Round 1 Finals Series Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
With the bread and butter, regular season done and dusted, it was time for Round One of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition Finals Series, with two matches played over the weekend.
Sunday’s encounter saw Rydalmere Lions overcome Dunbar Rovers to book a spot in next week’s equivalent of what will be a Grand Final qualifier, with the winner of their match against Hills Brumbies moving on to the Grand Final a fortnight later.
Dunbar Rovers in essence played their ‘second chance’ card, and will now take on Sydney University in next week’s Semi Final 1 elimination bout.
Our feature match was on Saturday afternoon at Arlington Oval, where Stanmore Hawks welcomed the visit of Sydney University for the first of a number of elimination semi-finals in this year’s series.
A pristine Arlington Oval welcomed the first of this season’s Elimination Finals on Saturday afternoon, and it was Sydney University who prevailed, knocking out Stanmore Hawks by 2-1 to progress to Round Two of the Finals Series.
Stanmore Hawks final round loss to Hills Brumbies on the last day of the season relegated them to fourth position on the ladder, and they went in to this do or die battle without the services of captain Steve Liavas – injured in that loss to Hills – and speedy striker, Michael Toscano, who fell foul of a gastro bug during the week. The experienced Christian Bottalico and 18-year-old Stephen Zahariadis came in to the starting line up as their replacements.
Sydney University were without the services of their goal keeper, Carl McMahon, with young Ollie Gibson promoted to a starting berth as his replacement, otherwise they were at full strength.
Both sides commenced proceedings rather tentatively, with defences holding strong as neither side made any errors in their back third.
Sergio Tarazona had the first half-opportunity of the match, heading a 13th minute corner from Domenico Tripodi just over the crossbar.
Stanmore’s ever alert Heo Wookbum then seized upon a stray back pass on 16 minutes, cutting inside a defender before curling his effort straight in to the arms of the Sydney Uni keeper, Ollie Gibson.
Sydney University started to make some inroads here after, and almost took the lead on 19 minutes. Receiving a throw in from the left flank, Scott Tonkin controlled the ball before weaving past a Stanmore defender, and squaring the ball across the face of goal.
Domenic Di Mento connected near the back stick with a first time shot, but incredibly, the ball struck the retreating Hawks’ defender, Bibek Panta, on the goal line, before ricocheting on to the bar and away from danger.
Di Mento was at it again and set up the next opportunity for Sydney Uni in the 29th minute, racing down the right before delivering a superb cross in to the penalty area. Scott Tonkin thrashed a first time volley that cannoned back off the cross bar, only for Rosario Occhipinti to return serve with a first time shot that was cleared off the line by Stanmore defender, Sergio Tarazona.
Sydney University had the wind in their sails at this point, and after a few near misses, eventually took the lead just after the half hour mark.
Uni midfielder, Gavin Wenyon, made a darting run in to the right channel before sending over a teasing cross. Stanmore keeper, James Webb, was impeded as the ball found its way to the lurking Scott Tonkin near the back post, and the Syd Uni striker guided his header in to an empty net to give the ‘students’ the lead.
The Hawks were looking to restore parity immediately, and responded a mere sixty seconds later via a predictable source. Sam Awad connected with a well weighted Domenico Tripodi free kick, but his downward header was well held by Uni keeper, Ollie Gibson.
On 33 minutes it was the hard working Tripodi who stole possession in the middle of the park, drawing a defender before slipping a great pass in to Stephen Zahariadis in the right channel. The youngster raced into the box, turning inside a defender before shooting low, only for Uni keeper, Ollie Gibson, to parry the angled effort brilliantly.
Stanmore kept up the intensity and constructed a well worked counter attack on 38 minutes, with Zahariadis and Wookbum combining to set up Peter Yannopoulos, whose first time shot from just inside the box was desperately diverted for a corner by a Uni defender.
An entertaining half was nearing a close but still had time for two more opportunities just before oranges, one to each side.
Rosario Occhipinti’s shot for Syd Uni from the penalty spot deflected wide after another great run and cross by Domenic Di Mento, whilst at the other end Stanmore’s Domenico Tripodi just cleared the Syd Uni cross bar after a thunderous volley from twenty yards.
The half time whistle shrieked shortly afterwards, bringing to an end an exciting first half that took a quarter of an hour or so to get going, but finished with a frenzy of activity that suggested both teams wanted to end the game prematurely.
The second stanza commenced much like the first, very tentatively, with Stanmore frightened to concede a second goal, and Sydney Uni doing whatever it took to avoid losing their lead.
Sydney University conjured up a great opportunity on 61 minutes, when Johnny Gowdy and Scott Tonkin combined down the left flank with speed, before Gowdy teed up Domenic Di Mento inside the box. Stanmore’s keeper, James Webb, raced out to meet Di Mento and courageously divert his close range effort.
Just five minutes later and the scoreboard was impacted once more, and once more it was in favour of the visitors.
With Stanmore in possession near the defensive corner flag, the tenacious Domenic Di Mento single handedly chased down a couple of Hawks’ players before pinching the ball. Di Mento then slipped it in to the path of Rosario Occhipinti, who steadied before unleashing a drive from the edge of the penalty area with his trusted left peg.
The ball ricocheted off the back of a Stanmore defender in to the night sky, and with the Stanmore players retreating, Uni’s Johnny Gowdy was first to the spinning rebound, delivering an expert bicycle kick to send the ball looping in to the net.
As they did the first time they conceded, Stanmore responded immediately, but this time they managed to reduce the deficit within a couple of minutes.
Domenico Tripodi was once again the instigator, winning possession and slipping the ball to Heo Wookbum in to space on the left as he approached the Uni penalty area. Wookbum took a touch before hitting an angled shot that deflected over Uni keeper, Ollie Gibson, and nestled in side the far post to give the Hawks’ fans something to cheer about.
The Hawks pushed men forward and upped the ante, but the best they could muster was an 82nd shot from Tripodi from the edge of the box that flew low just wide of the upright.
The Sydney University back line had been stern throughout,lead by skipper Tommy Hyde at right back, and collectively restricted any penetration the Hawks attempted.
Sydney University then simply played down the clock – all seven minutes of injury time included – as they held on for a deserved victory.
Stanmore Hawks tried valiantly to get themselves in to the match, but were devoid of attacking options, and the score line flattered them a little on the balance of opportunities.
When Heo Wookbum reduced the deficit on 68 minutes, the fans sensed a comeback may have been on the cards, but it never really eventuated.
In review it has been a fantastic season nevertheless for Stanmore, conceding the fewest goals of any team in the competition, and only losing five games all year……but in the end it was Sydney University who proved to be their ‘bogey’ team, and they inflicted three of those defeats, all to the tune of 2-1.
Domenico Tripodi was the best for Stanmore on a disappointing night, his high workrate evident throughout as he often won possession for his team, as well as being the one who set up many of their attacks, including their lone goal.
Sydney University applied themselves well across the park on the night, showing a collective energy and enthusiasm that gave them control throughout. In fact, the woodwork and James Webb in the Stanmore goal stopped Uni from taking an even bigger lead than 1-0 at the break, meaning they had to continue to work for the entire ninety minutes.
Uni had some great performers on the night; Daniel Mifsud was tenacious and alert in a defensive midfield role, biting in the tackles and quick with his distribution, despite playing the majority of the match with a yellow card; Gavin Wenyon was a more than able support in the centre of the park, showing great anticipation defensively and some neat touches releasing the ball; Domenic Di Mento played a great winger’s game, making inroads every time he had the ball down the right flank, and delivering some dangerous crosses throughout.
The win means Sydney University’s season continues and they will march on to meet Dunbar Rovers in next week’s Semi Final, yet another Elimination battle.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Finals Series
Round One
Elimination Final
Saturday, September 3, 2016
Referee – Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees – Lance Greenshields and Avrol Beecham
STANMORE HAWKS 1 (Hookbum 68’)
RYDALMERE LIONS 2 (Tonkin 31’, Gowdy 66’)
STANMORE HAWKS FC; 26.J.Webb, 11.S.Awad (capt), 27.C.Bottalico, 6.Y.Mavrou, 3.B.Panta, 4.S.Tarazona, 23.P.Theodosi, 2.D.Tripodi, 10.H.Wookbum, 14.P.Yannopoulos (9.N.Philippou 67’), 46.S.Zahariadis (15.A.Caragher 67’).
Substitutes Not Used – 1.J.Adams, 21.G.Ljuboja, 20.C.Kolistasis.
Yellow Cards – 15.A.Caragher 90’ + 3’.
Red Cards – Nil
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC; 41.O.Gibson, 18.D.Di Mento, 14.J.Gowdy, 2.T.Hyde (capt), 13.P.Kardasis, 5.J.Karpes, 17.J.Loke, 6.D.Mifsud (4.J.Wynter 86’), 10.R.Occhipinti (15.C.Muir 76’), 9.S.Tonkin (24.V.Broehl 90’), 21.G.Wenyon.
Substitutes Not Used – 11.W.Donato,16.A.Porcu.
Yellow Cards – 5.J.Karpes 11’, 6.D.Mifsud 14’, 18.D.Di Mento 84’, 9.S.Tonkin 85’, 15.C.Muir 90’ + 5’.
Red Cards – Nil
Qualifying Final
RYDALMERE LIONS – DUNBAR ROVERS FC
Sunday, September 4
Valentine Sports Park No.2 @ 5-30pm
Rydalmere Lions progressed to next week’s semi final showdown with Premiers, Hills Brumbies, courtesy of their 5-3 victory over Dunbar Rovers on Sunday night.
A two goal first half lead was eroded by Dunbar – and Robbie Deasy specifically – early in the second half, before Rydalmere put their foot on the gas to score three times in a lethal twelve minute spell.
It was Dunbar who started the brighter during the opening ten minutes, and they had a couple of opportunities that went begging which they would be forced to regret later.
Rydalmere worked their way in to the match and opened the scoring on 18 minutes, with Zac Elrich striking home after a pinpoint right wing cross from Amaury Gauthier.
The same pair were involved in doubling the lead on the half hour, with this time Gauthier staying composed to slot past the Dunbar keeper after Elrich had slipped him into space.
Dunbar came out firing after the break and managed to restore parity within 8 minutes of the restart.
Captain Robbie Deasy continued his great form of late with both goals, the first a tap in from close range a minute in to the second half, and the second a header to draw the teams level.
But Rydalmere were not to be outdone on the day, and they lifted their intensity to score three times in a dramatic twelve-minute spell.
Seijei Tarutani was fouled inside the penalty area in the 65th minute, picking himself up to convert the spot kick and edge the Lions in front.
Zac Elrich then broke Dunbar hearts with a long range bomb in the 72nd minute to make it 4-2, before providing the pass five minutes later to allow Amaury Gauthier to grab his brace and his side’s fifth goal.
Robert Ezekiel scored a late consolation for Dunbar, striking home a left foot volley at the back stick after a great run and cross by Stephen Liu, but it was too little, too late, and Rydalmere Lions had prevailed.
It was a comprehensive attacking performance by Rydalmere Lions, who now progress to take on Hills Brumbies for a spot in the Grand Final.
It’s not all doom and gloom for Dunbar Rovers, as they now play Sydney University in an Elimination semi-final to keep their season alive.
