Division One Youth League The Finals Series

As always, the hard-working Rangers committee pulled out all stops to ensure that the teams and their supporters felt comfortable throughout the day despite the emotion charged environment.
Preliminary Finals
Grade 13
Camden Tigers had suffered a 3-2 loss to Gladesville Ryde Magic when they met them in the first round and then the teams battled out a 2-2 second round draw.
On this occasion Magic took control of the match from the outset and they raced out to a 2-0 lead before the interval thanks to goals from Sam Immerschmitt and Aryan Vatandoust. The Tigers gave their all to trying to get back into the game but it was not quite enough although they were rewarded with a goal from Tom Supurovic.
Gladesville Ryde Magic have progressed to the Grand Final where they will face Mt Druitt Town Rangers while Camden Tigers have completed their commitments to the finals series.
Grade 14
Nepean had lost both their previous matches against St George, 4-0 and 1-0 so it always looked as though they would be really up against it in this match.
However, it would seem that Nepean completely ignored the previous form as they went at the Saints in a very even first half. In fact, the lads from Nepean did so well that they were rewarded with a goal courtesy of a strike from H. McMillan and they were able to carry that lead through to the interval.
The second half was just as even but St George somehow conjured an equaliser through Dean Xenos and that was enough to force the match into extra time. It was there that the Saints managed to get their noses in front thanks to a strike from Sam Mehmet and that proved to be decisive.
Nepean have bowed out of the finals series while St George will meet Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the Grand Final.
Grade 15
Gladesville Ryde Magic were beaten 5-1 by St George in the first round encounter but Magic squared the account in the second round when they posted a 4-1 result.
This match began as a very even affair with chances open the scoring falling in equal measure at both ends of the ground. It was to be the Saints who drew first blood and they managed to add a second goal before going into the shed for the break. The second half was again very even but the real difference was that St George took full advantage of their opportunities as they added two more goals to their tally, taking the final scoreline to 4-0.Ghachame.
Gladesville Ryde Magic have completed their commitments to the finals series while St George have moved into the Grand Final where they will be up against Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Grade 16
Stanmore Hawks went down 6-1 when they met Mt Druitt Town Rangers in the first round of the competition but then the second round game ended in a scoreless draw.
The teams threw everything they had into the match and the result was a very entertaining spectacle of skill and commitment and that delighted the large crowd in the spectator areas.
When the dust settled at the final whistle the Hawks had scored goals through J. Maroney and C. Danboul while A. White had provided the only goal for the Rangers.
The campaign has come to a close for Mt Druitt Town Rangers while Stanmore Hawks will face Southern Branch in the Grand Final.
Preliminary Final

Mt Druitt Town Rangers had produced a 2-1 win over Camden Tigers on the opening day of the competition by then the Tigers had squared the ledger with a 3-1 second round win. In a fascinating Preliminary Semi Final the Rangers had prevailed to defeat the Tigers 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the normal time and extra time had failed to produce a goal for either team.
The action came thick and fast from the first whistle with Camden very nearly finding the back of the net as early as the 2^nd minute but then Mt Druitt took the ball straight down the other end and they did find the target to gain the early lead through B. Sek.
The remainder of the first half was a titanic battle as the teams gave their all and the chances fell equally at both ends of the ground but there was no addition to the score.
Camden seemed to step up a gear in the second stanza and they gained an equaliser through a penalty kick before getting their noses in front for the first time in the game with hose goals coming from Rhys Hastie and Jayden Russell. The Tigers never looked in doubt after they gained the lead.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers have bowed out of the finals series while Camden Tigers will face Gladesville Ryde Magic in the Grand Final.
-By Barry Davis