Hakoah crowned Mens State League 1 Champions
Hakoah Sydney City East FC have been crowned Men’s State League 1 Champions for season 2014 after a pulsating 3-2 win over Northbridge FC on Sunday afternoon at Lambert Park.
In another classic encounter between the two sides, the teams could only be separated in extra time after Lloyd Owusu grabbed the winning goal.
As expected in a Grand Final it was a tight opening period with both sides looking to settle into the game. Northbridge midfielder Marquin Smith was involved from the onset, while centre-back Jay Wynter kept close tabs on Hakoah threat Lloyd Owusu.
As the half went on both teams settled into playing possession football, but goal scoring opportunities were hard to come by as the arm wrestle continued.
The first big chance of the game came in the 32nd minute for Northbridge when a perfectly weighted free kick into the box by Lee Jones was met by Mitchell Lensink, but the left-back’s header was just inches over the bar.
Next it was Hakoah’s turn to threaten off a set piece, with Owusu heading the ball just over the bar after powering his way into the box.
Hakoah keeper Dan Conway was then called into action in the 42nd minute, making a low reaction save to deny a stinging Lee Jones drive, before Northbridge left-winger Lewis Walker flashed his shot just wide of the goal to keep the score locked at 0-0 on the stroke of halftime.
The second half got underway in much the same way the first half had ended, with Conway called into action again in the 51st minute to deny Ry Hardy. But only a few moments later a brilliant cross into the box by Hardy saw striker Oliver Babington blast a pinpoint header into the back of the net to give Northbridge a 1-0 lead.
The game rose in intensity immediately following the goal, with the tempo quickening and referee Jerry Bitas allowing the game to flow.
With his team down a goal, Hakoah coach Mark Robertson looked to turn the game in his favour by bringing on Mark McAlpine in place of Nathan Kosmina, and moving centre-back Bradley Walker into the forward line. But it was captain Neil Jablonski who looked the most likely to create an equaliser by dropping deep, starting to build up the play and continuously winning his aerial battles.
Northbridge continued to look threatening and Babington powered into box after a Lee Jones through ball, but the striker failed to keep his attempt down.
As the game went into its final stage, second half Hakoah substitute Kevin Lopes grabbed the equaliser for his team after a goal-mouth scramble from a free kick saw the striker poke home from close range in the 85th minute.
But before Hakoah had a chance to let the equaliser sink in, Northbridge retook the lead only moments later. It was danger-man Lee Jones who supplied the cross to Oliver Babington, with the striker finishing neatly into the bottom left corner to grab a double and hand Northbridge a 2-1 lead.
Incredible, less than a minute later and with time running down, Hakoah managed to pull level once again. It was captain Neil Jablonski who was able to get on the end of a flick-on to volley home from inside the box and make it 2-2 as the whistle blew for full time.
Both sets of players were out on their feet as extra time commenced, cramps and bruised bodies visible all over the pitch.
With the game screaming out for a hero, it was Hakoah who landed the killer blow in the first half of extra period, striker Lloyd Owusu climbing highest from a corner to power home a trademark header and put Hakoah 3-2 in front.
It was a tense final period as Hakoah held onto their slender lead, and despite the Bridge throwing everything they had forward, it was Hakoah who held on for the win.
It was a heartbreaking loss for Northbridge, who were courageous in defeat and left nothing in the tank. The entire team should be proud of their effort and their display in the Grand Final, with a great performance coming from two-goal hero Oliver Babington, who showed composure with two well taken goals. Marquin Smith covered every blade of grass and put in a real box-to-box performance, while Lee Jones provided width and creativity for the entire match on the right hand side.
For Hakoah, the victory completes a remarkable year in which they have been crowned both Premiers and Champions for season 2014. Mark Robertson’s men refused to lie down, equalising twice in the dying minutes and finding a way to victory in extra time. Captain Neil Jablonski stepped up to the plate in the second half, when his team needed him the most, scoring the all-important second goal. Goalkeeper Dan Conway made a string of fine saves throughout the match, while Michael Katz went out a winner in his final game after putting in a trademark performance.
Match Stats
Hakoah 3 (K.Lopes, N.Jablonski, L.Owusu)
Northbridge FC 2 (O.Babington x 2)
Sunday, 21st of September 2014
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Jerry Bitas
Assistant Referees: Rob Niewenhus, Cris Bosevski
Hakoah Sydney City East FC: 45. Daniel Conway, 4. Bradley Walker, 39. Michael Randall, 14. Gavin Macpherson, 11. Neil Jablonski (3. Robert Ezekiel 112’), 10. Deklan Gilmartin (33. Kevin Lopes 80’), 9.Lloyd Owusu, 15. Michael Katz, 6. Nathan Kosmina (16. Mark McAlpine 60’), 36. Gavin Rae, 7. Daan Ranshjijsen
Substitutes Not Used: 25. Max Nightingale, 2. Remy Wolanski
Yellow Cards: N.Kosmina, D.Gilmartin, G.Rae, G.Macpherson
Red Cards: Nil
Northbridge FC: 16. Jack Grant, 10. Mitchell Lensink, 27. Anthony Zecchinati, 13. Marquin Smith, 19. Lewis Walker, 6. Ricky Woodward (15. Jake Mavin 110’), 20. Oliver Babington, 11. Jay Wynter, 9. Ry Hardy (14.Paul Orgad 88’), 2. Lee Jones, 5. James Collins (8. Michael Cole 88’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Zachery Lewis, 18. Agneesh Lahiri
Yellow Cards: J.Wynter, R.Hardy, M.Smith, R.Woodward, M.Lensink
Red Cards: Nil
TO VIEW ALL IMAGES CLICK HERE
Dulwich Hill Crowned Champions of Grade 20s
Dulwich Hill claimed the under 20’s Grand Final with a victory over Hakoah Sydney City East FC.
In a high-scoring match, Hakoah struck first in the 7th minute after a free-kick was headed home by Kevin Lopes.
Despite some good chances for Dulwich Hill, Hakoah struck again in the 40th minute, this time a corner was bundled home by Dylan Basger.
Only a minute into the second half Dulwich Hill struck back, with Stephen Hrysanthos cutting inside from the left and hitting a spectacular shoot into the top right corner to make it 2-1.
In the 60th minute a game-changing moment occurred when Hakoah keeper Terry Del Broi was sent off for a last ditch challenge. Dulwich Hill was awarded a penalty as a result, but the newly introduced keeper, Max Nightingale, produced a stunning save.
Hakoah then went further in front in the 70th minute when a free kick from Robert Ezekiel was turned into the goal by the Dully defence.
Dulwich Hill pulled one back to make it 3-2 when defender Samuel Contestabile fired home from close range, and in the 90th minute a neat finish from Frank Calcagno on the edge of box made it 3-3 and took the game to extra time.
The only goal in extra time came from Dulwich Hill midfielder Frank Calcagno, who slotted home a penalty and gave Dulwich Hill a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory.
Hakoah Sydney City East FC 3 (K.Lopes, D.Basger, OG) Dulwich Hill FC 4 (S.Hrysanthos, S.Contestabile, F.Calcagno x 2)
Grade 18 – Western NSW Mariners FC v Hawkesbury City SC
Hawkesbury have completed a remarkable finals series by claiming the Championship with a 2-0 victory over Western NSW Mariners.
After finishing 5th in the regular season, the Hawks opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Keegan Foote.
The game was wrapped up in the 75th minute when Nicholas Wilding made it 2-0 to the Hawks to cap off a great season.
Western NSW Mariners FC 0 Hawkesbury City SC 2 (K.Foote, N.Wilding)
Grade 16 – Western NSW Mariners FC v Hakoah Sydney City East FC
Western NSW Mariners are Champions for season 2014 after a stirring 3-0 victory over Hakoah Sydney City East FC on Sunday.
The Mariners took control of the game in the first half, taking a two goal lead into the half time break. The match was sealed in the second half, with the Mariners adding another goal to make the final score 3-0.
Western NSW Mariners FC 3 (K. Golden, G. Bakini, J. Blatch) Hakoah Sydney City East FC 0
– By Diego Munoz
