The NSW Futsal Premier League finals kicked off last Saturday with 5 Quake team’s playing in sudden death elimination finals. It was a great day of futsal with each team giving it everything they had and the day culminated in an absolute thriller.

Congratulations to our 14 Boys, Women and Men who live to fight another day and well done to our 12 and 16 Boys who played as hard as they could but bow out of the competition.

Brief reports follow.

12 Boys: Proudly Sponsored by 40 Winks Campbelltown: Quake 2 (Angelo Kalamvokis 2) def. by Rovers 4

After a slow start that saw the boys concede an easy goal in the first few minutes Quake took charge of the match and dominated the rest of the half and went into the break 2-1 up. They did however miss several chances that could have made the game a no contest and they paid a heavy price for these misses. Rovers regrouped at the break and played solid, determined futsal to wear down our boys. They again scored some relatively soft goals when players were left unmarked and ended up controlling the half and ran out deserved 4-2 winners. Whilst this wasn’t our boys best performance they gave it everything and never gave up but their fantastic run came to a premature end and they now put the boots away for the season. Well done boys – everyone in the club is proud of the way you played and how you turned your season around.

14 Boys: Proudly Sponsored by Capital Steel Buildings Southwest: Quake 3 (Anthony Haddad 2, Lachlan Paradjik) def. Warriors 1

This was a quality game played by talented squads and coached by smart, up-an-coming coaches. The boys looked up for it today and worked their socks off. The game was tight with Warriors taking a lead from a very well worked goal but Anthony tied things up with his usual power, strength and clinical finishing. With just minutes to go Jimmy called a time out which seemed to do the trick as Anthony pressed, won the ball and set Lachlan up to again finish clinically to score the go ahead goal. Warriors then called time out and went to the 5^th man but this proved costly when they turned the ball over and Anthony lobbed Quake’s 3^rd into the empty net from his own side of halfway. Warriors persisted with the 5^th man until full-time but Quake were too disciplined for them and they never looked like scoring. Fantastic effort lads. We’ll all be there to cheer next week at Penrith.

16 Boys: Proudly Sponsored by Einhell Australia: Quake 0 def. by Eagles 1

This was not a great game but it was a tough, tight grind and the boys never shirked in their commitment. Quake could claim that they were wrongly denied a penalty in the first half when Ben was monstered from behind and hit the deck but the ref seemed to be in two minds and then the ball and the moment were gone. Jamie was terrific in goals in the first half pulling off some wonderful saves. The second half was much the same but to be fair Conor, who came on at the half, was the busier of the 2 ‘keepers making some exceptional saves to deny the Eagles. In the end a lapse of concentration cost the boys as the Eagles won the ball and Robbie Perre laid a beautiful ball to an onrushing Eagle who’s run wasn’t tracked and Conor had no chance to stop the shot. The boys battled on but didn’t really create a clear cut chance before full time was called. On the balance of play you’d have to say Eagles shaded our lads and the game summed up the team’s year: close but just not quite good enough.

Women: Proudly Sponsored by Bella Arts Graphic Design: Quake 4 (Claire Walsh 2, Lauren Ralston, Mel Mccauley) def. Magic 0

Good teams and good players lift when the stakes are high and that’s exactly what the girls did on Saturday. Playing an elimination final against a team that had beaten them twice this year was no problem for the girls. They’ve been there, done that and the belief in themselves and their enthusiasm for the contest was very evident. Everybody played well. Having a full squad ready and rearing to go with Steph back and fired up makes a huge difference. Claire and Zoeie played their best games of the year and Mel was outstanding in goals. And yes, she did score this time! Magic went 5^th man and Mel happily kicked the ball into an empty net after stopping a shot. The team looks like it is peaking at the right time and they can’t wait to play again next week. Please, get out and cheer this team on. They are Quake Purple Heart through and through and play an exciting brand of futsal. They deserve your support.

Men: Proudly Sponsored by United Tools Liverpool: Quake 6 (Mark Symington 4, Bruno Antelmi, Dean Lockhart) def. Rovers 6 on Penalties 9-8

This game was one for the ages. It had everything. After a tight first half Quake went into the break 0-1 down and although things were close there was no real indication of the action that would follow. Goals started to come – most were good, team futsal goals with both teams flying around the court giving 110%. With less than 2 minutes to go Quake held a 4-3 lead but couldn’t hold Rovers off and the teams went into extra time. Quake fell behind and Rovers looked to have wrapped things up until Quake went 5^th man and Mark Symington – who has had an outstanding year and played his heart out again - scored with seconds to go to tie things up at 6-6.

And so to penalties. After a solid first half in goals young Andy Haim put his hand up to take a penalty and scored, as did every Quake player in the shootout. Ollie did stop a shot but the penalty was re-taken as the ref deemed Ollie had stepped off his line. Finally, after all Quake’s 9 penalty shooters had scored it was up to Rovers to score or lose and Ollie made the save to set the Quake celebrations rolling.

What a game and what a good result. You could say this team continues to surprise but Quake stalwarts Symo, Danny, Macca, and Bully, combined with the younger brigade of Harley, Josh, Andy, Bruno, and Sean, along with the newer boys Scott and Ollie have shown all year that they are a pretty decent side that work hard for each other. Next week they take on Magic for a spot in the Grand Final. Can they do it? Of course they can! Get out to Penrith to show you believe they can too.

As always……GO QUAKE!