Rams crowned SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Champions
Macarthur Rams were crowned SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 champions after claiming a late 2-1 win against Parramatta FC on Sunday.
Gerard Ouffoue’s header with a matter of minutes on the clock completed Rams’ comeback after Neftali Gonzalez had cancelled out Mathew Clowes’
opener for the Premiers.
The typical big game jitters were absent from this one as both sides flexed their attacking muscle from the outset.
The opening exchanges were a tight tussle until Parramatta carved out the first chance of the match after nine minutes. Daniel Rezo’s free kick was headed goalwards by the onrushing Josh Symons, who sprayed his effort wide.
Macarthur went even closer two minutes later as Craig Cooley released Shannon Hankin, who drifted across the goal, unleashed a rocket at Eagles gloveman Luke Turnbull and sent his follow up into the side netting.
Rams looked comfortable as the game wore on, particularly down the left flank as Joel Craig combined well with midfielders Reuben Agyei Danso and Alvaro Malmierca.
But Parramatta’s solid defensive shape meant they were forced to resort to efforts from distance, with Hankin and Malmierca both dishing out efforts that failed to trouble Turnbull.
A few stern challenges on either side of the pitch brought the game into life as the first half crept to a close.
Rams’ tight backline also left Parramatta clamouring for long range shots, with Daniel Rezo the only other player in red to have a crack in the first half.
Macarthur had one last chance to head into the sheds with a buffer but David McMurray’s shot from Craig Cooley’s cutback was blocked by some desperate defence, ensuring a stalemate as the half-time whistle sounded.
Parramatta emerged from the break with a spring in their step and fired an early warning shot through Frank Martey. Shayne Ardle’s deep cross proved too high for a leaping Rezo, but Martey popped up at the far post and curled his shot wide of the goal to Chad Taylor’s relief.
Gerard Ouffoue rippled the net seven minutes from the resumption in what Rams assumed was the opener, but he received the ball from Shannon Hankin in an offside position.
Ouffoue was in the thick of it again moments later as he outmuscled Darkoh and picked out Malmierca on the edge of the box, with the midfielder unable to get the desired power and direction with his volley.
Parramatta made waves on the 57 minute mark as Rezo’s free kick was flicked on by Symons, drawing a brilliant diving save out of Rams goalkeeper Taylor.
And it was from the resulting corner that the Eagles hit the front. Rezo whipped his second attempt into a packed box but it was skipper Mathew Clowes who rose up highest, diverting the ball brilliantly into the corner of the net.
It was the boost Rams needed and they immediately went on the attack in search of an equaliser. Neftali Gonzalez proved a livewire down the left hand flank and put the ball on a platter for Reuben Agyei Danso with a pinpoint cross, but the resulting header proved fruitless.
It could have been two for Parramatta with 20 minutes remaining, only for John Tsironis to be denied by the woodwork after sending a rocketing half volley from the corner of the box.
And the missed chance proved costly as Macarthur went immediately down the other end and levelled the scores. A trademark attack saw the ball spread from right to left, McMurray releasing Gonzalez to his left, allowing the substitute to fire low into the far corner.
The equaliser blew the match wide open and Rams showed no conservation as they looked to take the lead, Ouffoue heading straight at Turnbull from another assured Malmierca delivery.
Clowes again looked most dangerous for Parramatta but Chad Taylor was equal to the task, keeping his long range thunderbolt at bay.
The skipper looked to turn provider with five minutes left on the clock, sending a deft chip over the Macarthur defence, with John Tsironis’ volley shut out by a terrific Chad Taylor save at point blank range.
But the match turned on its head just three minutes away from extra time. Joel Craig whipped in a devilish cross and Ouffoue again soared above his markers, sending the crowd into raptures with a powerful header into the top corner.
And the golden boot winner’s goal proved the difference, despite a late Parramatta surge, as Macarthur lifted the Mens 2 premiership for the first time in their history.
It was a well deserved win for a team that improved ten-fold in the finals series. Their midfield was industrious, with David McMurray particularly immense, as was centre-back Simon Valastro who seamlessly made the transition to defence under coach Claudio Canosa.
The most elated person on the park was captain Craig Cooley, the club’s longest serving player.
"It’s a big moment for me and the club," Cooley said. "It’s the first grand final for the club and to take it out means the world to me and everyone.
"I think both teams were going at it and possibly might’ve played for the draw at the end of the 90. But we went a goal down and definitely took the game to them. We dominated from there and momentum swung our way.
"We knew we had the players to do it and we always create chances, we took a couple and in the end that was enough."
For Parramatta coach Franco Cosentino, the result failed to detract from what has been a momentous season.
"It is tough but credit to Macarthur, they came from a goal down," Cosentino said. "Like I said last week, it’s hard when we’ve achieved so much to get up for a grand final.
"It’s been a fantastic season, no one thought we would achieve what we’ve achieved. I’m looking forward to competing in NPL 1 next year. They’re devastated in the sheds but I’m sure they’ll become better footballers for it.
"There was always confidence in the change room and we had a good crack at them and got the goal. We were a bit loose at the back at times and weren’t good enough at the second ball today, that’s what hurt us really.
"I can’t ask for a better bunch of lads. Everything I asked them to do, they did and they’ve trusted me in everything we did."
Macarthur Rams 2 (Neftali Gonzalez 71′, Gerard Ouffoue 87′)
Parramatta FC 1 (Mathew Clowes 58′)
Sunday September 21, 2014
At Lilys Football Centre
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant referees: Lance Greenshields, James Tesoriero, Murray Wilson (4th official)
Macarthur Rams: 14. Reuben Agyei Danso (3. Naoyuki Nomura 81′), 2. Craig Cooley, 15. Joel Craig, 5. Calum Fleming, 9. Shannon Hankin
(6. Neftali Gonzalez 64′), 19. Alvaro Malmierca, 12. David Mcmurray, 11. Gerard Ouffoue, 16. Daniel Ramirez, 1. Chad Taylor, 8. Simon Valastro
Subs not used: 18. Louis Duchesne, 13. Emanuel Elali, 20. Harrick Sinpraseuth
Yellow cards: Daniel Ramirez, Joel Craig, Naoyuki Nomura
Red cards: Nil
Parramatta FC: 23. Shayne Ardle (13. Joshua Gersbach 81′), 12. Jess Casey (2. Andre Schroeder 89′), 8. Mathew Clowes, 3. Lord Darkoh (11. Suad Ameti 89′),
6. Daniel Gullo, 7. Frank Martey, 10. Daniel Rezo, 16. Joshua Symons, 4. Robert Tribbia, 19. John Tsironis, 1. Luke Turnbull
Subs not used: 20. Justin Biega, 17. Domenic Trimboli
Yellow cards: Frank Martey, Mathew Clowes, Joshua Symons
Red cards: Nil
Player of the match: Gerard Ouffoue (Macarthur)
Northern Tigers claim 20s Championship
Northern Tigers claimed the Under 20 SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Championship with a 3-0 win over Spirit FC.
The Premiers completed the season double as Sebastian Bendall, Callaghan Sharpe and Braden Cheng found themselves on the scoresheet.
Tigers started with plenty of venom and stated their intentions early as a tame clearance fell to Callaghan Sharpe, who watched his shot from distance breeze just over the crossbar.
The Premiers had a number of close shaves, first via Hayden Krha’s curling effort and then Samuel Ryder’s wide header from a well-taken corner, but it was Spirit who should have taken the lead.
Roberto Polistina spread the ball wide to Glen Kelshaw, who put Abraham Majok through with a perfectly-weighted first time ball, only for the striker’s lunge to send the ball agonisingly wide of the upright.
Tigers inched ever closer to the opener and were denied by the woodwork as Sebastian Bendall’s beautiful cross was hit onto the far post by Braden Cheng.
They didn’t have to wait long to take the lead, though, thanks to a quick counter sparked from a Spirit turnover. Cheng was put in the clear and dutifully drove towards the goal, only to have his shot tipped away by Alex Buddle into the path of Bendall, who buried his effort into the empty net.
Tigers proved just as capable down the other end to deny Spirit what should have been the equaliser. Polistina’s deft through ball allowed Majok to round Devenish-Meares and have a crack on goal, but he was denied by a brilliant sliding tackle from Alexander Sharpe.
The tackle looked even more important minutes later as Tigers doubled their advantage in fortuitous circumstances. Callaghan Sharpe’s powerful free kick took a heavy deflection off the wall and crept into the bottom corner.
The uphill got steeper for Spirit just moments into the second half as centre-back Michael Fakiye was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
And Tigers quickly made the man advantage pay, Braden Cheng opening his body well from a cross and dinking his shot into the net to make it 3-0.
The buffer proved enough as Tigers held firm to round out a remarkable season in style.
Northern Tigers 3 (Sebastian Bendall, Callaghan Sharpe, Braden Cheng)
Spirit FC 0
Sunday September 21, 2014
At Lilys Football Centre
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
Assistant referees: Danny Horstead, Joon Park
Northern Tigers: 33. John Stambolieff (38. Adam Gorrie), 26. Callaghan Sharpe, 2. Samuel Ryder, 6. Julian Lim, 25. Hayden Krha, 31. Christian Barker,
22. Sebastian Bendall (24. Mitchell Smith), 35. Daniel Stuart (30. Alexander Lagana), 12. Braden Cheng, 21. Harrison Devenish-Meares, 29. Alexander Sharpe (28. Matthew Ryder 45′)
Coach: Steve Hurd
Yellow cards: Alexander Sharpe
Red cards: Nil
Spirit FC: 28. David Kanaley, 31. Glen Kelshaw, 24. Roberto Polistina (14. Hayden Pronin), 5. Ossama Zaki, 12. Michael Streeter, 22. Blake Cameron,
20. Michael Fakiye, 51. Alex Buddle, 34. Alhassan Dauda (23. Brendan Hoyer 45′), 35. Abraham Majok, 29. Darryl Watson
Coach: Magdy Andrawes
Yellow cards: Alex Buddle, Michael Fakiye (x2)
Red cards: Michael Fakiye
TO VIEW ALL IMAGES CLICK HERE
– By Mitchell Grima
