Semi Finals Review – Week 2 – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2

Northern Tigers are the first team into the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 Grand Final after defeating Spirit FC 5-1 on Sunday, in a scoreline which few would believe. Bankstown City progressed to next week’s preliminary final after eliminating Hakoah Sydney City East 2-1 on Saturday.
Semi Final 2, Spirit FC v Northern Tigers
Northern Tigers have moved into the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 Grand Final with an astonishing 5-1 victory over premiers Spirit FC, a thundering last ten minutes sending the Tigers into what will be their third Grand Final in six years.
After being a goal down for almost three quarters of the game, it was a result from nowhere for the Tigers as Spirit gifted away goals in a ten minute collapse that will surely give coach John McLafferty nightmares for the rest of the week.
It had seemed business as usual for Spirit FC, who had gone a goal up ten minutes before half time, Gosue Sama powering home following some excellent work from Jake Harris. It was a lead which few could argue with, Spirit holding the Tigers comfortably for the most part, perhaps only Matthew West proving a danger.
And there was no indication of what was to come immediately after the break either, although the Tigers were starting to spend more time in their opponents half. Liam McConaghy tried an audacious shot from distance which was more in hope than expectation, but it was midway through the second period that the tide turned.
Persistent work from Tai Smith out wide down the left provided the equaliser. Smith battled away, seemingly against the odds, but he managed to get in a cross which was not cleared, and West showed class in shooting first time low into goal.
It was an equaliser which had not really looked likely for most of the game and a couple of Spirit attacks within minutes almost gave them the lead once more. Sama just failed to connect properly with a header to a Ryan Johnstone cross, while on the opposite side Harris was likewise providing some dangerous crosses.
But it was Northern Tigers who were to go in front, and once they did, they never looked back. With ten minutes left on the clock, Smith just got the first touch to a West cross, nipping in at the near post to flick the ball past David Lowery.
If that wasn’t a shock enough for Spirit, two minutes later they let in their third. A corner was turned into his own goal by Grant Cornwell, without pressure, and with the Tigers threatening to run rampant, run rampant they did.
It shortly became 4-1 as, again, Smith provided West. A cross from the left and there was West once more to knock in another.
Worse was to come for Spirit who lost Tom Lovell to a straight red, in time added on, a tackle on Samuel Ryder earning the wrath of the referee.
Then it was five. A Paul Davies free kick from outside the box was parried by Lowery and there was Smith once more, to really add salt into Spirit’s wounds.
The enormity of the result was perhaps not expected by Tigers coach Steve Hurd, but the win itself was no surprise.
“We were always confident that we could get the win today, especially being away from Mills and Christie. I thought that the artificial surface would suit us better, and we actually have the best away record in the competition“, he stated.
“We didn’t have the best start but once we started to get possession in their half, and got into the wide spaces, we really got back into the game”.
“And I don’t think Spirit are used to going behind. It can’t have happened much this year and that would have been unusual for them”.
For John McLafferty, there was no question where he felt Spirit let themselves down.
“We simply didn’t handle their crosses”, was his summation. “At half time, 1-0, we were in a good spot, and even twenty minutes into the second half, we were looking fine”.
“There was no reason to throw the ball into the back of the net like we did. We’ll have to have a look at ourselves and come back next week. But if we don’t defend crosses, we won’t be in any Grand Final”.
Spirit FC 1 (Gosue Sama 35’) v Northern Tigers 5 (Matthew West 68’, 88’, Tai Smith 81’, 90 +4’, Grant Cornwell own goal 84’)
Sunday 6 September 2015
at Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: Katie Patterson
Assts: Lance Greenshields and Scott Edeling
Spirit FC: 41. David Lowery 2. Daniel Cunningham (c) 3. Henry Wells 4. Nick Trimble 7. Jacob Harris (11. Ossama Zaki 78’) 8. Grant Cornwell 12. Brad Gibson (9. Tim Simpson 66’) 13. Lord Darkoh 14. Ryan Johnstone 19. Tom Lovell 22. Gosue Sama.
Subs not used: 1. Murray Nelson 5. Andrew Robertson 6. Ross Kethel
Yellow Cards: Daniel Cunningham 20’, Gosue Sama 89’
Red Card: Tom Lovell 90+1’
Coach: John McLafferty
Northern Tigers: 1. Matthew Nemes 2. Samuel Ryder 3. Lucas Dawson (5. David Kanaley 89’) 4. Michael Rolston (c) 6. Paul Davies 7. Matthew West (23. Julian Lim 88’) 9. Liam McConaghy (17. Braden Cheng 82’) 10. Sherven Adeli 12. Russell Farrell 13. Jamie Craig 18. Tai Smith
Subs not used: 21. Harrison Devenish-Meares 11. Mitchell Smith
Yellow Cards: Matthew West 5’, Paul Davies 56’
Coach: Steve Hurd
Semi Final 1
Hakoah Sydney City East v Bankstown City
Bankstown City have moved into next week’s preliminary final with a 2-1 victory over Hakoah Sydney City East, ending the eastern suburb club’s season, but keeping the Lions’ hopes alive of a Grand Final appearance.
Goals to Chris Gomez and Grant Lynch were sandwiched by an equaliser to Michael McCrory but like they did a fortnight ago, Bankstown proved too strong for Hakoah, and with the Grand Final on the horizon, the Lions have hit their straps at just the right time.
Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Michael McCrory) v Bankstown City 2 (Chris Gomez, Grant Lynch)
by Peter Rowney, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 2 Reporter