NSW State League Two Preliminary Final Review
Preliminary Final
HAWKESBURY CITY SC VS PROSPECT UNITED
The League Two Preliminary Final blockbuster lived up to its expectations, and the large vocal crowd that turned out on Saturday night were treated to an outstanding display of attacking football between two sides vying for the remaining spot in the 2012 League Two Grand Final.
In the end a Gus Orcajo goal midway through the second-half proved to be the difference, with Hawkesbury throwing all men forward in the dying stages of the match to no avail.
Both sides started the evening cautiously with keeping the ball the main theme throughout the opening stages.
Prospect?s Matthew Hubbard snuck a ball over the Hawks backline for Gus Orcajo in the 13? minute, with the brawny striker doing well to hold it up and find Luis Freitas, but lack of balance saw his would be cross slice out for a goal kick.
Anthony Maxwell tried his luck from the edge of the area on 15? minutes which signalled Prospect?s early intentions after Shane Johnson had fumbled a deep Matthew Hubbard cross, but the midfielder?s effort skied over the crossbar.
Hawkesbury?s first venture forward in the 20? minute ended in disappointment as Zac Watters tame shot rolled along the ground into Michael Steell?s arms.
Vaughan Profilio thread a wonderful through ball for Evan Daglis just moments later, but his rushed left footed shot skewed wide of the goal.
The Hawks were starting to come into the contest as Zac Watters turned his marker on 24? minutes to find Ethan Simone unmarked inside the area, but the striker?s sloppy first touch allowed Prospect to intervene.
Ethan Simone continued to pepper Prospects goal and he hit the upright on 28? minutes after Prospect failed to deal with a low Zac Watters cross.
The Hawks once again found themselves on the attack in the 33? minute, with Paul Cooper playing in Ryan Wilson, but the midfielder?s final pass lacked conviction and rolled out for a goal kick.
After both sides created chances but failed to score, the score remain locked at 0-0 after a solid display of attacking football from both sides.
The Hawks continued where they left off following the restart with Ryan Wilson shooting just wide of the target, after receiving a shrewd pass from Evan Daglis who drew two defenders to create space for the roaming midfielder.
The next threat was again Ryan Wilson on 53? minutes who whipped in a dangerous ball following a poor free kick, and Prospect were almost made to pay for napping in the final third as Ethan Simone?s side footed effort finished just wide of the mark.
Prospect left back Luke Isbister let fly a shot from 30 yards out after 59? minutes that took Johnson by surprise, with the keeper parrying the ball out for a corner.
After camping inside Hawkesbury?s half following Isbister?s long range effort, Prospect found an opening with Gus Orcajo slamming the ball from close range past Johnson after Hawkesbury failed to clear their lines.
Key midfield figure Evan Daglis was forced to leave the field due to injury in the 59? minute, and his replacement Dane Smith had little time to settle, almost scoring the equaliser with his first touch after Ethan Simone blasted across goal at an awkward height for Smith in the 63? minute.
Prospect Custodian Michael Steell was called into action on 65? minutes and dived brilliantly to save a Zac Watters in swinging shot from out wide.
Steell was having an excellent game between the sticks after his heroics following his last minute penalty save last week, and again showed his worth with a decent save from an Andrew Stevenson cross in the 76? minute.
It was box to box action late in the game and Luis Freitas pounced on a weak Andrew Stevenson back pass and cleverly chipped over Johnson, only for his effort to be cleared off the line.
Prospect?s midfield general Adrian Jennings snapped a half volley from 25 yards out that lacked any real accuracy.
After some nice build up play by the Hawks, Ryan Wilson used his laces to snap a shot from the edge of the area that finished just over the crossbar with time now against the Hawks.
Gus Orcajo showed his experience as Prospect looked to run down the clock, with the striker playing a sneaky one-two with Matthew Hubbard to dribble down the left flank and draw the foul.
In the dying stages of the match, the Hawks thought they had equalised as Dane Smith hit a cross into the box that Ethan Simone struck past Steell inside the near post, but the referee had already blown the whistle for a free kick following a foul in the box which all but ended the Hawks hopes of sending the game into extra-time.
In an open second half where both sides traded attacking flurries forward, the game could have finished differently but the heroics of both defences proved to be the difference with the odd goal enough to send Prospect through to the Grand Final next week.
The loss spells the end of Hawkesbury City?s season, but their attacking mentality under Dean Bertenshaw has certainly been a highlight this year.
Prospect stuck to their guns and really gave it their all against the Hawks to come out on top in a real arm-wrestle affair. Prospect now turn their attention to the next week?s Grand Final as they look to upset minor premiers Hakoah from securing ?the double?.
Match Stats
Hawkesbury City SC 0
Prospect United 1 (G Orcajo 61?)
Saturday September 8th, 2012
Bensons Lane Field, Richmond
Referee: T.Diakos
Assistant Referees: M.Kimber & S.Ellsmore
Hawkesbury City SC: GK.S.Johnson; 4.A.Stevenson, 14.R.Alchin, 30.B.Charles, 33.V.Profilio (11.H.McCrae 79?), 8.R.Wilson (24.D.McKay 91?), 7.N.Cooper, 28.E.Daglis (3.D.Smith 59?), 13.P.Cooper, 18.E.Simone, 34.Z.Watters
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: 28.E.Daglis 12?, 4.A.Stevenson 88?
Red Cards: Nil
Prospect United: GK.M.Steell; 2.L.Isbister, 3.M.Viera, 5.O.Omara, 6.A.Maxwell, 7.L.Freitas (15.A.Haddad 79?), 8.A.Jennings, 10.G.Orcajo, 12.T.Sullivan, 13.E.Kirkpinar, 16.M.Hubbard
Substitutes Not Used: 4.N.Smith, 9.A.Gaeta, 11.N.Nikfarjam, 14.A.Gatt
Yellow Cards: 3.M.Viera 14?, 6.A.Maxwell 15?, GK.M.Steell 45?, 12.T.Sullivan 71?, 10.G.Orcajo 87?
Red Cards: 13.E.Kirkpinar 94?
Reserve Grade
Hawkesbury City SC 2 Hakoah 1
Minor Premiers Hawkesbury City has done enough to earn their spot in the 2012 Grand Final after a promising display saw them defeat Hakoah 2-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawks raced out to a two goal lead and were looking comfortable for the win, but late attacking assaults from Hakoah saw them pinch a goal back ? but in the end the minor premiers ran out much deserved winners to keep their chances of tying up the Grand Final as well as the Premiership intact.
The win allows Hawkesbury to exact revenge over Luddenham, whom they lost to 4-3 in extra-time last week while the loss sees Hakoah?s finals campaign come to an end, after a successful season to finish runners up in the regular season.
-By Dean Southern
