SUPA IGA NPL NSW Men’s 2 – Grand final Preview
The SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 competition draws to a close on Sunday and what a game to end the season. St George and Mounties Wanderers headline the bill and with both teams enjoying attacking football, we could hardly have wished for a more entertaining finish to the year.
The season has been an excellent one for both clubs, but particularly for St George. Rarely mentioned as likely Premiers at the start of the season, the Saints have remained at, or near, the top of the table all year. They have effectively led the competition since round nine, before winning the Premiership by seven points, the largest winning margin since the state leagues were restructured in 2005. Add in the Club Championship and a semi-final appearance in the Waratah Cup, and this year could hardly have gone better. There now remains the matter of the Grand Final.
It was largely a new squad put together by incoming coach Manny Spanoudakis at the start of the season, with a few experienced players returning from the 2012 lineup. A new keeper in Dion Shaw, young recruits including Bill Tsanidis, Aleks Jovovic and George Codrea to name just three, were complemented by the experienced Michael Smith, Sam Messam and Juan Chavez. The midseason signing of Bruno Pivato from local rivals Rockdale, only added to St George’s improving strength. It worked to perfection for the Saints, scoring the most number of goals during the year (52) while also having a defence which conceded just over a goal a game. Only four losses in their twenty eight games so far, in league, cup and finals, goes a long way to showing how dominant their season has been.
Mounties Wanderers will certainly regard their season as one to be celebrated as well. Having three of their senior teams appear on Grand Final day is a credit to the club who have certainly proved to be an asset to the division since their promotion at the start of the 2012 season. Unlike their opponents this week though, there has been a certain familiarity to the squad over the past few seasons.
Under a dual coaching setup of Aiden Desmond and Glen Lockhart, and built on a strong defence led by captain Mark D’Alessandro, who has urged his team onwards over this finals series, the Mounties will enter this game with much confidence. With the exceptional Ali Akbal in goals, and with the influential Daniel Severino and Daine Merrin in the middle, Mounties will certainly be a tough side to beat. The wide attacking players of Daniel Willoughby and Eli Squillacioti will be looking to serve Alvin Singh, although there may be some doubt as to Singh’s fitness.
Both clubs have had relatively recent Grand Final appearances with differing results. Mounties Wanderers were successful in claiming the 2011 Division One championship while St George came off second best in their last Super League Grand Final appearance in 2010.
They will be hoping for better fortune this Sunday, but to defeat the Mounties, they will have to be at their peak.
St George v Mounties Wanderers
Sunday 22 September 2013
4pm Sydney United Sports Centre
