State League One – Finals Week 3 Preview

We’re back at Hensley Athletic Field this coming Sunday afternoon for the second successive week to witness the 2013 State League One Preliminary Final.
Balmain Tigers will do battle with Hakoah Sydney City East for the right to tackle Northbridge FC in the Grand Final the following weekend.
Hakoah are definitely the form team leading into the finals with an undefeated run that has lasted all of six weeks. Each of the last few games, in fact, have been an Elimination of sorts for Hakoah, having to win their final competition match just to confirm qualification in the finals, before knocking out fellow final contenders Granville Rage (after extra time) and Dulwich Hill (with a late winner) in elimination semi finals.
They also have an added advantage, for what it’s worth, of playing on their own turf, the artificial surface at Hensley Athletic Filed, a surface that admittedly and  arguably plays to the strengths of both teams.
Hakoah coach, Mark Roberston, has done a marvellous job in marshalling his troops during a tense finals series, and his experience as a player at the top level will no doubt play a great part in his pre match motivational speech.
On the park, Hakoah are a close-knit bunch, playing with passion and desire for each other, and in Dean Ginsberg and Mark McAlpine, they have a couple of proven goalscorers at this level of football.
Balmain Tigers have had a great season overall, leading the competition for a number of weeks before succumbing towards the last few rounds, but they will be keen to make their efforts count for something and snatch a spot in the Grand Final.
Although central defender, Josh Karpes, will miss the match through suspension, the Tigers backline have been a solid unit throughout, lead by the experience of skipper, Tommy Hyde.
If Balmain provide the relevant service to speedy flankers, Domenic Di Mento and Will Donato, they can in turn feed the predatory Rosario Occhipinti who will no doubt do what he does best, find the net.
Not only will this be the third time these two teams have met this season, but on each occasion they have clashed at this same venue, Hensley Athletic Field, so it will be familiar surroundings for all concerned.
An Occhipinti hatrick helped Balmain to a 4-2 victory back in Round 6 on May 12, whilst a brace from  McAlpine gave Hakoah the spoils in the return fixture in mid August.
The season will come to an end for one of these clubs on Sunday, so get out to Hensley to see what is expected to be a very exciting and closely fought encounter.
Please click on the following link to access the details of the Preliminary Final –  http://www.sportingpulse.com/comp_info.cgi?a=ROUND&round=3&client=1-9353-138477-253810-0&pool=1001
Balmain Tigers  – Hakoah Sydney City East
Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday, September 22 @ 3.30pm
Round 6 – 12 May – Hakoah 2 (Randall,Walker), Balmain 4(Occhipinti 3, D Di Mento)
Round 17 – 15 August – Balmain 1 (Occhipinti), Hakoah 2(McAlpine 2)