Old Amadei magic weaved so well

 

September 22 2009

Shepparton News

Shepparton South coach Paul Amadei has revived his magic touch to lead Shepparton South to its fourth men's division one premiership after Sunday's 2-0 win against Shepparton United.

Amadei described his team's win as "unique" after having previously taken South to the Goulburn North East Football Association's top prize three times.

Amadei led South to its breakthrough premiership in 1999 which went on to become a three-peat before resigning his position midway through 2002.

He said returning to the club this season was an easy decision with the support he had received from the committee and president Frank Scarcella.

"I had the blokes around me, I wouldn't have gone back if I didn't have the right players," Amadei said.

"We got Stuey (Vance) and the two Scottish blokes (Robbie Taylor and Hamish Munro) and those two imports made the team.

"In this league you need three or four experienced players."

Amadei said he was pleased to see right winger Samet Yollu win the best on ground award, while praising the games of Connor Campbell in midfield and Nick Murphy in the backline.

Amadei acted immediately after defender Anthony Calandro was sent off in the second half, taking forward John Stokes out of the game and putting Joel Aitken in.

"I thought we were on top possession wise and a goal was going to come," he said.

"We played the last 20 minutes with 10 men but were able to run over the top because I felt they were getting tired.

"This is unique, it's been eight years since we lost one and today has been pretty special."

Shepparton United coach Jason Mulkeen believes there was not much more his team could do in its quest to upset South.

Mulkeen said his team had been a fighting chance until falling 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go.

The Blues created chances at 0-0 and 1-0 down, but missed the pace and shooting range of suspended forward Fahed Alghazaly.

"I'm not sure what it is but the last two times we've played South we've ended up playing defensively," Mulkeen said.

"We played the same game plan as we did against Shepparton but against South it just didn't work.

"Full credit to Paul (Amadei), maybe they have a game plan we just can't break down right now."