NSW Futsal Super League Grand Final Review
And it proved a season of hocus pocus as Mountain Majik lifted four of the six trophy matches it contested to give its premier league elevation an even bigger boost.
Backed by a parochial and eclectic bunch of cheerleaders Majik won the 12 Girls, 14 Boys, 14 Girls and Open Women’s titles, South Coast snaring the 12 Boys trophy, Mount Druitt the 16 Boys and Raiders the Open Men’s deciders, while Sutherland took out the 16 Girls and Youth Men championships.
Taipans slither past Raiders – 12 Boys
The young guns from South Coast Taipans got the day rolling with an exciting 6-3 win over Raiders Futsal to claim the 12 Boys NSW Futsal Super League title.
The premiers took the lead four minutes in and led 3-0 midway through a dominant first half, but they were made to work all the way for their win by a dogged Raiders outfit.
South Coast’s preparations suffered a setback with their second-highest scorer Marcus Bimbilovski suspended for the championship decider but they controlled proceedings from the kick-off, stringing a succession of passes together before Luke Day trapped well in the D and laid off for Jason Pappas whose shot needed saving from Raiders custodian Brendon Lai.
Joel King marshalled the troops well at the back and the pressure finally paid off when a thunderous Jacob Gjorsevski freekick from 8m in front almost broke the net as South Coast found an early 1-0 advantage.
Gjorsevski could have doubled the lead a minute later when his neat combination with Pappas opened up a clear opportunity but he could only grab his head as his shot sailed just over the bar.
The frustration was short-lived when Gjorsevski moved the ball out wide to King, who delivered precisely for Day to finish off in front of an open goal to help South Coast double their lead, and it was 3-0 in the 12th minute after Luke Jones made the most of a freekick at the top of the D, blasting high into the net and the Taipans were looking good.
The never-say-die Raiders began a Lazarus-like resurgence from the restart when Ben Tisdale’s delicate touch helped him round a defender and his goal-bound shot was lucky to be deflected out for a corner, which then lined Nicholas De Franck up for a crack at goal – his scintillating effort whispering past the crossbar.
The game really fired up when Jamie Percevski was fouled in his own half and then carded for dissent in the 16th minute and De Franck went agonisingly close again when the freekick sailed just over the bar.
Percevski channeled his emotion into a fine attempt on goal two minutes from halftime, but the strike was blocked by Taipans keeper Zak Bedelovski who then smothered Nick Pangallo’s follow-up.
Bedelovski was determined to keep South Coast at bay and did well to tip De Franck’s halfway freekick over the bar but just couldn’t get enough behind a De Frank drive and Raiders finally broke the shackles to trail 3-1 at the break.
Buoyed by their first-half finish Raiders suffered a blow when Adrian Viggiani was taken off injured minutes into the second term and the damage compounded when Taipans took advantage of a poor defensive pass, Pappas coolly slotting home in front of goal for a 4-1 lead.
But Raiders bounced back, some fantastic play from Jakob Delgado culminating in a great pass across goal for Tisdale to finish off solidly in the 28th minute and Pangallo combined well with De Franck to be 4-3 down with six minutes still to play.
The absorbing contest almost fell back on level terms when a neat flick from Pangallo freed up De Franck, but he couldn’t keep his shot down and the score remained unchanged.
With Raiders pressing hard Gjorsevski found space on the counter attack and struck well to push the Taipans lead out to 5-3, netting his 27th goal of the season in the process, and Pappas made sure of it when he followed up well after Lai had done brilliantly to save Gjorsevski’s 38th minute spot-kick, South Coast 6-3 winners.
Influential Taipans player Joel King gave full credit to a determined Raiders but always believed his side could produce the goods when called upon.
“[With South Coast leading 3-0] Their coach took a time out and must have given them some good words as they were able to get on top of us in the middle of the game, but we just tried to relax and keep it simple as we knew we could score the goals when we needed to,” he said.
“It’s a great feeling to win after losing the nationals final this year, so this makes up for it.”
Proud coach Bobby Mazeski was full of admiration for his young charges (they managed to score 109 goals in 14 games). “This is their just deserves for working hard all year and playing good Futsal,” he said. “Well done to the boys; it gives me a lot of satisfaction to see these kids so excited.”
Raiders coach Antonio Marco congratulated South Coast on their win but acknowledged his gallant troops. “It was a great game and they were too good on the day,” he said. “My boys came back and tried hard and that’s all I could’ve asked for, so I’m very proud of them.”
South Coast Taipans: Dean Saverino, Jacob Gjorsevski, Jason Pappas, Joel King, Kayne Kotevski, Kieren Brodnik, Luke Day, Luke Jones, Marcus Bimbilovski (suspended), Zak Bedelovski, coach Bobby Mazeski.
Raiders: Adrian Viggiani, Benjamin Tisdale, Brendon Lai, Connor Spurway, Gabriel Papas, Jakob Delgado, Jamie Percevski, Nicholas De Franck, Nicholas Marco, Nicholas Pangallo, Thomas Makko, Zachary Taylor, coach Antonio Marco.
Majik beat Raiders in shootout thriller – 12 Girls
Millimetres counted, pulses raced and parents almost fainted following a captivating 12 Girls NSW Futsal Super League decider that Mountain Majik won in a sapping penalty shootout over Raiders Futsal following what could be the longest goal in Futsal, perhaps ever!
With an enthralling contest locked at 1-1 after extra time it took 16 penalty kicks for Majik to finally win the shootout 3-2 and lift the trophy.
It’s never pretty in sudden death and both keepers, Majik’s Courtney Newbon and Raiders Regan Hill, can hold their heads high after doing all they could to keep their sides in it, saving seven spot-kicks between them.
Newbon’s shoulder will be pretty sore this week with all the people rubbing it for good luck after she booted a full court goal with two minutes to go to level the scores at 1-1. At the other end, it was probably Hill’s only mistake of an otherwise inspirational game.
Hill was in the thick of it from the outset and showed her intent early when she blocked Majik sharpshooter Jessica Graham’s close-range one-on-one effort and pounced courageously on the rebound under a heavy collision with Graham.
South Coast attacked again and Olivia Hardaker beat three defenders to line up on goal but Hill dove well to deflect her bullet away for a corner.
The premiers finally got a good look on goal in the ninth minute and they make the most of it, Nicole Ossio freeing Ashley Irwin up with a great touch and Irwin slotted home for a 1-0 Raiders lead.
Marley Varela almost doubled the advantage when her cheeky freekick went through everyone and just past the post, and Ossio showed great skill in finding an open Talie Watson but her shot drifted narrowly wide of target with halftime closing in.
The Mountaineers started the second half with a bang and Monique Holder’s sizzler was well held by Hill, who then wowed the crowd by trapping a Hardaker rocket between her legs and tipping Isabella Reba’s goal-bound shot onto the crossbar a minute later.
Raiders returned favour with Varela’s long range effort rebounding off the crossbar at the other end, and Newbon stood tall by stopping both Dahlia Haddad’s strike and Volder’s point-blank follow-up.
Raiders sniffed victory when Varela’s freekick and follow-up were both cleared off the line by Ruth Wigley, and Volder’s great layoff to Alyssa Rose went unrewarded, and Hill was again resilient in denying Jemma-Lee Butler after she had stolen the ball and only had the keeper to beat.
Newbon’s moment of magic came with the clock ticking down to fulltime, heaving the ball from her own goal-line and over the outstretched arms of Hill to lock the scores back up at 1-1.
Newbon came to her side’s rescue again, diving athletically to turn away Irwin’s last-ditch attempt to send the game into overtime.
Extra-time brought about even more heroic goalkeeping, Hill holding Graham’s low shot and Newbon grabbing Irwin’s freekick in front of goal, then Hill saving again to ruin some great Taipans teamwork from Hardaker and Monique Holder.
Not even Ossio’s cheeky back-flick could catch Newbon by surprise and the game headed to a dreaded penalty shootout.
It was a striker’s nightmare as Hill and Newbon saved shot after shot, only Raiders Talie Walton and Ossio and Taipans Wigley and Graham finding the back of the net in 15 attempts until Kathryn Trupiano stepped up to blast in the victorious goal.
When the Mountain Majik girls finally worked out they had won (just about everyone else had lost count) they burst into joy and a crushing group hug as Mountain Majik’s first ever winning female team.
Coach Tiana Gauci was ecstatic. “It feels awesome actually – the first ever women’s championship for Majik and what a way to win it,” she said.
“It’s always been close between us and Raiders and both goalkeepers really stepped up; Newbon helped us win last week’s penalty shootout as well [a 6-5 defeat of West City Crusaders]. I’m really proud of the girls; three of them haven’t even played before, so I’m really happy for them.”
Newbon admitted she’d never practiced kicking full-court goals at training and was as shocked as everyone else when it went in, but she was still thrilled it helped her side stay in the game.
“We seemed really nervous at the start and were stressing because we weren’t playing well, but we got there in the end and it feels really good to win,” she said.
Raiders coach John Ossio was disappointed to lose but enjoyed a great match and knew the heartache would strengthen his players. “There was nothing between the two sides and both teams did really well. [Despite the loss] I think my players will be better for the experience,” he said.
Raiders: Allanah Lee Micallef-Prevost, Alyssa Rose, Ashley Irwin, Dahlia Haddad, Emma Voloder, Marley Varela, Nicole Ossio, Regan Hill, Talie Walton, coach John Ossio.
Mountain Majik: Courtney Newbon, Isabella Reba, Jemma-Lee Butler, Jessica Graham, Kathryn Trupiano, Michaela Canli, Monique Holder, Olivia Hardaker, Ruth Wigley, coach Tiana Gauci.
Mountain holds back Pirates – 14 Boys
It may’ve looked comfortable on the scoreboard but there was nothing easy about Mountain Majik’s 6-2 win over Botany Bay Pirates to claim the 14 Boys NSW Futsal Super League championship.
The Pirates looked like keelhauling Majik with all the momentum despite being 4-2 down but the Mountain men responded with two late goals to seal victory.
After a cagey start it was Majik who produced the first real test, Bradie Smith forcing a fine save from the Botany Bay keeper who then stopped Aaron Avery’s shot from the ensuing corner kick.
The game was delayed three minutes to help Callum Glass from the court after the youngster had rolled his ankle but the loss inspired Majik as they launched raid after a raid on the Pirates stronghold.
Smith’s left footer was well kept out by the Pirates glovesman but a 10th minute header from Domenic Vaccari found its target, lofting into goal for a 1-0 Majik lead.
It might’ve been more as Avery’s low drive cannoned off the far post, Vaccari’s shot was tipped over the bar, and the Pirates keeper put his body on the line to stop Smith’s rocket seconds later; and he also did well to deny Avery again but couldn’t do anything to deny Cooper Coskerie in the 14th minute, the premiers leading 2-0.
Botany Bay finally created some chances and moments after Matthew Lecce drove past the post a Jordan Ramos freekick ricocheted off the wall and into goal to narrow the deficit to 2-1 two minutes from the interval, Ramos scoring a staggering goal number 42 in 13 games.
But Majik had the last say of the half when a clever corner saw Hayden Macerola flick across for Avery to head home a 3-1 halftime lead.
The Pirates looked more settled in the second half until a defensive mix-up allowed Coskerie to pounce and walk the ball into the net for a 4-1 Majik advantage and after Josh Tasevski cannoned his shot off the post the ante was upped for Botany Bay who had to substitute their keeper and bring Mathew McCarthy into goal.
But it was McCarthy’s opposite Jordan Geddes who was under more pressure, playing out of his skin to stop Tasevski, David Lawrence, Lecce and Tasevski again in quick succession, and then disaster struck Botany Bay when Lawrence was red carded for swearing in the 27th minute.
Majik tried to put the game beyond doubt but a sweet one-two between Coskerie and Vaccari was wasted and almost backfired when a Lecce Pirates freekick needed saving from Geddes, Ramos blasted low and left and a Lecce overhead landed on top of the net with 10 minutes to play.
Geddes produced an unbelievable save to prevent Caleb Bartier from scoring for Botany Bay but Bartier found his target in the 35th minute when a thunderbolt from out wide on the right rumbled into goal for a 4-2 deficit.
At the other end McCarthy did brilliantly to dive low and deny a Coskerie strike and was just as good in tipping away a Vaccari attempt but a breakaway goal proved the Pirates undoing as Coskerie rounded McCarthy and hit the net to make it 5-2.
Ramos struck the crossbar in response for Botany Bay but a beautiful Coskerie run found Vaccari in the corner and his cross back to Coskerie was finished off sweetly to round out a 6-2 victory.
Majik playmaker Bradie Smith gave plenty of credit to his side’s defence in setting up the win. “We had to keep the ball a lot as it was one of the closest games we’ve had. Defensively we needed to step up after losing Callum [Glass] early, and I think it was a good game from everyone.”
Mountain coach Neil Glass commended his side on a solid performance and wished them well as many took their step up into the 16s. “We played really well, dominated the first half and had to close the game out from there. The team has built from the 14s and I think they’ve really learned a lot this season.”
Pirates coach Dez Marton thought the Christmas break interrupted their momentum a little but couldn’t take anything away from a great competition. “It was an excellent year and I’ve enjoyed it all. Majik deserve their win and I think the players will learn a lot from this experience.”
Mountain Majik: Aaron Avery, Bradie Smith, Callum Glass, Cooper Coskerie, Domenic Vaccari, Gabriel Contigiani, Hayden Macerola, Jordan Geddes, Thomas Heeps, coach Neil Glass.
Botany Bay Pirates: Adam Massoud, Alessandro Nigro, Caleb Bartier, Daniel Geroski, David Lawrence 11, Jacob Rohald, Jeremy Stein, Jordan Ramos, Josh Tasevski, Mathew McCarthy, Matthew Lecce, Thomas Diterlizzi, coach Dez Marton.
Mountain Majik defeat Sydney Futsal – 14 Girls
Mountain Majik won the 14 Girls NSW Futsal Super League premiership-championship double with a tense 3-1 win over a determined Sydney Futsal Club.
Majik led 1-0 at halftime and held off a Sydney side that had nothing to lose after coming from fourth place on the ladder.
The game was evenly poised early on and Sydney had the first crack when Shannon Coolican tried from wide left but her shot was tipped clear by young Majik keeper Courtney Newbon.
Bolstered by their parochial fan base, the Mountaineers soon found their rhythm and Ashlee Harrison went close before finding her mark on the end of a neat Ashlie Crofts pass across goal for an eighth minute lead.
Cassidy Chidgey went for glory on a huge drive that was tipped over the bar by Sydney custodian Eloise Jenkins, and the goalie was at it again when she offered a great reflex save to stop Chidgey’s flicked header and advanced well to deny any follow-up.
A last-second Shannon Wilcox missile was also tipped away for a corner by Jenkins but halftime sounded with Majik clinging to a one goal lead.
The premiers came out blazing in the second term and Jenkins saved a Coolican shot before watching on as a Harrison strike drifted narrowly wide.
Jacqueline Anyon-Smith then went coast-to-coast only to push her attempt just right of Jenkins and the post and the Sydney keeper backed up to stop Crofts.
A 25th minute freekick almost brought Jenkins undone as she tipped Harrison’s freekick into the air and a defender came to her rescue to head Crofts follow-up off the line.
The game was in the balance and the tension showed when Crofts and Jenkins were both yellow carded after tangling in the box and Crofts thought she had the final say when she got the better of Jenkins in a great shot from the right to take Majik 2-0 up in the 28th minute.
The joy was shortlived after a swift Sydney counter attack saw Coolican unload a 10m treat and halve the deficit at 2-1, and Jenkins was doing all she could in dropping deftly to stop Amy-Jane McKenzie’s low blast and keeping out another Harrison bomb, Kim Cozens also clearing off the line as Majik looked for the killer blow.
Sydney’s hard work almost paid off when Newbon stretched to parry Shannon Thompson’s breakaway shot in the 38th minute but the game was over when Harrison passed to Kathleen Butler in front of goal, who made no mistake to finish the scoring at 3-1.
Majik coach Matthew Constantini never underestimated Sydney’s potential and applauded his side’s discipline and patience.
“The girls know their roles and stuck to the game,” he said. “They’re a good bunch of girls and it’s great to see their commitment to each other rewarded.
After doing a mountain of defensive work a sapped Anyon-Smith praised her team-mates for backing each other all the way.
“We just did what the coach said and kept concentrating on what we were supposed to do,” she said. “We’re all good friends, there’s never any fights, so it’s really good to win a grand final together.”
Sydney coach Jessica Abrahim glowed from her team’s efforts over the last few weeks. “To come from fourth and keep it close in a grand final, they had to work their butts off to do; they didn’t give up at all,” she said.
“It’s still a learning experience for them. It’s not just about the game but also about controlling emotions. Under the circumstances they did extremely well.”
Mountain Majik: Amy-Jane McKenzie, Ashlee Harrison, Ashlie Crofts, Cassidy Chidgey, Courtney Newbon, Jacqueline Anyon-Smith, Kathleen Butler, Shannon Willcox, Sophia Hamilton, coach Matthew Costantini.
Sydney Futsal Club: Eloise Jenkins, Emily Mallos, Georgia Selmon, Grace Watson-Carr, Kim Cozens, Madeleine Fox, Olivia Cicco, Rebecca Keywood, Shannon Thompson, Shannon Coolican, Stephanie Kontakos, coach Jessica Abrahim.
Rangers edge out Majik – 16 Boys
Two goals in a frantic final minute saw Mount Druitt Town Rangers nudge 2-1 ahead of premiers Mountain Majik to claim the 16 Boys NSW Futsal Super League trophy.
Just as it looked like Aaron White’s third minute rocket would be enough for Rangers to win the decider, Jake Douglas’ acrobatic header brought Majik level in the 39th minute only for David Bourke to steal the matchwinner just seconds later.
Majik had beaten Mount Druitt twice already this season and showed their intent early when Douglas blasted left of goal, but it was Rangers who stole the ascendancy when White’s shot from the left deflected off a defender to leave Majik keeper Domenic Nascimben with no chance.
Majik returned fire with Nathan Duval firing just wide of the post and Jamie Dib setting up Douglas who shot high, but Rangers almost pounced again in the 12th minute, Aiden Payer’s firecracker forcing Nascimben into a reflex block.
Moments later Payer had another good chance only to fire across the goalmouth before Majik’s Emmanuel Gonzales opened up and also fired wide, while team-mate Felipe Zapata could only stare at the ceiling after his goalmouth scrambled effort dribbled mesmorisingly past the post.
Bourke thought he’d found a way through three minutes from the interval only to see his top-of-the-circle grasscutter saved well by Niscimben and seconds from the siren White had his strike from the right-hand-side rebound off the left post to keep the score unchanged at halftime.
White had the second half’s first chance when he pilfered the ball and Niscimben had to save again, and the Majik defence lifted, Rory McGeown breaking up a two-on-one Rangers attack and then slide-tackling as the last man in defence to stop another promising raid in the 26th minute.
This spurred Majik on at the other end and Aaron Avery had two good attempts stopped by the Rangers keeper Nathan Polinsky before Gonzalez (twice) and McGeown were also denied by a resolute shot-blocker.
Trying to relieve the pressure White had an audacious attempt from inside his own half hit the corner of the post and crossbar but Majik kept coming, a Douglas counter nudged clear by Polinsky and a Jay Holdsworth long-range bomb also tipped clear from danger with three minutes to play.
Niscimben wasn’t far from the action and saved Bourke’s breakaway mission before beginning a move that led to an astounding equaliser, McGeown neatly passing to Smith who chipped to Douglas on the baseline and his accurate header on the turn sent Majik fans into raptures with a minute on the clock.
But before you could blink an eyelid Mount Druitt responded with a gem of their own, White providing a great run inside and no-look pass to an unmarked Bourke to finish off sweetly and give the last say to Rangers on a tremendous 2-1 victory.
White was breathless after the absorbing match. “That feels amazing; they were the hardest team all year. We knew we had to not give them any room and to push harder when we had the chance, and it all came together for us.”
Rangers coach Nick Verdos had to watch the nailbiter from the sidelines after being suspended last week. “That excitement took a lot out of me, especially that second half, that was tough to watch,” he said. “We had to accept Majik were good on the ball and get behind it in numbers and I thought the boys did it brilliantly.”
Majik coach Fabio Macerola lamented a slow start to the game but thought his side worked their way back into the contest against a tough Mount Druitt outfit. “It was a much better second half from us and we created many chances. I’m still proud of what the boys have achieved.”
Mountain Majik: Aaron Avery, Bradie Smith, Domenic Nascimben, Emmanuel Gonzalez, Felipe Zapata, Jake Douglas, Jamie Dib, Jay Holdsworth, Nathan Duval, Rory McGowan, coach Fabio Macerola.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers: Aaron White, Aidan Payer, Brad Wright, Cameron Wright, Christopher Loucos, Connor May, Curtis Edmunds, David Bourke, Dylan Owusu, Jack Kuipers, Nathan Polinsky, coach Nicholas Verdos.
Sutherland beat Mountain Majik – 16 Girls
Sutherland Shire were triumphant 2-1 over Mountain Majik in a close 16 Girls encounter to finish the season with a premiership-championship NSW Futsal Super League double.
Erin Hobday’s second minute strike gave Majik the lead until Jordan Baker scored an equaliser in controversial circumstances midway through the half, Emma McCarthy’s deflected corner in the 29th minute proving to be the matchwinner for Sutherland.
Majik had defeated Sutherland 3-1 in the major semi-final two weeks ago and looked on course to repeat the dose when Renee Blakemore picked out Hobday alone at the top of the D and a nicely taken goal took the green machine to a 1-0 lead.
But as a Majik defender was removing a second ball from the court midway through the half Sutherland’s Jordan Baker struck to bring the game back on level terms. In Baker’s defence, none of the other players were aware of the second ball but the action did leave Majik a player short in defence.
Jamie Anyon-Smith almost put Majik back in front late in the half when she followed up some good defensive work with a cheeky long-range effort that bounced off the crossbar but Sutherland responded with a game of ping pong inside the Majik D and a half-strike was touched by a defender and keeper Jacqueline Anyon-Smith did well to tip it wide.
Anyon-Smith also kicked and tipped clear two Baker breakaways in the final minute.
Majik started the second term much like the first and only the clenched legs of Sutherland keeper Amy Woodhouse kept out Blakemore’s bullet, but from there it was all the girls in blue as Alex Smith shot left of goal and Emma McCarthy had her shot held by Anyon-Smith.
Blakemore conjured up an amazing slide tackle to deny McCarthy a one-on-one but Sutherland finally broke through when McCarthy’s 29th minute corner deflected into goal for a 2-1 lead.
Anyon-Smith had other ideas and kept Majik in it by twice denying Raegan Deely and Alex Smith and at the other end Woodhouse put her body on the line to stop an Ashlie Croft break, the Sutherland captain unfortunately sustaining a knee injury and needing to be replaced.
The premiers finished strongest however, Baker’s 36th minute blast whistling past the left upright and a freekick soon after requiring a good save from Anyon-Smith, and Sutherland held firm at to claim the trophy.
Majik coach Paul Constantini thought a few decisions, namely the second on-court ball incident, might’ve produced a different result but gave credit to a deserved Sutherland.
“We really tried to play against Sutherland but they were a bit better than us on the day,” he said. “Grand finals are never pretty and it’s usually the team that settles first that wins it and I thought we had achieved that before the Sutherland goal gave them a boost.”
Sutherland co-coach Glenn Woodhouse was ecstatic with the way eight new players had gelled to form a great team. “To go through undefeated is an outstanding performance and the way all the girls responded to the pressure in that grand final was tremendous; they did exactly what we asked them to.”
Amy Woodhouse shrugged off her knee injury and paid tribute to Majik’s tenacity. “It’s not the first time they’ve come at us, they are tough competitors. But I’m really happy for my team; we worked hard all year and did what we needed to do to win the final.”
Sutherland Shire: Alex Smith, Amy Woodhouse, Catherine Fsadni, Emma McCarthy, Georgia Manos, Jordan Baker, Mikayla Cecere, Natalie Trpcevski, Raegan Deeley, Rhiannon Lewin, coach Glenn Woodhouse.
Mountain Majik: Ashlee Harrison, Ashlie Crofts, Bodeen Jackson, Caelah Stanley, Charlotte Reba, Erin Hobday, Jacqueline Anyon-Smith, Jamie Anyon-Smith, Renee Blakemore, coach Paul Costantini.
Sutherland raze Mount Druitt – Youth Men
Sutherland Shire were too good in a 7-2 rout of stubborn Mount Druitt Town Rangers in the Youth Men NSW Futsal Super League grand final.
Rangers qualified for the finals from fourth place and were full of enterprise trailing 2-1 late in the first half before a Sutherland blitz gave them a commanding advantage and eventual victory.
It didn’t take long for Sutherland to get going when Steven Kalantzis laid off for Jordan Guerreiro to shoot low and hard into the far bottom corner for a 1-0 second-minute lead.
Rangers keeper Nathan Polinsky was busy from the get-go, smothering Rodney Lewin’s attempt and parrying a Daniel Fornito effort before Kalantzis shot wide across goal, then Lewin beat two defenders and had his shot kicked away by Polinsky who was left stranded by an up-close Fornito opportunity for a 2-0 Sutherland improvement.
The blue line was relentless, in particular Fornito who had one shot well held by Polinsky and another ricochet off the crossbar before Mount Druitt finally got a look on goal when a long Kameron Christiansen pass picked out Alex Murrell whose header sailed just wide of the post.
Murrell then fooled everyone when his full court lob missed everyone and hit the onion bag to give Rangers a much-needed boost at 2-1 down with five minutes to go in the first half.
The Sutherland response was swift as Guerreiro finished off a great cross for a 3-1 lead less than two minutes later but it was Mount Druitt who finished strongest, Mervan Cakal having his freekick parried by Sutherland keeper Brad Peryman who also saved from Aaron White just before halftime.
The premiers were determined to put Mount Druitt to the sword and Polinsky saved magnificently twice before Guerreiro was left alone at the far post and nudged it home for a 4-1 lead in the 24th minute, while Lewin added a rebounded goal seconds later.
A defensive stuff-up between Peryman and Kalantzis gifted Cakal a comeback goal to make it 5-2 midway through the term and things got heated when Murrell had his effort touched out for a corner and White fired into the side-netting with six minutes on the clock.
But Lewin’s neat sidefoot past Polinsky and an easy pick-off from Kalantzis after the Majik keeper produced a tough save to thwart his overhead kick made it 7-2 and the trophy headed back the Shire.
Captain Jordan Guerreiro said his players were deserving champions. “That was one of our better games and it needed to be as Mount Druitt are not easy at all; they’re very much like us in that they play hard but fair,” he said. “But we worked very hard all year for this and deserve the trophy.”
Sutherland assistant coach Brod Crighton never took anything for granted against a plucky Mount Druitt. “We made sure the boys weren’t cocky as youth grade has been flat out all year against every side,” he said. “We had a very strong season and most of the players will be back again next year.”
Rangers coach Dragan Milicevic applauded his gallant troops. “They tried hard all game no matter what the score was and I can’t ask for more than that,” he said. “We made it hard on ourselves by giving away a few cheap goals but just to make the grand final was a great effort, so the boys can hold their heads high.”
Sutherland Shire: Brad Peryman, Brandon Groom, Daniel Fornito, Daniel Marques, Jordan Guerreiro, Matthew Leroy, Nathan Spinola, Rodney Lewin, Ryan Blakeley, Samuel Gulisano, Steven Kalantzis, coach Brod Crighton, George Stamatelopoulos
Mount Druitt Town Rangers: Aaron White, Aiden Boys, Alex Murrell, Campbell Hislop, Chris Loucos, Curtis Edmunds, David Bourke, Dylan Owusu, Kameron Christiansen, Mervan Cakal, Nathan Polinsky, Robert Loucos, coach Dragan Milicevic.
Mountain Majik pip Maccabi – Open Women
A game of chess involving blood, sweat and tears of joy saw Mountain Majik outlast Maccabi Futsal 1-0 in an engaging NSW Futsal Super League Open Women’s contest.
In the end a 24th minute goal from Majik player Lauren Phelps was enough to get them over the line against the premiers as both sides traded patient blows.
After a brisk Mountain start Maccabi had the first real opening when Deirdre Barham drove low to the near post with the shot well saved by Majik keeper Kimberley Doohan, who also palmed away an Ayse Adalis effort.
A bold effort from Majik’s Amanda Xuereb hit the side netting in the sixth minute and Stephanie Haaring went close twice before Maccabi returned serve when Ashley Rabie delivered a nice slide pass to Natalie Gerasimoski inside the D with Doohan smothering the shot.
Majik captain Tiana Gauci hit the Maccabi crossbar with a daring shot from her own half but a sickening collision between Majik’s Renee Blakemore and Sutherland’s Alex Smith saw the blues player carried off with a suspected broken nose and the game delayed until halftime to clear the blood from the court.
The second half started cagey as Barham had her long range effort tipped wide but the game was thrown wide open when an unmarked Lauren Phelps tapped under the Maccabi keeper for a 1-0 lead.
Maccabi were stunned into action and a strong Lauren Broit shot bounced off the legs of Dohan and a full-court throw saw Caelah Stanley’s shot from in front smothered by the Maccabi keeper.
Adalis also had a shot saved by the Doohan’s agile footwork who then tipped Barham’s 28th-minute shot from halfway onto the crossbar.
Hobday went close for Majik before Maccabi responded with a 34th-minute Adalis canter; she beat two defenders but not Doohan who was having a fine game with the gloves.
Haaring could’ve sealed it for Majik but pushed her shot just past the post but the Mountaineers held on for a tough 1-0 win.
Maccabi coach Gareth Naar rued losing Smith so early and hoped she’d be okay soon, but said it didn’t take much away from an otherwise great game.
“We just couldn’t find the back of the net but I still have to commend the girls for putting in the effort. That’s Futsal and it was a great effort from Mountain Majik as well.”
With Ray Miller away, fill-in Majik coach Neil Glass was delighted with the win from third place on the ladder. “Hats off to the girls; they really lifted their energy and intensity the last few weeks and you need to do that to win a grand final,” he said.
While Haaring couldn’t wait for the club’s premier league promotion, team-mate Gauci paid credit to all the Majik girls. “We didn’t have one team make the finals last year and this year all four girls teams made it and that’s an amazing turnaround.”
Maccabi: Alex Smith, Amanda Seskin, Ashley Rabie, Ayse Adalis, Deirdre Barham, Kate Jenkins, Lauren Broit, Natalie Gerasimoski, coach Gareth Naar.
Mountain Majik: Amanda Xuereb, Caelah Stanley, Erin Hobday, Georgia King, Kimberley Doohan, Lauren Phelps, Renee Blakemore, Stephanie Haaring, Tiana Gauci, Tiegan Whitney, coach Neil Glass.
Raiders overcome Crusaders – Open Men
West City Crusaders won an extra-time cliffhanger against Raiders Futsal to lift the NSW Futsal Super League trophy, coming from behind to win 4-3 in a hotly contested affair between the number one and two ranked teams.
Crusaders led 1-0 and then 2-1 at halftime before undefeated Raiders came back to take a 3-2 lead minutes out from fulltime, Shayne Ardle’s full court run finding a last-gasp equaliser to send the game into overtime before David McMurray’s 53rd-minute matchwinner.
One goal separated the two sides all season (following a 2-2 regular season draw and 2-1 Raiders major semi-final win a fortnight ago) and West City had the early going when Ardle fed McMurray for a shot across goal in the third minute.
Ardle had his own attempt go wayward before a great turn and shot from Chris Bascur drifted just right of the post. Crusader Evan Daglis blasted away from halfway to force a great diving tip over the bar from Raiders keeper Lionel De Souza, while Jovan Miladinovic narrowly shot wide at the other end.
The premiers gained the upper-hand in the 13th minute when Daglis drove hard and his shot rebounded off a defender into goal for a 1-0 lead, and the advantage almost doubled minutes later as Brenden Riley cracked it hard from in front for De Souza to tip it onto the crossbar.
But the pendulum swung Raiders way when Adam Savetta worked hard to get the ball and drilled it into goal to restore parity in the 17th minute.
Ardle had the goal at his mercy when De Souza was caught out of position but had his shot deflected away by a defender, while at the other end Crusaders keeper Jason Roberts kicked away an Ardle low drive.
McMurray put West City back in front in the 21st minute when he stole the ball, bolted up court and placed past De Souza for a 2-1 halftime lead.
De Souza made amends from the kickoff by smothering Ben Lam’s top-of-the-D chance and a Raiders resurgence saw a blistering Miladinovic strike turned away by Crusaders keeper Robert Greenway who then saved Slaven Ljuboja’s attempt from the ensuing corner.
McMurray went close at the other end and a well-worked Raiders set piece had Goran Ljuboja’s dart saved well by Greenway before a 38th-minute penalty brought the game to fever-pitch. A tricky Goran Ljuboja run saw him tripped inside the D and his spot-kick meteor leveled the scores at 2-2.
Raiders were perhaps unlucky not to get a second penalty moments later when a Crusaders defender seemingly handled the ball inside the D and they got another chance when Savetta cannoned off the post following Bascur’s great lay-off, but a sixth team foul allowed Ardle to line up the spot kick only to blast left.
Daglis also went close when his freekick from in front was blocked by De Souza and Raiders tasted success soon after when Goran Ljuboja fed his brother Goran for a sweet low drive to take a 3-2 advantage with three minutes to play.
West City were desperate and it took a last-minute Ardle dazzler to keep his side alive as he danced up court and beat De Souza with a great left-footer to level at 3-all. Goran Ljuboja and Crusader Savetta traded shots but the game was always destined for extra-time.
Crusaders began overtime with Riley’s shot drifting left of the post and Daglis mistiming twice to see shots sail just over the bar and just past the post but McMurray finally got the breakthrough when he drove high and the ball rebounded off De Souza into goal for a decisive 4-3 advantage.
Miladinovic went close to equalising for Raiders and Slaven Ljuboja chipped well for Chris Madani to miss narrowly but Crusaders held firm to register a 4-3 victory.
A puffed McMurray praised his team’s efforts in a tough match against Raiders. “It was a physical game both ways but we really worked hard for each other to beat an undefeated Raiders side,” he said.
Crusaders coach Damian Baker breathed a post-game sigh of relief. “There’s not a split hair between us and Raiders and we knew there’d be ebbs and flows in this game. We just wanted to minimise their chances and maximise ours.”
“We lost last year’s grand final in a penalty shootout to Maccabi so to win this year makes up for it; it just goes to show the fortitude of the players.”
Raiders coach Alex Berevskos loved being part of such an absorbing contest. “It was a fantastic game. We’ve had it out with this team all year and it’s unfortunate a few decisions were missed; you don’t know how much it effects the game. But I couldn’t ask more from a great bunch of guys – the best team I’ve ever coached.”
Raiders: Adam Savetta, Chris Bascur, Chris Madani, Dean Bereveskos, Dylan Stivala, Goran Ljuboja, Harrick Sinpraseuth, Jordan Hassiem, Jovan Miladinovic, Lenox Tweneboa, Lionel De Souza, Slaven Ljuboja, coach Alex Berevskos.
West City Crusaders: Alex Crane, Arsallan Mangal, Ben Lam, Brenden Riley, David McMurry, Evan Daglis, Jason Roberts, Justin Miller, Kane Wright, Rizwan Bawani, Robert Greenway, Shayne Ardle, coach Damian Baker.
-By Daniel De Nardi
