as in the 45th minute Mohamed Tobbie?s free-kick just sailed over the Camden post.
Following that though the game could have boiled over with more goals if it weren?t for two penalty misses by the Auburn side.
In the 54th minute Elustu stepped up from the spot but his penalty went well wide while more drama in the 70th minute as Moustafa Rifai saw his effort sky over the bar much to the dismay of the vocal Auburn crowd.
Good luck came Auburn?s way though as they scored their third and final in the 72nd minute as Jihad Elsamad used his skill and speed to beat the keeper as the game ended 3-0 with his side claiming the well-deserved silverware.
Auburn District 3 (J Keikura 20?, 36?, J Elsamad 72?)
Camden 0
-By Mark Stavroulakis
Under 17 Boys: Shootout drama sees Gunners past ten-man Toongabbie
A 3-2 shootout score line saw Gunners SC defeat Toongabbie in the Grade 17 Champions of Champions final after the scores were locked at 1-1 at full time on Sunday afternoon.
It was a busy afternoon for both keepers as Jake O?Brien of Toongabbie and Nick Pedreira of Gunners both kept their opposition at bay time and time again throughout the match.
Gunners were first out of the blocks with Matt Rawes off target early before Jimjay Aloese forced O?Brien into an acrobatic save.
Toongabbie soon found their feet as Aara Sabir skinned two defenders before drawing a save from Pedreira.
Kara Sabir went agonisingly close minutes later as he beat Pedreira to a through ball only to hit the post with his shot and then see both of his follow-ups bravely deflected by Cameron Wallace in the Gunners defence.
Both keepers made exceptional saves in one-on-one situations to ensure the sides went level into the interval; however the crowd weren?t left to wait much longer for the opening goal as Luke Shirley headed the Gunners into the lead from a corner shortly after the restart.
The match took a sour turn around the hour mark as a scuffle gave referee Daniel Stack no choice but to show Toongabbie?s Daniel D?Alessandro a straight red card for his part in the melee.
David McAvoy should have sealed the win for Gunners soon after, however the substitute misjudged Liam Piggott?s cross and failed to connect with an open goal at his mercy.
Toongabbie punished Gunners for the miss with a late equaliser through Kara Sabir to force the match into extra time, during which Toongabbie?s resolute defending combined with O?Brien?s stellar goalkeeping kept Gunners at bay and ensured the tie would be settled on penalties.
With both keepers pulling off impressive saves the teams were separated by Luke Shirley?s final spot kick, which he duly slotted home to secure a 3-2 shootout victory for the Gunners.
Gunners SC 1 (Luke Shirley 45?)
Toongabbie 1 (Kara Sabir 70?)
Gunners SC win 3-2 on penalties
By Michael Shoolman
Under 18 Men; Lilli Pilli too strong for Lindfield in Under 18 men?s final
Lilli Pilli secured the Under 18 Men?s final with a hard fought effort to overcome Lindfield, despite the final 3-0 result suggesting it was an easy victory.
Played at a fast pace throughout the 90? minutes in very muggy conditions, both sides created goal scoring chances.
In what proved a well-balanced opening, Lilli Pilli found the opening goal of the match on the 30? minute mark. Chris Boland scored his first of two goals with an exceptionally well hit long-range effort. The striker?s left-foot drive packed a huge punch, and left Lindfield goalkeeper Greg Joffe helpless as he failed to get a hand to the attempt.
Boland nearly doubled his side?s lead just before the break as his shot had Joffe beaten. The striker however was denied by Maxwell Margalit who kept his nerve to clear off the goal line.
After the break, Ned Stelzer forced Greg Joffe into a fine save before Lindfield captain Romaan Thorpe showed all his passion with a series of timely interventions in the defensive third.
Lindfield went close to an equalizer on the hour mark as Antoine Cleuet floated into the penalty-area unmarked before side-footing his effort wide of the target.
The Greg Joffe show then began as the shot-stopper pulled off a series of world class saves to deny Lilli Pilli. The Lindfield goalkeeper, despite being on the losing side, was without a doubt one of the star performer from the final.
After being denied by Joffe late-on, Boland finally managed to put another one past the shot-stopper.
A poorly dealt with corner by Lilli Pilli saw the ball fall to Boland at the back post, the striker didn?t waste any time, blasting his effort into the top right-hand corner.
Stelzer then added a third for Lilli Pilli deep into injury-time, converting powerfully from close-range to cap off a tremendous Champion of Champions campaign.
Lindfield 0
Lilli Pilli 3 (Chris Boland 30?, 90?+1?, Ned Stelzer 90?+2?)
-By Joseph Carlucci
Under 21 Men: Burwood?s golden goal thriller pips Magpies
Canterbury Association side Burwood clinched the U-21 Men?s Champion of Champions title with a dramatic last minute golden goal to defeat Miranda Magpies.
Without a doubt the best two teams across the state this season ? the two sides met in the State Cup earlier in the year, where Burwood again piped the Magpies via the penalty-shootout ? both sides gave a fabulous account of their skill and football mentality.
The match didn?t start in the best manner for Burwood as Miranda took a 6? minute lead courtesy of a fine talent by the name of Jason Skyllas. The left-sided winger reacted quickest to re-position his body and convert a tremendous overhead bicycle kick past Burwood goalkeeper Yannick Milligan-Saville. The ball sat up nicely for the pint-sized winger as Skyllas showed exceptional technique to give his side the lead.
Milligan-Saville then denied Miranda a second goal as Christian Zeleny went through one-on-one. The shot-stopper showed agility and strength to close the angle and thwart any danger.
Gaetano La Ianca tested Magpies? goalkeeper Kieran Rossenrode with a free-kick on 39? minutes ? the shot-stopper came up trumps ? though 4? minutes later, La Ianca?s delivery from the left found its way through a crowded penalty-area and into the back of the net to draw Burwood level.
Burwood wasn?t finished there as Jack Avery blasted a loose ball inside the Miranda penalty-area to give his side the lead only 60?? seconds later.
Miranda should have drawn level after the break when Jason Haggar found an opening on the edge of the penalty-area. The Magpies player shot his effort wide of the target.
At the other end on the hour mark, La Ianca should have added a third for Burwood when the referee awarded the side a penalty following Adam Wilson?s poorly timed challenge on the number 9.
La Ianca dusted himself off to take the penalty, though his powerful drive was a little too central as Rossenrode guessed correctly to make a fine save down to his left.
Despite the miss, Burwood seemed in control of proceedings until 2? minutes from the end. Samuel Fenning made the most of some slack marking as he forced the match into extra-time with a well taken goal.
The 20? minutes of extra-time produced chances at both ends before Miranda were reduced to ten-men following Zeleny?s second yellow card of the afternoon.
Miranda found themselves with the numerical advantage shortly after as both Nathan Leto and Gaetano La Ianca were shown red cards following a melee that broke out with the Miranda players.
The setback didn?t deter Burwood as Steven Gabor, with the last kick of the match, blasted a pin-point free-kick into the back of the net to secure victory.
Burwood 3 (Gaetano La Ianca 43?, Jack Avery 44?, Steven Gabor 110?+1?)
Miranda Magpies 2 (Jason Skyllas 6?, Samuel Fenning 88?)
2-2 at full-time. Burwood won via extra-time golden goal.
-By Joseph Carlucci
All Age Men: Pittwater RSL top of the pops in the All Age Men?s
The 2011 Champion of Champions Grand Final in the All Age Men?s category produced a thrilling encounter between Pittwater RSL and Gladesville Ravens, a match where the lead changed hands several times before late drama gave the spoils to the team from the Manly Warringah Association.
Pittwater set the cat amongst the pigeons as early as the 2nd minute, when skipper Stefano Teghini smashed a first time shot against the cross bar after a great run and cut back from Josh Yeates.
With the startled Ravens defenders motionless, Charlie Fyfe nipped in to head the rebound past Will Tan in the Gladesville goal and give Pittwater an early lead.
Ravens replied ten minutes later with a solid run and shot by Matt Hunter, his 25 yard left footer providing a scare for the Pittwater faithful.
Pittwater had all the running in the early stages, and Teghini was at it again on 14 minutes, snapping a shot against the inside of the far post after a great turn and swivel on the edge of the box.
The boys from Manly kept their foot on the pedal, and were extremely unlucky not to extend the lead just after the half hour mark.
The lanky central striking figure of David Prentice whipped over a dangerous free kick from the edge of the side of the penalty area, the ball taking a slight deflection before clipping the cross bar on its way over.
From the subsequent corner, it was Prentice once more who flung himself at the ball, cracking his header downwards and against the cross bar yet again before Ravens cleared the danger.
The burly figure of Matt Hunter, a former Leeds United youth product, was a bit if a handful for the Pittwater defence whenever Gladesville ventured forward, and he forced a brilliant fingertip save from Darren Sekulich with a flick header on 42 minutes.
As the clock ticked over into injury time, Aaron Kidd produced a wonderful piece of skill to conjure up an unlikely equalizer for the rattled Ravens.
Receiving the ball meters outside the penalty area, Kidd twisted and turned with his back to goal as he tried valiantly to gain control of the leather, before finding an inch to drill a low grass cutter off the inside of the far post and give Ravens an equalizer.
Pittwater went into the break having dominated proceedings, but football being what it is, it was Gladesville that had restored parity against the run of play, and before the hour mark, had in fact snuck in front as they found some renewed inspiration during the early part of the second half.
Gladesville?s Aaron Kidd was once again the catalyst, using his pace to latch onto a long through ball, and his application to the task at hand saw him upended inside the penalty area much to the despair of the Pittwater fans.
Raven?s skipper, Anthony Oppedisano, had his spot kick brilliantly saved by Darren Sekulich, but team mate, Adrian Macerola, was first to the rebound and headed the ball over Sekulich and into the unguarded net to put Gladesville 2-1 up.
Pittwater could be forgiven if they rolled over given what had transpired, falling behind when they clearly had the better of the opportunities, but they refused to give up, and in fact lifted the intensity as they threw everything at Gladesville.
Teghini turned inside a defender on 66 minutes before blasting over, whilst Prentice had a flick header ten minutes later loop over Will Tan in the Ravens goal before trickling wide of the mark.
The equalizer finally arrived on 80 minutes, when a sweeping Pittwater move saw Charlie Fyfe sneak in behind the Gladesville defence, his low square pass nailed into goal by the grateful Prentice.
Pittwater kept at it and were rewarded with the winning goal just three minutes later, Teghini crossing into the box for Prentice to head home at the second attempt, after his initial header had rebounded into the air off a desperate Raven defender.
Full time brought jubilation from the Pittwater fans, with Prentice and Teghini the standouts in attack in what was a victory reflecting plenty of character, as well as clinical precision in front of goal.
Pittwater RSL 3 (Fyfe 2?, Prentice 80?, 83?)
Gladesville Ravens 2 (Kidd 45?, Macerola 58?)
-By Frank Speranza
Over 35 Men?s: Angelucci hat trick inspires Castle Hill to win
Castle Hill United ran out 3-0 winners against Brookvale to claim the Over 35?s Champion of Champions title.
A hat trick by striker Angelucci was the difference between the two sides in what was a highly entertaining match.
The first quarter of the match was quite cagey with both sides feeling each other out. Castle Hill were content to push the ball around whilst Brookvale were looking to counter attack at every opportunity, not afraid to run at defenders.
The first real chance of the match fell to Brookvale?s Marc Nicholson whose curling free kick just sailed over the cross bar, keeper rooted to the spot.
The match seemed to spurn into life after that chance with Castle Hill carving out a few half chances.
Castle Hill took the lead on 27 minutes after Casserley won back the ball in midfield and played through Angelucci. With a bit of work to do to round the keeper and evade two defenders, Angelucci bundled the ball home at the second attempt.
Brookvale had a chance to hit back immediately from a set piece, Wayne Pierce?s in swinging free kick evaded everyone in the Castle Hill box and just sailed wide of the far post.
Castle Hill had the last real chance of the first half with pacey winger Morakeas? dragging his turn and volley from a low drilled corner just wide.
The second half began with Brookvale really pressing the space limiting Castle Hill of the calm ball playing style which saw them dominate the first half.
They had an excellent chance to go level on 68 minutes via Marc Nicholson, after a simple over the top chip, the substitute was one on one with Castle Hill shot stopper Hoff but Nicholson shot directly at the keeper ? should have been 1-1.
Brookvale were soon made to pay when Angelucci doubled Castle Hill?s advantage only 8 minutes later. Dribbling across the 18 yard box the Brookvale defence offered the striker too much space which gave Angelucci license to shoot and curl and low shot around Frank Chiarella into the bottom right hand corner.
Castle Hill completed the 3-0 result in the 80th minute after excellent lead up play from Parkes, Bourke and Angelucci. A fantastic counter attack saw Parkes break down the left and play a well weighted ball in behind the defence for Bourke. Bourke?s run drew three defenders and under the pressure was good enough to release the ball across the 18 yard box immediately which left Angelucci one on one. The striker made no mistake.
There was late drama in this match with Castle Hill going down to ten men after a red card to Welch. The defender fouled Frank Gigliotti in the area and was adjudged to be last man. After winning the penalty Gigliotti stepped up but drilled the penalty well over the bar ? poor penalty.
Castle Hill closed out the match comfortably.
Castle Hill 3 (Angelucci 27?, 76?, 80?)
Brookvale 0
-By Bruce Da Silva
Over 45 Men?s: Southern Districts win in thrilling Champion of Champions Final
The 2011 Champion of Champions Grand Final in the Over 45s Men?s category produced the highest scoring match of the day at Valentine Sports Park, with Southern Districts Ass prevailing in a seven goal thriller.
Both sides in the Over 45s final were composite sides representing their respective Associations.
St George Association had reached the final without conceding a goal in their previous three matches, and on the back of a 10-0 thumping of Nepean Ass in the semi-final.
Southern Districts Association themselves had not conceded on the way to the final either, and accounted for the last remaining club side in the competition in the semi-final, squeezing past Inter Lions 1-0.
The conditions were incredibly humid and would really test the endurance of Football NSW?s elder brigade, but it was last season?s victors, Southern Districts Association, who started the better, taking a two goal lead inside the first quarter of an hour.
Michael Collins sent a swerving through ball behind the St George Association defensive line on 9 minutes from the left hand side, and Vince Lentini?s cross was volleyed in by John Amoroso from a couple of yards to put Southern Districts Association into the lead.
It soon became 2-0 on 14 minutes when Collins again was involved, this time wriggling free down the left flank before his far post cross was headed in by Amoroso, who grabbed his and his side?s second goal of the day.
John Spirovski responded for St George Association twice within a minute, his free kick on 16 minutes driven over the cross bar, whilst his low drive sixty seconds later went straight at Claudio Colombo in the Southern Districts Association goal.
Spiro Hantzis got down the left flank in the 22nd minute for St George Association, and his perfect cross was fluffed by Kirik Grasevski, heading over whilst unmarked and right in front.
St George Association got a lifeline on the half hour with a well worked goal that started down the right hand side.
John Spirovski cleverly flicked the ball over a defender into the path of the overlapping Paul McIntyre, whose cross into the penalty area was clinically headed downwards by Sase Spirovski, the ball squirming free of Colombo?s hands and trickling into the net.
Southern Districts restored their two goal advantage in the 38th minute, when Zoran Jurica volleyed home from close range at the far post following a corner that drifted across the face of goal.
Just when the referee was reaching for his whistle to blow for half time, St George pulled back another goal with a quick switch of play. Receiving the ball out on the right, John Spirovski chipped to Ken Slaveski in the centre of the half, and he in turn found Hantzis out on the left unmarked.
Hantzis weighed up his options and chose to drive the ball towards the near post, the shot surprising Southern Districts Association keeper, Colombo, before squeezing into the net.
As the temperatures rose and the humidity increased, both sides chose to keep the interchange bench ticking over, the constant subs also adding to the drop in intensity as the second half progressed.
On 55 minutes, Velimir Kupresak was adjudged to have obstructed a St George Association attacker whilst protecting his goalkeeper, and the referee awarded an indirect free kick on approximately the penalty spot. Even though the Southern Districts players lined up on the goal line, Spiro Hantzis drilled the free kick past the wall into the inside side netting to equalize for St George Association.
The match fizzled out somewhat from this point on as the weather became even more humid and unbearable, but the veterans kept at it with a view to avoiding the task of extra time and having to run around for an additional 20 minutes.
Biaggio David made sure there was to be no extra time, drilling in a scorcher of a free kick from the edge of the box on 78 minutes that flew past the bewildered St George Association keeper, Phillip Tonks, to give Southern Districts Association the spoils.
Southern Districts Association 4 (Amoroso 9?,14?, Jurica 38?, David 78?)
St George Association 3 (Spirovski 30?, Hantzis 40?, 55?)
-By Frank Speranza
