North Shore Mariners crowned Champions
A three-year journey towards Grand Final glory ended for Men’s State League 1 Premiers North Shore Mariners after a 3-2 win on Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre.
North Shore Mariners started the game with successive corners which went close to opening the scoring but for a goal-line clearance from Hills Brumbies.
It would be Hills Brumbies that took the first chance.
A quick break was taken down the wing before being whipped in for Adam Savetta to clip home.
The Mariners had responded to adversity well all season and within two minutes were back on terms. A delicate ball over the top found Michael Cole in behind which the midfielder finished with style.
Hills Brumbies despite conceding the lead continued to work the ball around. They prised an opening in the 9th minute which Savetta almost connected with for his second.
Joe Haywood urged his Mariners side to push higher and get Marquin Smith more involved. The bustling striker shook off defenders and played in Tadhg Purcell who couldn’t finished.
The pressure ramped up though and North Shore Mariners took the lead in the 16th minute. Left back Lee Jones finished smartly to cap off a breathtaking opening quarter of the final.
Both teams were right up for the contest and North Shore Mariners edged the first half to lead 2-1 at the break.
Unlike the major semi-final where they sleepwalked through the first minutes of the second half, Hills Brumbies were alert and Glen Kelshaw forced a diving save from Mariners ‘keeper Anthony Zecchinati.
Kelshaw took his second effort much better in the 57th minute when he found space and rounded Zecchinati to restore the game to 2-2.
Smith was a constant threat for the premiers when Brumbies ‘keeper Jackson Franich was forced to palm one away in the 60th minute.
The striker’s presence helped create the game winning goal for the Mariners. He sprung the offside trap, took on his defender and squared to Mark McAlpine to plunge the dagger into Hills Brumbies.
Joe Giovenali rung the changes bringing on Wade Giovenali and Jordan Lane to give them more attacking width to search for an equaliser.
Their search was helped when Purcell was shown a second yellow for North Shore Mariners after a coming together of the sides.
Mariners based their game off a resolute defense and saw out the game to be crowned Champions of Men’s State League 1.
A jubilant Joe Haywood was happy to finally get over the hump.
“Finally we got one under our belt after being in three straight grand finals. Now we’ve started planning for next season,” said the North Shore Mariners boss.
“It’s always going to tough into the final, two teams wanting to win and we knew that.”
For the Hills Brumbies Joe Giovenali praised his team’s spirit.
“I felt for the boys, they gave it their all and were unlucky to concede. We took two well-taken goals but couldn’t add onto that,” said Giovenali.
“They [North Shore Mariners] are a strong, physical side and come at you all day. They didn’t stop.”
Match Stats
North Shore Mariners 3 (Cole ‘8, Jones ’16 and Smith ’68)
Hills Brumbies 2 (Savetta ‘6 and Kelshaw ’57)
North Shore Mariners: Zecchinati, Grant, Wynter, Woodward, Cole, McAlpine(Mbawke ’92), Chapman (Collins ’93), Smith, Lindsay, Jones and Purcell
Subs not used: Bleakley, Lensink and Marr
Yellow cards: Lindsay, Purcell and Smith
Red cards: Purcell
Hills Brumbies: Faulkner (Lane ’86), Brandon, Pivato, Bedzo, G. Giovenali, Hoyer, Kelshaw, Franich, McCracken, Robertson (Maguire ’64) and Savetta (W. Giovenali ’76)
Subs not used: Pace and Morrow
Yellow cards: Faulkner, Kelshaw, Pivato and Robertson
Red cards: nil
-By Justin Davies, Men’s State League 1 reporter
