FNSW PL2 R13 Wrap

Round 13 of the 17/18 Premier League 2 season – the second last of the season – was played away in Alexandria, Sydney against the Club Championship leading Eastern Suburbs Hakoah.

To check out the photos of this round head to the Boomerangs photo site.

Development Squad Matches
There were two development squad matches played against Hakoah which mixed up the players somewhat. The 10 boys joined the 11/12 girls to play against the Hakoah 11/12 girls and the 11 boys played against their Hakoah equivalents.

12 Boys: Boomerangs 0 – 9 Hakoah (ht 0 – 4)
The 12 boys were never really in this match against a strong Hakoah squad that had lost only two matches all season. There was certainly no denying the effort by the lads, but the quality of the Hakoah team, along with their top of the table counterparts at Sydney Futsal Club, have set them a cut above the competition this season. Next week will again be a tough match against Mt Druitt – a team that needs to win to make finals (their only team in contention).
Ladder Position: 6th ( – )

13 Girls: Boomerangs 3 – 4 Hakoah (ht 2 – 2)
The 13 girls were up against an Hakoah team that is finals-bound and looking to consolidate their position in the top four. This result reflected a terrific performance by the Boomerangs youngest competitive girls team. To hold the opposition to two goals in the first half, and to only end up being defeated by a single goal, was a reflection of the effort the girls put in.  This kind of performance – including the ability to create and score goals – was what has been missing in several earlier rounds.
Goal to Tayla Hampson, Meg Roden, Ella Palframan
Ladder Position: 5th ( – )

14 Boys: Boomerangs 3 – 7 Hakoah (ht 1 – 3)
This was another tough match against a quality boys team from Sydney’s eastern suburbs. The lads mixed it with the home side for the first twenty but struggled to remain in contention in the second stanza. Whilst the Boomerangs 14s remain in fourth position and destined to play finals this season, the top three teams, Hakoah, Raiders and Phoenix are all bunched at the top of the table and fighting for the minor premiership – a fair way ahead of the rest of the pack of teams in this age group. The 14 boys will need to play very well in round one of the finals series, and subsequent rounds, to progress to post-season accolades. This winning form will need to start next week against Mt Druitt.
Goals to Thomas Barbatano (2), Keiren Allen
Ladder Position: 4th ( – )

15 Girls: Boomerangs 2 – 0 Hakoah (ht 1 – 0)
The 15 girls did what the 15 girls have been doing all season. Methodically working over their opposition with a game plan built on rock-solid defence. At the offensive end, they play in a patient and disciplined way that seeks to create quality opportunities and convert when possible. With never a sense of panic, these girls are definitely in the zone this season and will be clear favourites going into the finals series. With this win, they lock in the Minor Premiership for season 17/18 and remain with 13 wins from 13 matches played.
Goals to Stella De Marco, Maria Pachi
Ladder Position: 1st ( – )

16 Boys: Boomerangs 2 – 3 Hakoah (ht 1 – 2)
The 16 boys played a cracker of a match against a team in the hunt for season glory at the top end of the table. Indeed the Hakoah 16s, with this win, have consolidated second place on the competition ladder and a finals double chance. The quality of performances by the 16 boys over the latter part of this season has been pleasing to see, and they continue to develop and grow, which augurs well for next season – for both this age group and youth men.
Goals to Cale Brown, Will Manalo
Ladder Position: 7th ( – )

18 Girls: Boomerangs 5 – 6 Hakoah (ht 3 – 4)
A most unusual first half for a women’s match saw seven goals scored and end-to-end futsal for the full twenty minutes. The second half saw the goals abate, but not the intensity as both teams were keen to hold on to, or fight for, a top two season finish behind Raiders, the pacesetter of this age group. A win next round against Mt Druitt is essential for these girls to finish the season in second place. A loss means they may well end up in an elimination semi-final in week one of the finals series.
Goals to Jacqui Alferink, Ellen Brown, Izzy D’Amico, Ash Garrity and Ella Brown
Ladder Position: 2nd ( – )

Youth Men: Boomerangs 7 – 4 Hakoah (ht 3 – 2)
The headline for this match could well have been ‘Elie Darwich scores five’. But whilst that was an incredible feat, the match was far more than that. A very much light-on travelling Boomerangs youth, up against a full depth bench of the home side – although critically without a reserve goalkeeper. A fine individual finish by Jayde James-Ward on the back of a terrific outlet throw by Jamie-Lee Guo, set the tone for the match as the lads delivered a high-intensity running and physical style of play.  The visitors were dominating the first half scoring the first three goals, and there was a sense that if the home side could settle the play down to their own preferred style of play that they could work their way back into the match. And that they did, scoring two goals against the run of play before the break.

There was a sense that the home team would have the ‘legs’ in the second period and run over the top of a tiring Boomers youth, however, the travelling youth men seemed to notch it up another level on the back of an inspired Darwich. There was plenty of niggle and physicality in the game, but none more than when Buddy Abbas was fouled in the ‘D’ by the Hakoah ‘keeper – who was subsequently red-carded. Without a regular back up keeper, the home team struggled from that point and the Boomers, not only did what they needed to, but further pressed home the point scoring almost at will. A couple of consolation goals to Hakoah in the dying minutes made the scoreline more flattering for them than it should have been.

An exciting game, built on some great coaching tactics which sees the youth men still out of the final four, but only a single goal in goal difference behind Hakoah. Boomerangs play Mt Druitt next week  (yet to win a game this season) and Hakoah takes on Central Coast (2nd on the ladder).
Goals to Elie Darwich (5), Buddy Abbas, Jayde James-Ward
Ladder Position:  5th ( –  )

Open Women: Boomerangs 2 – 3 Hakoah (ht 2 – 1)
This clash saw the competition’s heavyweights, in the top two position on the ladder, battle it out for the honour of the minor premiership for the season (noting that there is still a round to follow, but with both teams taking on bottom placed clubs next week, upsets would need to occur to mix things up). The Boomerangs women have been atop the competition ladder for several weeks and were looking to hold on to that position.

The first half was going according to plan with the Boomers women taking a 2-1 lead into the break and looking as comfortable as they could against a tough opposition such as Hakoah.  The second half though, saw the home team come out hard and work at both ends of the court to ensure they both created opportunities to score and kept a solid defensive set up to leave no way through for the Boomers goal scorers.

For a while it looked like a draw would be the result, however, Hakoah snuck home a late goal to take the three competition points and likely with it, the minor premiership. It is probable these two teams will again face off in the qualifying final in a couple of weeks time – perhaps this will be an opportunity to square the ledger for the Boomers women.
Goals to Grace Basser-Silk, Alex Martens
Ladder Position: 2nd (down from 1st)

Open Men: Boomerangs 3 – 1 Hakoah (ht 1 – 0)
With the top of the men’s ladder bunched so that any four of the five teams could end up as minor premiers, and similarly, any four of the five could miss out on finals altogether, it was critical for both these teams to secure a win going into the final round where both (on paper and form at least) have matches against weaker opponents.

The intensity was there from the first whistle and did not abate until the final whistle some 50 minutes later. The Boomers men opened the scoring with a lovely worked free-kick finished off by Michael Rinaudo and took that solitary goal into the halftime break.

The second half saw a lift in intensity and a cracking solo goal from Jake Wilsener converting from near the sideline.  At 2-0 down, Hakoah went into fifth man power play relatively early (with eight minutes to play), and without perfect execution turned the ball over to allow Daniel Fulton to take the ball and slot it firmly past a scurrying fly keeper.

A great win by the men sees them almost back at full strength, and in some good form, at the right time of the season, but will, unfortunately, be again without Wilsener for next week after he received two soft yellow cards to see him sent. (Hakoah could not score during the two minutes, one-man advantage).
Goals to Daniel Fulton, Michael Rinaudo, Jake Wilsener
Ladder Position: 3rd  (up from 5th)

Generally for the day, a poor result across the board with just three wins from the nine competitive matches against Hakoah – a club which seems destined to top the PL2 table and be promoted to PL1 for next season. And with four of the losses by a solitary goal only, the day’s outcomes could have been quite different had those results been overturned, or at least a couple of draws salvaged.

Wins for the 15 girls, youth and men consolidate finals aspirations, but losses for the 18 girls (who need to win next week to finish top two and ensure a double chance in finals)and the women who have all but relinquished the season’s minor premiership to Hakoah. Bar the 15 girls, all the other finals aspirants still must win in the final round of the regular season to ensure participation in – or a second chance – in the finals series to follow.

Check out the Club Championship after thirteen rounds of the 17/18 competition – it sees the club hold on to the third spot, still behind Eastern Suburbs Hakoah, who seem destined for promotion, and Raiders Futsal.

Round 14 – the final regular round of the season – sees the Boomerangs club at home taking on Mt Druitt Town Rangers, a club that has had a poor season and looks to be relegated to State League for season 18-19. There are a range of critical matchups across all nine competitive age groups heading into finals. The final round sees:

  • Boomerangs FS take on Mt Druitt at the AIS
  • Hakoah away to Central Coast
  • Sydney City Eagles at home to Raiders
  • Phoenix v Sydney Futsal Club in Woy Woy.

36 critical matches to decide minor premiers and finalists for FNSW PL2 17/18 – this is the business end of the season.

To check out the photos of this round head to the Boomerangs photo site.