Quake Futsal Report

 The Day Dural was painted Purple and Orange...

 

In a season when Quake Club records keep tumbling, another milestone was achieved on “Purple Saturday” when we were victorious in 4 Grand Finals from the 5 we contested. Quake has 4 new Champion teams – 14 Girls, 16 Boys, Youth Men and Open Women have all lifted the winners’ Cup. Only our 14 Boys went down on the day to an incredibly talented and undefeated Inner West team, but not without giving the Premiers and Champions a run for their money.

14 Boys – Quake 0 – Inners West 2 (A Fofanah, J Pyne)

This was a typical Grand Final with both sides finding it difficult to settle into a rhythm. Quake was visibly nervous and failed to settle early. Mid-way through the first half, the undefeated Allstars started to dominate possession and looked dangerous. Nevertheless, the score at the break was nil-all, with neither team troubling the respective GK’s. The second half was a different story when on 6^th minute a long ball found Inner West’s Fofanah who slotted the ball passed a hesitating Conor Irwin.   Straight after that, Quake had the best chance of the match but Lachlan Roberts was unable to convert. With time running out for Quake, Coach James Gilligan went 5^th man with Conor Irwin advancing from goals. There was plenty of pressure but with 3 minutes to go Pyne scored Allstars’ second and sealed the Championship. It was a terrific season for our 14 boys, who finished second in the premiership and Championship to Inner west.

14 Girls – Quake 1 (Jemma Crane) – Inner West 0

What a nail-biter! This Grand Final saw two quality sides evenly matched and the result could have gone either way. Quake defensive drills certainly paid off as the advancing Inner West was kept scoreless, with young Chloe Gray sensational under the Quake sticks. There were plenty of influential players on either side, but the pressure of the Grand Final did not allow for them to fully assert their authority on the game. And so 40 minutes of regulation time elapsed and we were going to extra time. Again, as the game got older, I got the feeling that Allstars were slowly getting on top and it would be them that would find that elusive winner. But how wrong was I when with just 3 minutes to until a possible penalty shoot-out, Chrystal Duggan chased a long ball, beat her defender and fired a shot which the Allstars keeper could only parry, before an advancing Jemma Crane drilled it to the delight of the Quake supporters. And so our girls are crowned Champions, a deserving tag after a sensational season.

16 Boys – Quake 3 (Bruno Antelmi 2, Jack Taseski) – Enfield Rovers 2 (R Espejel, A Vlismas)

As both coaches said at the Presentation Ceremony, each time these two teams played, it produced a quality match, bringing the best out of each other. This would be no different and little did we know that it would be with just 48 seconds to go that this Grand Final would be settled. It was Quake who started the better and it took 11 minutes for Bruno Antelmi to find himself unmarked in the “D” to chip the keeper and put Quake ahead. Only 4 minutes later, it was Jesse Taunton who, at target, held up a ball for an advancing Jack Taseski who doubled Quake’s lead. It was 2-0 at the break but there was plenty more to come. With just 2 minutes gone in the second half, a long throw from the keeper found an unmarked Ruben Espejel who made it 2-1. The game had changed and it was Quake who was under pressure having to call on the outstanding Chris Howell in goals to keep Campbelltown in the game. And just 5 minutes later, a turn-over in the middle of the court handed a running Vlismas the chance to equalise which he duly converted. It was now 2-all and it was anyone’s ball-game. This seemed to spur Quake into action with plenty of near-misses encouraging the purple and orange. But it was to be the ever-reliable Bruno Antelmi who, with just 48 seconds to go, found the winner and handed Quake the elusive Premiers/Champions double. This team has had an outstanding season, congratulations to all involved. 

Youth Men – Quake 5 (Jake McGing 4, Tome Herceg) – Dural 2 (Blake Rosier, Wade Giovenali)

The score line does not begin to illustrate what a close encounter this was between the 2 best Youth teams in the league. With both teams settling into a fast pace early, it was Dural who drew first blood when target Blake Rosier collected the ball in his own “D”, ran 40 meters untouched and slotted the ball underneath an advancing Andrew Haim to give the Warriors an early lead. And it was man-of-the-match Jake McGing who found the equaliser when he unleashed a powerful right foot shot passed the Dural keeper. Jake got his second with another long-range effort and when Tom Herceg stole the ball and set up McGing, Jake got a first-half hat trick to send the teams to the break leading 3-1. With Tobi Seeto (Dural Coach) away on Futsalroos duties, his deputies (Alastair Bruce and Rhys Giovenali) did a great job tactically. It was Quake under huge pressure having to rely on Andrew Haim. With 9 minutes to go, Bruno Antelmi saved one off the line and Quake was visibly rattled. It was then that Dural decided to go 5^th man, a ploy they so expertly apply. With Zach Caruana playing that role, it was great to watch how the tactics developed. With 4 minutes to go, the 5^th man tactic paid off and Wade Giovenali made it 3-2 to Quake. Dural continued to pour on the pressure and Quake is to be admired for their defence. With time running out, Tom Herceg made it 4-2 with a long range shot and when Jake got another one with seconds to go, Dom Helene’s men were the 2011-12 Champions. A fitting end to a great season, with the 2 best sides providing a grand spectacle. And if Tobi and Rob Varela are reading this from Thailand, your guys played a great game!

Women -Quake 3 (Zoeie Redman, Samantha Muscat, Laura Donnelly) – Sydney City 2 (Heidi Makrillos, Justine McLaughlin)

This is perhaps the biggest rivalry in Women’s Premier League between two sides who really respect each other. Having lost 2 Grand Finals in a row, Quake was out for revenge, whilst the Eagles wanted the hat –trick of Championships. Quake seemed to start the game with purpose and 3 minutes in, Zoeie Redman put them ahead. But just 4 minutes later, Renee Tomkins went for a run and as the quake defence retreated, she found an unmarked Makrillos who made it 1-all. But just before the break, a great solo effort by Sam Muscat retuned the lead to Quake. The lead only lasted a few minutes when, with seconds to go to the break, a long ball found the head of McLaughlin who calmly made it 2-2. The spirits of the faithful purple and orange were settled again when Laura Dolly Donnelly returned the lead to Quake. The rest of the game was an arm-wrestle, with Sydney City throwing everything at the Quake girls, looking for that equaliser. But that equaliser would never come and the Quake ladies are the new Premier League Champions. After great success in prior years but unable to win the big one, it was a sense of relief felt by all. Well done to Tommy and the girls, celebrate hard!