State League One Grand Final Review
Balmain Tigers were crowned the 2013 State League One Champions after a nail biting 2-0 extra time victory over Northbridge FC in the Grand Final at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.
Northbridge FC came into the season decider as slight favourites, having secured the Premiership four weeks ago, and beating Balmain 1-0 in the Grand Final qualifier a fortnight ago.
But Balmain Tigers had other ideas, holding steady in an arm wrestle of a contest before slamming their fist down on the table with two killer extra time goals.
The wide pitch at Jensen Park played into the hands of both sets of flankers, with a flat surface and sunny afternoon welcoming the large contingent of supporters from both clubs.
Northbridge started the brighter, with two great opportunities inside the first ten minutes. A Ry Hardy cross from the left after 5 minutes was expertly brought down by Michael Cole inside the box, but the enigmatic midfielder skied his shot over the bar. On 9 minutes, Cole pounced on a loose ball near the right touchline, whipping over a cross that Hardy met with his head, sending the ball inches wide of the near upright.
Balmain steadied the ship, and came into their own, starting their onslaught with a Liam Cole free kick on 14 minutes that sailed just wide of the mark. Two minutes later and some patient build up play across the midfield resulted in a firm right wing cross by the overlapping Tommy Hyde, Joel Cook snapping his header wide of the far upright.
Liam Cole was at it again in the 20th minute, cracking a fierce 20 yard volley just over the cross bar after Gavin Wenyon had done the lead up work and laid it into the path of his team mate.
Northbridge were determined in defence, but couldn’t escape their half territorially, and Balmain almost had the lead on the half hour, Joel Cook acrobatically volleying wide from in front after Jacob Di Mento found some room on the right to cross.
Just before the half time break, Cook had another opportunity, creating space for himself as he entered the penalty area, electing to lay it back instead of pulling the trigger from a tight angle. Rosario Occhipinti shot over the bar whilst under pressure from a retreating Northbridge defence.
Occhipinti and Domenic Di Mento tried valiantly to force a loose ball or two, but the stern Northbridge defence held firm and repelled anything the dynamic duo conjured up.
Northbridge coach, Joe Hayward, must’ve spiced up his half time talk, because his team came out and made a real go of it after the break.
Right back, Lee Jones, had had a couple of close free kick attempts in the first half, but none like his swerving effort in the 51st minute, the shot producing a wonderful finger tip save from Balmain’s 16 year old goalkeeper, Lachlan Kerr.
From the resultant near post corner, pint sized Ry Hardy crashed his header against the cross bar, much to the angst of the Northbridge faithful.
Northbridge midfielder, Paul Orgad, then slipped a delightful ball into space for Ry Hardy inside the Balmain box, the striker’s swivelled turn and shot blocked by the retreating Samuel Falanga, with keeper, Kerr, well beaten.
Mitchell Lensink had been a menacing figure all day out on the left wing, and it was his dangerous cross that was deflected for a corner when Michael Cole collided with the onrushing Lachlan Kerr, the ball spraying wide when it could so easily have found the net.
Will Donato, Balmain’s super sub the week before against Hakoah, almost repeated his heroic efforts by weaving in and out of a couple of would be challenges, his low grass cutter from the edge of the box diverted for a corner by the scrambling Northbridge keeper, Sean Mulhern.
The excitement started to build as both teams upped the tempo leading into the end of the match, starting with a 25 yard speculator on 82 minutes from the hard working James Collins, the ball cracking against the top of the cross bar and to safety as the Northbridge fans gasped in frustration.
Balmain responded with two brilliant efforts in injury time that could’ve and should’ve wrapped up proceedings before extra time.
Firstly, in the 92nd minute, Balmain’s central defender, Oliver Babington, found himself receiving a long pass on the right touchline. Cool as you like, Babington shuffled forward, cut inside and unleashed a left foot drive that flashed past the left hand upright, beating Northbridge keeper, Sean Mulhern, all ends up.
Then a couple of minutes later, as referee Mr Murray Wilson was looking at his watch, a long punt upfield fell nicely for Rosario Occhipinti, and the league’s top marksman turned and let fly with a 30 yard volley that screamed ‘goal’, only to see Mulhern produce the save of the match, flinging himself to his left to parry the piledriver.
The first half of extra time saw Northbridge take the game to their opponents, with both Ry Hardy and Michael Cole finding the side netting from tight angles, under pressure from the ever alert Leonardo Di Giulio.
Five minutes into the second period of extra time, and Northbridge spurned a great chance to take the lead, substitute Andrew McGrouther sending his angled shot into the sky after a great pass by Ry Hardy.
Northbridge were made to rue that opportunity when Balmain went down the other end and broke the deadlock, and no prizes for guessing the goalscorer.
A through ball saw Rosario Occhipinti outpace Kevin Baker, and the Balmain striker cracked his shot low and wide of the advancing Mulhern into the inside side netting of the Northbridge goal. Occhipinti had scored four goals in the three matches against Northbridge this season, and was to prove their undoing once more on the biggest stage of the season.
Northbridge had barely recovered and they went two down, Oliver Babington’s long range free kick from just inside the Northbridge half eluding everyone as it sailed past Sean Mulhern to nestle inside the goal.
Andrew McGrouther’s 117th minute sending off for a horrific tackle made the cause much worse for Northbridge, with Balmain trying to turn the screws in the final minute of extra time.
But Mulhern was determined not to concede again, saving superbly from a point blank shot by Will Donato, before clawing away the rebound, a Jacob Di Mento header.
With that came the final whistle, much to the cheers and jubilation of the travelling Balmain support, a victory to be savoured by the Tigers.
To Northbridge, congratulations on a wonderful season for the entire club, from juniors all the way to the seniors, and to Joe Hayward and his first grade team, setting the bar with a stupendous competition proper, deservedly winning the 2013 Premiership title.
The grand final was lost in the second period of extra time, but Northbridge were far from disgraced, and had some solid performers on the day.
Sean Mulhern was instrumental on the day in steering the match to extra time with some ever alert saves, whilst the entire defensive line was formidable throughout. Kevin Baker was tough in the centre of the backline, Alex Hatzinikoloau showed maturity beyond his years with a faultless performance, especially in the air, whilst both Lee Jones and Sean Eardley were fierce and quick to defend their territory in the right and left back roles respectively.
Northbridge midfielder, Michael Cole reflected – “It was a game of two halves,” said Cole.
“Balmain had the first, we dominated the second, but just couldn’t break through. We missed a great chance in extra time, then they went down the other end and scored, that’s football.”
Cole added – “We missed Tom Bentham, he adds a lot in attack for us, but saying that, it has been a great season for Northbridge, we have a great spirit on and off the park, and don’t know when to say no, we never give up.”
Balmain Tigers Grand Final victory was no doubt built on a solid platform set up by their defence.
Tommy Hyde was composure personified throughout, calm in possession and playing the ball out from the back, as was Samuel Falanga. Leonardo Di Giulio was sharp as a tack at left back, one of the quickest defenders in the league, and always alert to any danger that Northbridge tried to create in their attacking third.
But the Grand Final’s Man of the Match was Balmain central defender, Oliver Babington, on the day an uncompromising figure for any of the Northbridge strikers, winning everything in the air, fierce in the tackle, and topped off his performance with a goal to boot.
“This week has been great at training, we’ve put in all week for the entire session leading up to the Grand Final,” said Babington.
“I want to congratulate Northbridge on their season, they’ve been tough to play against. Today there were battles all over the park, even though Northbridge probably had more of the percentage of play, the game swung in extra time and we came up trumps,” added Babington.
Finally, on his wonder goal, Babington had this to say – “I wasn’t going for goal, but I saw Wayne Rooney hit one the other day for Man Utd, and just thought I’ll hit it into the mixer, you never know. I aimed for that area near the far post, everyone missed it, and it went in!”
The final words must go to the Balmain skipper, Tommy Hyde.
“We had a super week at training, the energy levels were up and the build up was fantastic. It was very tight game, with us dominating the first half, and the ‘Bridge’ having the better of the second half, but we snatched it in the end.”
“We created history today with a win in the State League One Grand Final. We’ve come such a long way, from the days of Johnny Buonavoglia and all of the old boys that brought Balmain Tigers into State League football, to all the squad and officials that make up Balmain today – this victory is for everyone associated with the club. I’m absolutely speechless, what a great day for Balmain Tigers Football Club,” beamed a jubilant Hyde.
Match Stats
Northbridge FC 0
Balmain Tigers 2 (Occhipinti 112’, Babington 115’) aet
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Jensen Park, Sefton
Referee: Mr Murray Wilson
Assistant Referees: Mr Thomas Diakos and Mr Jerry Bitas
Fourth Official: Mr Robert Nieuwenhuis
Northbridge FC: 99.Sean Mulhern, 4.Kevin Baker, 8.Michael Cole, 14.James Collins, (24.Andrew McGrouther 106’), 3.Sean Eardley,9.Ry Hardy, 38.Alex Hatzinikolaou, 36.Lee Jones, 10.Mitchell Lensink (22.Keiran Hall 79’), 23.Paul Orgad (18.Agneesh Lahiri 114’), 6.Ricky Woodward (capt).
Substitutes Not Used: 13.Jay Wynter, 98.Kayde Tremorada.
Yellow Cards: 22.Keiran Hall 114’.
Red Cards: 24.Andrew McGrouther 117’.
Balmain Tigers : 1.Lachlan Kerr, 14.Oliver Babington, 4.Liam Cole, 11.Joel Cook (17.William Donato 55’), 26.Domenic Di Mento, 15.Jacob Di Mento, 10.Leonardo Digiulio, 23.Samuel Falanga (8.Costas Fiakos 79’), 2.Thomas Hyde (capt), 37.Rosario Occhipinti (30.Andrew Casali 116’), 39.Gavin Wenyon.
Substitutes Not Used: 111.Levi Vitale,20.Yianni Kritikos.
Yellow Cards: 14.Oliver Babington 50’,4.Liam Cole 58’, 2.Tommy Hyde 90’+4, 37.Rosario Occhipinti 112’.
Red Cards: Nil
Grand Final – Under 20s Dulwich Hill SC – Northbridge FC 2-1
Sunday, September 29 at 1-00pm @ Jensen Park, Sefton
Dulwich Hill completed the Premiership/Championship double for 2013 when they overcame Northbridge FC 2-1 in the SL1 U/20s Grand Final at Jensen Park on Sunday afternoon.
Following an even and scoreless first period, Dully edged in front on 48 minutes when Simon Megalos netted, but Northbridge equalised with virtually the last kick of the game, Sam Clayton scoring in the 90th minute.
Two periods of 10 minute extra time halves followed, and it took until two minutes before the completion of the additional time for Dulwich to snatch victory, regular first grader, Stephen Hrysanthos, scoring to the absolute delight of the Dully fans.
The two teams had finished the season proper in positions ‘one’ and ‘two’, but it was Dully who edged out the Bridge to win the Premiership by a solitary point, making it two trophies from two with a nail biting Grand Final win.
Grand Final – Under 18s Gladesville Ryde Magic – Inter Lions 4-1
Sunday, September 29 at 10-45am @ Jensen Park, Sefton
Gladesville Ryde Magic completed the Premiership/Championship double for 2013 when they overpowered Inter Lions 4-1 in the SL1 U/18s Grand Final at Jensen Park on Sunday.
Gladesville had finished the competition proper as clear winners on 49 points, seven ahead of Hawkesbury City, whilst Inter Lions finished in fourth spot on 37 points. The Lions, in fact, took their spot in the Grand Final after three successive elimination triumphs, knocking out Granville Rage (3-1), Northbridge (2-1), and Hawkesbury City on penalties to take their place in the showpiece event.
But Magic have been a formidable unit all season, and dominated the Grand Final from the outset, taking a two goal lead in the first half, before Inter pulled a goal back before the break. But it was a mere consolation as Gladesville scored twice more to run out convincing 4-1 winners on the day, despite losing striker, Peter Yannopoulos, to a 62th minute red card following his second caution of the game.
The goals for the Magic on a triumphant day came from Scott Brain, Oscar Lewis, Claudio Rosano, and Yannopoulos himself before he was marched, whilst Anthony Vallelonga grabbed Inter’s reply.
Congratulations to both sides for turning on a spirited Grand Final display, but the plaudits go to Gladesville Ryde Magic, emulating their first grade team’s achievement in 2012 by winning both the 2013 Premiership and Championship titles.
Grand Final – Under 16s Western NSW Mariners – Hakoah Sydney City East 2-1
Sunday, September 29 at 9-00am @ Jensen Park, Sefton
Western NSW Mariners completed the Premiership/Championship double for 2013 when they overcame Hakoah Sydney City East 2-1 in the SL1 U/16s Grand Final at Jensen Park on Sunday morning.
The Mariners had finished the competition proper as runaway Premiers on 59 points, 12 in front of second placed Northbridge, whilst Hakoah had come through to the Grand Final from fifth spot, having accounted for Camden Tigers (4-1), Granville Rage (2-0), and Northbridge (5-0) in successive elimination finals.
After taking an early 6th minute lead in the Grand Final through Mark Filler, Hakoah did themselves no favours by being reduced to ten men in the second half, goalkeeper David Booth receiving his marching orders in the 47th minute.
The Mariners then countered and immediately took advantage of the additional man, scoring twice in quick succession to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Mitchell Rooke equalised on 51 minutes, before Justin Pickering grabbed what ended up being the winner just two minutes later, much to the delight of the travelling contingent.
Congratulations to both sides for putting on an exciting spectacle in the Grand Final, and a big applause for the duel trophy winners, Western NSW Mariners.
THANK YOU NOTE – I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the many staff/officials/coaches/players who have supported me during the 2013 season, often supplying me with relevant post match data/information on matches played around the State. Reporting on one match per round means I cannot be in more than one place at any given time, so the data filtered through had allowed me to prepare a more thorough review of all the matches played each week, which I hope in turn has provided a better article on the ins and outs of State League One football.
Enjoy the off season, and see you all back for another exciting year of State League One football in 2014.
-By Frank Speranza
