Central Coast United crowned State League Men’s Champions
Central Coast United have secured redemption and in turn revenge in beating Bankstown United 2-0 in the 2018 State League Men’s grand final on Saturday evening.
A goal either side of half time to Cade Mapu and Thomas Lyons gave United silverware in their first year in NSW competition.
It capped off a solid defensive performance which kept the premiers quiet.
In contrast, it was a unusual off day for Bankstown United whose stars kept trying but couldn’t break down their well organized opponents.
Unusually for clashes between these two sides, it took awhile for the game to get going with neither side willing to give an inch.
Central Coast United were content to play on the counter as they have done in recent weeks and it soon paid off. Mitch Cross didn’t get enough power on a header to challenge Jack O’Malley in net. The goalkeeper quickly distributed it out to a teammate who played through Cade Mapu from a deep position. The striker showing his turn of pace before finishing calmly to give them the lead.
In typical Bankstown United fashion, they showed a strong resolve with their best period of the half coming after conceding.
However, when Toshi Saikawa fired over the bar after being gifted the ball in the attacking third, you began to wonder whether their luck had ran out.
At the other end, they were in constant unease with the pace of Cade Mapu proving to be a constant headache.
The attacker only denied his brace just after the break by a goal-line clearance.
Uncharacteristically Bankstown United kept missing their limited chances of which they were given.
Something had to break and on came Dean Heffernan.
Playing on the left wing, Heffernan was instrumental in the second goal winning the ball in an advanced left wing position, dribbling into the box before picking out Thomas Lyons whose left footed effort found the bottom right corner.
Bankstown once again looked to bounce back and created chance after chance during the last ten minutes. Unfortunately for them, Central Coast’s shot stopper Jack O’Mally was proving to be a brick wall in goal producing some stunning saves in the dying embers of the fixture.
Central Coast United coach Stu Davis was relieved his team were rewarded for a terrific season.
“Very happy with the performance of the players, they stuck to the game-plan and I think we reaped our rewards after a great season. It would’ve been a shame if we came up short here. It’s a moment we will all treasure.
“Our whole back four tonight as well as Tom Mallett were superb tonight in denying their key men opportunities. Up front, Cade is always a threat with his pace and Dean really settled things down when he came on setting up the second.”
Conversely Bankstown United coach Scott Belgre said his team could hold their heads up high.
“It’s disappointing of course but we achieved what we wanted to do this season with anything today being a bonus. We were caught on the back foot during the first half but we readjusted and came out better in the second half.”
He also paid tribute to Central Coast United.
“Congratulations to Central Coast, they deserved something out of the season and are a quality football side”.
Match Stats
Bankstown United: 0
Central Coast United: 2 (Mapu 21’, Lyons 72’)
Saturday 15th September, 2018
Valentine Sports Park 2, Glenwood
Referee: Sebastien Brennan
Assistant Referees: Jerry Bitas & Aiden Lee
Fourth Official: James Lewis
Bankstown United: 99. David Hamilton, 3. Stephen Tomasich, 4. Steven Wright, 5. Andreas Kartsioulis, 6. Joseph Ninnes (84. Nathan Paull, 7. Jovan Miladinovic, 8. Sean Robertson, 10. Mitchell Cross, 23. Daniel Ramirez (79. Shane Webb), 25. Toshihisa Saikawa, 70. Matthew Sadler.
Subs Not Used: 15. Matthew Paras, 62. Daia Nakano, 80. Hayden Probert.
Central Coast United: 1. Jack O’Mally, 3. Adam Blunden, 4. Geordie Howe, 5. Nathan Blunden, 10. Alexander Arbelo (18. Matthew Crowell), 13. Cade Mapu, 14. Tom Mallett, 15. Graham Toope, 16. Oscar Torres Inchaustti (30. Dean Heffernan), 24. Daniel Mcfarlane (9. Adam Woodbine), 99. Thomas Lyons.
Subs Not Used: 20. Thomas Marsh
Under 20’s Grand Final: Bankstown United 0-1 Central Coast United
Under 18’s Grand Final: Central Coast United 3-4 Bankstown United
-By Justin Smith
