State League One Round Three Finals Series Review

Balmain Tigers recovered from going a goal down early in the second half  to completely overpower Hakoah Sydney City East, winning 4-1 in an absorbing Preliminary Final at Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday afternoon.

The pristine artificial surface complemented the sparkling weather as both teams started cautiously, with a spot in next week’s Grand Final beckoning for the victors.

Oliver Babington took matters into his own hands on 9 minutes, the Balmain central defender making an incisive run into the box before laying it off for Jacob Di Mento whose low shot was gobbled up by Terry Dal Broi, the Hakoah keeper.

Domenic Di Mento then twisted his body 180 degrees to get an angled shot on target after 12 minutes, Dal Broi once again making the save as the Tigers took the game to Hakoah.

Balmain should’ve hit the front on 24 minutes, when Joel Cook headed across the face of goal after he found himself unmarked at the far post. Jacob Di Mento had fed his brother, Domenic, with a long diagonal pass, with the latter weaving inside and sending over a pin point far post cross to create the opportunity.

Hakoah were struggling to make any inroads at all, resigned to soaking up the pressure and hitting the flanks on the counter, but alas, their crossing on the day left a little to be desired.

As the half time whistle drew nearer, Balmain, in fact, could smell the kill, and upped the ante, creating three opportunities, no less, in the moments leading up to the break.

The league’s leading marksman, Rosario Occhipinti, was tightly marked during the opening half hour, but he showcased his talent on 42 minutes, latching onto a pass by Domenic Di Mento before slaloming past two defenders inside the penalty area, his low crack well saved by Hakoah custodian, Dal Broi.

Jacob Di Mento then sent a superb defence splitting pass into the path of Occhipinti right on 45 minutes, the striker managing to reach the ball just before the advancing Dal Broi, but his lob cleared  keeper and crossbar alike.

The final shot on goal came from Liam Cole, a 20 yard dipping effort that Dal Broi managed to snatch at the second attempt, much to the relief of the Hakoah faithful.

Hakoah coach, Mark Robertson, would’ve been a relieved man to go into break with a 0-0 scoreline, given his troops were back pedalling for most of the first half. He made an immediate change at the break, Bradley Walker entering for Stephen Lee, hoping his height may win his team some much needed possession.

Balmain coach, Joe Digiulio – banished to the stands due to an indiscretion a couple of weeks ago – would’ve been frustrated on the other hand, his side’s dominance not evident on the ground’s electronic scoreboard.

There was no doubt whatsoever that the Hakoah keeper, Terry Dal Broi, was the busiest man on the park during the first half, his shot stopping and general awareness keeping his side in the game.

Within 30 seconds of the restart, Hakoah had a great chance to open the scoring, with Justin Kosmina’s close range header from a Dylan Blumberg cross well saved by Balmain’s young 16 year old keeper, Lachlan Kerr.

As is often the case in football, one team’s dominance can turn itself on a six pence in the blink of an eye, and Hakoah turned the match on its head with the opening goal of the afternoon on 51 minutes.

Hakoah’s energetic skipper, Michael Katz, sent over a brilliant cross from the near the right corner flag, and Dean Ginsberg – unmarked and right in front – looped his header over Balmain keeper, Lachlan Kerr, to give Hakoah the lead.

After putting so much energy into their performance up to that point, conceding a goal could’ve cracked the confidence of the Balmain outfit, but it had the adverse effect, the Tigers digging deep to find another gear to drag themselves into the match on the hour mark.

Left back, Leonardo Digiulio, played a pass into the path of Liam Cole as the midfielder made a run into the penalty area, but Cole could only manage to stop the ball dead as he over ran the leather.     Joel Cook was quickest to react, racing in to curl an absolute pearler into the top corner of the net to restore parity, much to the delight of his team mates.

That was Joel Cook’s last contribution to the match, but Balmain lost nothing with the introduction of Will Donato, his speed proving too hot to handle for the Hakoah defence for the last half an hour.

Within a minute of entering the fray, Donato was first to a through ball played into the corner of the penalty area, stabbing his low shot past the advancing Dal Broi before the retreating Hakoah defence cleared the danger as the ball crept towards goal.

But Donato didn’t have to wait long to make his mark, stabbing home from close range when he met a Domenic Di Mento cross in the 67th minute, the flanker latching onto a brilliant through ball chipped into space by Oliver Babington.

Oliver Babington was the Rock of Gibraltar in the Balmain defensive backline, but remarkably was at it again in attack in the 70th minute, again playing a delightful, through ball into the right corner for Domenic Di Mento to run onto, Hakoah not heeding the previous warning signs.

Di Mento reached the ball before the Hakoah defence, racing along the goal line with the ball on a string before cutting it back into the path of Rosario Occhipinti. Right in front with the goal at his mercy meant only one outcome, and Occhipinti stroked the ball home before racing away in jubilation, chased by his ecstatic team mates.

Hakoah were shell shocked, and Balmain had their ends up, as the Tigers fans urged their team forward to grab more goals.

Will Donato was like a shot from an energy drink from the moment he came on, and was the catalyst for Balmain’s fourth goal in the 83rd minute.

Winning possession near the sideline at the halfway mark, Donato raced down the left flank, playing a ‘one-two’ with Occhipinti before entering the corner of the penalty area. Faced with the advancing Hakoah keeper, Terry Dal Broi, the composed Donato produced a delightful angled chip that bounced back into play off the far post. Fellow substitute, Costas Fiakos, was quickest to react, driving a low shot along the ground and inside the far post to drive the final nail into the coffin.

For Hakoah Sydney City East, they will rest up after what has been a remarkable first season following promotion into State League One. A finals berth and a run of six matches unbeaten before the Preliminary Final was a superb effort, but, apart from keeper, Terry Dal Broi, they simply ran out of legs were no match on the day against a rampaging Balmain outfit.

Hakoah’s midfield dynamo, Mark McAlpine, was philosophical in defeat – “I think Balmain simply turned up to play and we didn’t. Even though we scored first, I knew it wasn’t over, and we then made some silly mistakes and let them back into the game.”

McAlpine added – “We are still very proud of our season, our first in this league. We lost a couple of players throughout, including Neil Jablonski very early, players that would’ve given us added strength, but we’re looking forward to coming back bigger and better next season.”

Balmain Tigers were a hungry outfit throughout the 90 minutes, full of running and energy, with plenty of strong performers. Oliver Babington had a real presence in defence, Jacob Di Mento won the midfield battle, whilst substitutes Will Donato and Costas Fiakos made had a positive impression off the bench.

Domenic Di Mento was one of Balmain’s best on the day, his weaving runs and support play a handful for the Hakoah defence – “We were pumped from the start, and even though we copped the first goal, we were still confident of doing the job, especially once Joel scored to equalise.”

Quizzed on his excellent personal performance, Di Mento was quick to praise his team mates – “I did what I had to do, get to the by line and get the ball across, but we won because everyone did their job today, we gave 100% for the entire 90 minutes. Now that is over, we are looking forward to the grand final and continuing where we left off today.”

Balmain Tigers now qualify for the showpiece event, the State League One Grand Final, against Premiers Northbridge FC, to be played at Jensen Park, Sefton, next Sunday afternoon.

Match Stats

Balmain Tigers 4 (Cook 60’, Donato 67’, Occhipinti 70’, Fiakos 83’)

Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Ginsberg 51’)

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Hensley Athletic Field, Matraville

Referee: Mr Thomas Diakos

Assistant Referees: Mr David Christie and Mr Robert Klein

Balmain Tigers : 99.Lachlan Kerr, 14.Oliver Babington, 4.Liam Cole, 11.Joel Cook (17.Will Donato 62’), 26.Domenic Di Mento (20.Yianni Kritikos 84’), 15.Jacob Di Mento, 10.Leonardo Digiulio (8.Costas Fiakos 77’), 23.Samuel Falanga, 2.Thomas Hyde (capt), 37.Rosario Occhipinti, 39.Gavin Wenyon.

Substitutes Not Used: 1.Christopher Leontios, 5.Danny Noor.

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Hakoah Sydney City East: 1.Terry Dal Broi, 5.Dylan Blumberg (37.Max Joarder 72’) 14.Patrick Darvill, 39.Dean Ginsberg, 13.Michael Katz  (capt), 12.Justin Kosmina (9.Neil Jablonski 60’), 6.Nathan Kosmina 19.Stephen Lee (3.Bradley Walker 46’), 38.Mark McAlpine, 7.Dean Ranshuijsen, 2.Remy Wolanski.

Substitutes Not Used: 15.Adam Joseph,30.David Helfenbaum .

Yellow Cards: 12.Justin Kosmina 50’.

Red Cards: Nil

-By Frank Speranza