PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 Grand Final Preview

It should be a dynamic end to the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 competition when Northern Tigers and Bankstown City meet in the season’s decider this Saturday evening.

With both sides full of attacking flair, and goals galore having been scored in the Championship series so far, it is hoped that the upcoming Grand Final provides much more of the same.

The Steve Hurd-coached Tigers come into the game having scored eight goals from their two finals matches against Hakoah Sydney City East (3-0) and Spirit FC (5-1) while Bankstown City have also scored eight, but from three games. Central Coast (1-0), Hakoah Sydney City East (2-1) and Spirit FC (5-3) were all dispatched on the way to this week’s finale. 

Against each other during the league season, the Lions have the better record with a win and a draw, but with the final game on the line, and the title of Champions to be won, past results should mean little on the day.

Despite not having beaten Bankstown City this season, Northern Tigers will be confident that they can turn the tables. They have had just one loss in their past fourteen games and the goal conceded against Spirit in the semi-final is their sole goal against in their past five. The club does have a strong record in finals football, having competed in three Grand Finals at this level since 2007, winning two, in 2010 and 2012. Amazingly, Paul Davies, the most experienced of the Tigers lineup, featured in all three of those games. Current captain, Michael Rolston and midfielder Steven Baveas were winners on the two occasions they played, while Lucas Dawson also won a winner’s medal in 2010.  Plenty of big match experience then and they certainly know how to win.

The trio leading the way up front, or thereabouts, also know how to score goals. Tai Smith has hit double figures for the season and Matthew West and Liam McConaghy have eight apiece. Twenty six goals between them will give the Lions much food for thought.

While recent Grand Finals are nothing new to Northern Tigers, this is Bankstown City’s first Grand Final since losing the Men’s 1 in 2007 and they are sure to bring a raft of supporters if last Saturday is any guide. It has been a long time between drinks for the Lions and in this, their fourth successive PS4 NPL Men’s 2 season, they will like nothing better than to finish the season on a high.

They are in a rich vein of form, not having lost since round sixteen and on a run of nine games without defeat. Last weekend’s tally of five goals was their equal highest in one game this season and only four times this year have they failed to find the net at all. They will be very much a handful for Northern Tigers with a strong side across the park.

In goalkeeper Dion Shaw, they have one of the best keepers in the league, while the ultra-experienced Michael Beauchamp and Dean Heffernan have a central defensive partnership second to none. The Lions can rely on wide backs Grant Lynch and Todd Halloran to provide plenty of pace with Huseyin Jasli, in excellent form at the moment, also providing plenty of opportunities for goals. Add in the influential Aaron D’Mello, Domenic Hudap, Brima Kamara and Reuben Lagos as choices in midfield, and coach Leo Carle will have a tough decision in selecting his first eleven. Ko Kimura is another who has added strength to the Lions make up, only joining midseason, but known for some crucial goals in finals football. Up front they have the lively Chris Gomez, never one to take a step back, and the club’s leading scorer this season. Last year’s NPL Men’s 2 top scorer, Gerard Ouffoue has tended to come off the bench this season but as he showed against Spirit, goals are never far away when it matters.

Two top notch sides then, with scarcely a weak link to be seen.

It should be some game on Saturday.

Match Details

Northern Tigers v Bankstown City Saturday 6pm Sydney United Sports Centre

-By Peter Rowney