State Cup Finals success as VSP comes to life
As many as 500 participants across 28 Association teams from all around NSW all locked horns in what was a wonderful day of State Cup football at the home of Football NSW namely Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
It was a festival of football for age groups that spanned from Grade 12 Boys right through to the Over 35s as well as the Grade 12 Girls right through to the All Age Women,
The highlight of the day was the All Age Men’s Bill Cullinan Cup Final which took place between Hanwood FC and Lilli Pilli.
Match of the Day: All Age Men’s Bill Cullinan Cup Final: Penalties Required To Settle Match
Amidst the splendour of Valentine Sports Park, Arena 2, Hanwood FC of the Griffith and Districts Football Association met Lilli Pilli FC from the Sutherland Shire Football Association in the Final of the Bill Cullinan Cup in a battle royal that needed penalties to decide the outcome after ending scoreless at the end of normal and extra time. In the end, Lilli Pilli FC surged triumphant in a thrilling finale.
For anyone thinking this was a game for the huffers and puffers it was dispelled less than 30’’ seconds into the match when Ben Smith (LP) and Hanwood skipper Daniel Quarisa met in a crunching tackle, leaving no doubt this was to be a formidable finale to competition.
Lilli Pilli struck the first warning shot with a fierce left footed drive from James Gardner in the 2’ minute and although Hanwood had Berries’ ‘keeper Todd Sams smartly down at his left post from a Joey Schirripa corner, it wasn’t until the 8’ minute that they did threaten from distance as the Shire boys took it to their opponents.
Hanwood upped the ante and when Brandon Barski charged down a clearance it was Sams again who twice had to bravely save at the feet of the burly striker.
Nathan Parr was quick to capitalise on a Hanwood error when setting off on a sweeping run down the left, skinning Anthony Agresta (Snr) but taking too heavy a final touch and losing control of the ball inside the box.
Daniel Johnson, unaware his morning was to be one of ecstasy and agony, was vociferous in his opinions and encouragement in equal measure but playing particularly strongly at centre-back for Hanwood.
With both sides using the tired and tested 4-4-2 formations it was quick and fluid passing and hardly at all was the ball pumped long over the top for the forwards to chase in a very entertaining encounter.
Johnson went in hard on the back of Berries shot-stopper Sams who had bravely come out to collect the ball from a Schirripa free-kick who needed treatment after the contact.
He was to be on the receiving end not long after when Nathan Smith went in for a 50-50 challenge that left the lanky defender sprawling, and it got worse toward the end of the half when attempting a clearance under heavy pressure from Berries’ Alec Judd after catching his studs in the turf and twisting his right ankle badly. He managed to clear the ball for a throw-in, before limping from the field.
The half-time whistle blew without a goal and 45’ minutes of grass roots football at its finest to come.
The second stanza started with lower intensity than the first, partly due to the warm weather and their exertions during the first period with a stalemate the outcome in the middle of the park.
Stephen Americanos clipped Hanwood’s Barski out wide in the 53’ minute to give away another free-kick that was floated into the box, and after a tightly packed goalmouth scramble was finally hacked away from danger as Lilli Pilli hung on.
The pitch was taking its toll as another casualty, in the shape of Berries’ Graeme Smith, required treatment after landing badly from an aerial challenge but was okay to continue after the magic sponge was applied.
The match almost boiled over when Americanos mistimed a rather ungainly tackle on Andrew Quarisa in the 58’ minute that fellow Hanwood player Jordan Beltrame took exception too. All three were cautioned, the latter for coming in after the event in a situation extremely well handled by match referee Tony Makerry.
Hanwood had claims for a penalty declined just after the hour mark when Barski, making a nuisance of himself, had two attempts blocked before a semi-scuffed effort appeared to be slowed by the arm on a Berries defender but play, quite rightly, went on.
It was a Cup Final that had plenty of thrills, spills and, as it should be, a little bit of needle crept in and it was boiling up nicely midway through the half.
The play, as expected, became focussed around the middle third and with 20’ or so minutes remaining of normal time, with the legs tiring, did the ball over the top finally become evident as both again employed the tactic in trying to set up an opportunity and also to relieve the pressure the back lines were under.
Not long after and Berries’ Jordan Janic and Hanwood’s Barski were also noted in the little black book after coming together. Although the game was tough, it had not been vicious or nasty in any way but it showed what winning the Bill Cullinan cup meant to each side.
Lilli Pilli almost caught out ‘keeper Thomas Elford moments later when Ben Smith cut in from the right, neatly side-stepped two challenges and attempted to slip the ball inside the near post but the Hanwood custodian, having a splendid game, was alert to the danger and pushed it round the upright.
Johnson, back in the fray after a longish spell on the sidelines after treatment, not shy in coming forward when something needs saying, had words off the ball with Janic – well spotted by the assistant referee in calling it to the attention of Makerry who again showed great aplomb in dealing with the situation and letting it go with a few well-chosen stern words about their future conduct.
The final whistle arrived for two exhausted teams but with no score it meant two periods of 10’ minutes extra time would be needed to secure a result, or was it?
The only moments of significance, as play centred around the middle of the pitch, came for Lilli Pilli when twice having shots whistle past the posts in the 95’ minute and a terrific 103’ minute free-kick by Patrick Dibley that had Elford scrambling down expertly to his left to save at the base of the post.
The last effort came from Hanwood that forced the Berries to hack the ball clear eventually after another almighty goalmouth scramble in the final action of extra-time and so it was to be penalties to settle the destination of the cup in 2013.
Lilli Pilli were first up with Nathan Smith placing the ball to the left of Elford but at a nice height for the ‘keeper to save.
Hanwood’s response was emphatic as Anthony Agresta (Snr) blasted the ball low to Sams’ right. Lilli Pilli 0 Hanwood 1
Alec Judd restored parity with a shot down the line wrong footing Elford. Lilli Pilli 1 Hanwood 1
Joey Schirripa was next and he calmly fired home again down low to the right of Sams. Lilli Pilli 1 Hanwood 2
Jordan Janic was distraught to see Elford save his shot down the middle with his foot when going the wrong way that rebounded into the air for the ‘keeper to get up and gather. Lilli Pilli 1 Hanwood 2
Elford himself took the next spot kick but ballooned the ball over the crossbar. Lilli Pilli 1 Hanwood 2
Patrick Dibley netted sweetly to bring the match all square again. Lilli Pilli 2 Hanwood 2
Brandon Barski, knowing his shot would put until pressure on the final Berries taker slotted home past Sams. Lilli Pilli 2 Hanwood 3
Nathan Parr knew if he missed the game was over so imagine his relief to see the ball rammed straight down the centre. Lilli Pilli 3 Hanwood 3
Daniel Johnson, already a contender for Man of the Match along with team mate Thomas Elford, could win the Cup with his kick but like his own ‘keeper he skied it over the bar. Lilli Pilli 3 Hanwood 3.
It had been a topsy-turvy penalty shoot-out and now it was down to sudden death.
Paul Skyllas, another one down the middle. Lilli Pilli 4 Hanwood 3
Jonathan Favero replied when putting his spot kick up where the spiders live to Sams’ right, parity once more. Lilli Pilli 4 Hanwood 4
Stephen Americanos held his nerve and swept the ball home to his bottom left. Lilli Pilli 5 Hanwood 4
Michael Sergi had the world on his shoulders but still we commenced further after he put it to Sams’ right around halfway up. Lilli Pilli 5 Hanwood 5
Alec Judd, could he make a name for himself by scoring? Yes, ‘keepers top left. Lilli Pilli 6 Hanwood 5
Daniel Draskovic would be the latest to feel the pain of penalty shoot-out heart break as Todd Sams saved his effort and the Bill Cullinan Cup went to Lilli Pilli for 2013.
That it came down to penalties was a triumph for both as they gave everything on the pitch and none should bow their heads as it takes two sides to make an outstanding final and this year we certainly had that with the only missing ingredient being the fans of Hanwood FC not singing; ‘There’s only two Anthony Agresta’s’.
Hard luck to Hanwood for a magnificent contribution and well played to Lilli Pilli, 2013 Bill Cullinan Cup winners.
Match Stats
Hanwood FC 0
Lilli Pilli FC 0 (6-5 winners on penalties)
Sunday 14th July, 2013
Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood
Referee: Tony Makerry
Assistant Referees: Matt Pullan and Harrison Kraus
Hanwood FC: 31.Thomas Elford, 5.Anthony Agresta (Jnr), 34.Brandon Barski, 3.Daniel Quarisa, 16.Joey Schirripa, 2.Daniel Johnson, 8.Anthony Agresta (Snr), 12.Kyle Greaves, 6.Anthony Quarisa, 10.Mike Bresolin, 4.Demetrio Torino, 11.Dan Draskovic, 15.Jonathan Favero, 20.Jordan Beltrame, 19.Michael Sergi
Yellow Cards: Americanos 58’, Murray 70’
Red Cards: Nil
Lilli Pilli FC: 1.Todd Sams, 10.Stephen Americanos, 11.Justin Murray, 25.Benjamin Smith, 6.Patrick Dibley, 7.Paul Skyllas, 24.Graeme Smith, 26.Scott Pickering, 14.Nathan Parr, 9.James Gardner, 12.Steven Byrne, 8.Alec Judd, 47.Elliott Barsby, 19.Jordan Janic, 45.Nathan Smith, 5.Andrew Hughes
Yellow Cards: Andrew Quarisa 58’, Beltrame 58’, Barski 70’
Red Cards: Nil
-By Micky Brock
Full Results
Sunday 14th July
Frank Broughton Cup (12) Mt Pritchard Juniors 3 v Griffith Association 1
12w Baulkham Hills SC 1 v Parklea 4 on penalties
13 Griffith Association 4 v North Epping Rangers 1
14 Sans Souci 0 v AC United 4
14w Balmain DFC 0 v Shellharbour Juniors 4
15 Moorebank Sports 0 v WPH Cherrybrook 1
16 Balgownie Juniors 1 v Auburn District 0
16w Colo SFC 2 v Wakehurst 0
17 Connels Point 2 v Baulkham Hills SC 1
18 Wakehurst 4 v Mt Pritchard Juniors 1
18w Seaforth 4 v Colo SFC 1
Robertson Cup (21 Men) Menai Hawks 3 v Inter Lions 2
Bill Cullinan Cup (AAM) Lilli Pilli 6 v Hanwood FC 5 on penalties
AAW Albion Park SC 3 v Tarrawanna SC 4
O35 Como West Jannali 2 v Canley Heights RSL 4
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