The finals contenders have been decided and after some stirring results, it is St George, Macarthur Rams and Granville Rage who join Blacktown Spartans and West Sydney Berries in the final five.

Northern Tigers and Spirit FC suffered losses on the final day ending their seasons, while the rain affected year continued with two fixtures being postponed. The fate of the Blacktown Spartans v Hills Brumbies and Fraser Park v Sydney University matches will be decided by FNSW this week.

Feature Match of the Round

St George v Northern Tigers

There was plenty riding on this game with both sides uncertain of finals participation going into the match, and with Granville Rage’s fixture against the Central Coast switched from Friday at Pluim Park to Sunday at Garside Park, there was added tension knowing that whatever the result at St George, the Rage would have the last word.

But both clubs knew that the surest way was to win the game and that was the intention of both coaches. This wasn’t a classic though, the heavy pitch making it difficult for both teams and the goal areas likely to produce a slip or three.

A couple of quick corners to the Tigers gave an indication of their intent but after some early moments, it was St George who took control, dominating the play. They got the goal they wanted too after just seven minutes. Fred Umlil took advantage, looping the ball over Stuart Page at the second attempt, nestling into the bottom corner. It was the second goal in a week for Umlil, who crucially scored the late equaliser against Sydney Uni last round.

But apart from that strike, there were not a lot of chances in this one, the Tigers though almost drawing level but for an excellent double reflex save from Daniel Nash, somehow keeping the ball out.

The half time talk must have spurred the Tigers on though, as they certainly dominated the second period, at least territorially. But despite the amount of ball, and with large periods being played in St George’s half, the Tigers rarely penetrated the tight Saints defence.

They had a header go just wide and Travis Cooper with probably the Tigers’ best chance, blasted over from in front. But it wasn’t their day, and with the result at Garside going against them, the reigning champions will not have the chance to defend their title.

It was a disappointed Jason Eagar after the game.

“We had an excellent second half, but really, we lost it in the first half. We just didn’t finish it off, even though we had plenty of ball. Our final delivery wasn’t good enough”.

The win sees St George finish the season in third spot, taking with it the double finals chance. 

St George 1 (Fred Umlil 7’) v Northern Tigers 0

21 August 2011

at St George Stadium

Referee: Stephen Lucas

Assts: Sam Grasso and Alex Long

St George: Daniel Nash, Jason Tack, Michael Smith, Mark Bariamis, David Smith, Brad Gibson (George Lagoudakis 70’), Simon Verrender (c), Ivo de Jesus, Reuben Lagos, Peter Vassilis (James Kovas 87’), Fred Umlil (Jordan Figon 77’).

Subs not used: Luke Turnbull, Jason Gonzalez.

Yellow Cards: Peter Vassilis, Ivo de Jesus.

Coach: Kory Babington

Northern Tigers: Stuart Page (c), Tom Geekie, Travis Oughtred, Michael Rolston, Rhys Williams, Thomas Mackay, Brendan Salameh (Ian King 79’), Lucas Dawson, Steven Baveas, William Thom (Gavin Forbes 74’), Travis Cooper.

Subs not used: Stuart Briggs, Marc Messina, Jake Harris.

Yellow Cards: Tom Geekie, Stevan Baveas.

Coach: Jason Eagar.

Spirit FC v West Sydney Berries

There was a phenomenal scoreline at Christie Park when West Sydney Berries pummelled Spirit FC by the tune of 7-0.

In a game which Spirit needed to win to have any chance of finals football, it was the Berries who started from the blocks at breakneck pace, going 3-0 up inside twelve minutes.

Steve Wright connected with a header from a free kick to put the Berries 1-0 up after only four minutes before getting his second after seven minutes. By twelve minutes, the Berries were up by three, Dimitri Zakilas heading home.

Spirit had the chance to draw one back, after Juan Chavez was brought down in the area by Nick Tantalos, but Daniel Cunningham missed the spotkick.

Within a quarter of an hour of the restart, the scoreline had doubled to six. Zakilas got his second after a quick counter attack before Kodjo Adjassou scored the first of his double, outpacing the defence to strike home. Zakilas then secured his hatrick on the hour.

Adjassou finished the scoring by lobbing Murray Nelson with a quarter of an hour left.

Steve Karavatakis, still disappointed that the title was lost, was obviously pleased with this outcome.

“We had a different combination up front today, trying Dimitri Zakilas and Kodjo Adjassou together and it worked really well. We finished our chances which we haven’t been doing lately. We played really well, and we haven’t done that for a while”.

While disappointed that the Berries didn’t win the title, Karavatakis has his eyes on the Grand Final.

“We wanted to win the premiership, that was the main aim. But we will still go for the championship”

“Finals football, here we come!”

Spirit FC 0 West Sydney Berries 7 (Steve Wright 4’, 7’, Dimitri Zakilas 12’, 51’, 60’, Kodjo Adjassou 54’, 76’)

Central Coast v Granville Rage

With this game being washed out on Friday night, the fixture was changed to Sunday at Garside Park, giving Granville the perfect opportunity to overtake nearest finals challengers, Northern Tigers.  

And take advantage they did.

A lone first half goal to Pat Cappuccio did the trick, shooting home from the edge of the eighteen yard box, after nice work from Kris Holbrook. Despite living dangerously at times, the Rage hung on, gaining the necessary three points.

“It was a great effort, after everything that has happened this year,” stated Mauricio Islas.

“It was not our best game and we had a few nervous moments but we got the result we wanted”.

Granville can now look forward to the semis, for the first time since 2008.

In the Central Coast’s final senior match, Peter Preston was extremely proud of his team.

“Credit to Granville, they did what they had to do. But we more than matched them”, he said.

“The boys played really well, we had some good chances, and deserved to get a point”.

“I am as proud as punch. All we had was pride to play for, and we really put it on the line. And the colours aren’t dead yet. We still have our Under 20s in the finals and I am sure that we will give that competition a really good shake”.

Central Coast FC 0 Granville Rage 1 (Pat Cappuccio 26’)

Dulwich Hill v Macarthur Rams

Dulwich Hill ended their season with a 1-1 draw at home to Macarthur Rams, the result pushing the Rams down to fourth spot.

An early strike to Shannon Hankin put the Rams in front but it was an unlikely goal by Cameron Jones that drew Dulwich Hill level. A free kick was lobbed into the area but at the crucial moment, keeper Ben Needham slipped, allowing the ball to proceed into the net.

“Our goal was a fluke”, said Paul Carter. “We really pinched the result, not by the way we played, but with the team we put out. We had a lot of players missing but we still finished well”.

“It was one of those games”, said Claudio Canosa. “We had chances to score but, like the past few weeks, we didn’t take them”.

“We are not playing the way we should be. We will have to rectify that, coming into the finals. But we will have everyone available, and we will be ready”.

Dulwich Hill 1 (Cameron Jones 71’) Macarthur Rams 1 (Shannon Hankin 14’) 

Blacktown Spartans v Hills Brumbies and Fraser Park v Sydney University both postponed.

-By Peter Rowney