Round 14 – the final regular season round of the 17/18 Premier League 2 season – was played at home against the Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Mt Druitt has had a relatively poor season, and in the corresponding round in the first half of the season, the Boomerangs club disappointingly came home with only five wins, a loss and three frustrating draws. The aim for this round was to better those results and to lock as many teams as possible into finals (noting that a couple were also relying on other results). Teams not in finals contention were also looking to finish off the season with a solid performance.
To check out the photos of this round head to the Boomerangs photo site.
Development Squad Matches
The travelling Town Rangers were without development squad teams, so the Boomerangs 10 boys played the 11/12 girls – which is always a cracker of a match, closely fought and intense. The 11 boys played a match against a Gungahlin team. We thank Gungahlin FC for the support they have given the Boomerangs this season by making their young teams available to play our development squads when visiting teams did not bring their squads with them (or they had no under-age development programs).
12 Boys: Boomerangs 1 – 6 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 0 – 4)
The 12 boys match was the only one of the day that had a Mt Druitt team in contention for finals. Indeed before the match, the visiting 12s were in fifth place on the ladder and needed a win, and other results to go their way, to make finals. They pulled off the first half of the equation, by defeating the Boomers 12 boys in what was a closer match than the final score would seem to indicate. Alas though, the part of the equation not within their control, did not fall their way and they missed finals by a mere goal difference of four.
The young Boomers squad played well and can be proud of their outing for the final match of their season.
Goal to Jacob Murta
Ladder Position: 6th ( – )
13 Girls: Boomerangs 9 – 1 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 4 – 1)
The 13 girls were keen to end their season with a bang and started well, looking to dominate from the opening whistle. They were strong across the court and showed some terrific team futsal skills, as well as individual skills and goal scoring. Indeed the incredible result of nine goals scored was done with every single court player for the Boomerangs 13s getting on the score sheet for their final match of the season. Prior to this match, the best tally they had accrued was five goals in a single match. For the final few minutes, ‘keeper Lilly Geale pressed high up the court and took a free kick in order to try and complete a 100% goalscoring spread across the team.
A great game for the girls to finish the season. They have developed well over the latter part of the season, and given they are a young squad, they should do much better next season.
Goals to Tayla Hampson, Meg Roden, Ella Palframan, Izzy Listar, Audrey McLaren, Sofia Palywoda, Maddy Steinacker, Lara Sweeney, Reilly Yuen
Ladder Position: 5th ( – )
14 Boys: Boomerangs 6 – 3 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 3 – 0)
The 14 boys were keen to build into some good form going into finals. Before the match, they knew they would finish in fourth position, win, lose or draw, so they played with some freedom of expression. This was exemplified by a fantastic individual performance from Keiren Allen who scored five goals – three in the first period to set up this win. The lads will need to be on top of their game for the elimination finals match next weekend: a match against Raiders Futsal, a team they have not yet defeated this season. But earlier losses to Raiders were only by a single goal (6-7), and two goals (2-4). They should consider themselves a real chance to cause an upset and make the second weekend of finals.
Goals to Keiren Allen (5), Ethan Yuen
Ladder Position: 4th ( – )
15 Girls: Boomerangs 1 – 0 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 0 – 0)
The 15 girls had some pressure on them to finish the season with a win – their fourteenth consecutive win from the fourteen round matches played this season. This is a feat that no other Boomerangs team has ever achieved in the FNSW competitions, and indeed, no other club has a team winning 14 from 14 this season (across PL1, PL2 and State League). They had already locked in the minor premiership and guaranteed a qualifying finals position.
To their credit, the visiting Mt Druitt girls played well across the 40 minutes and made it a very close and at times intense match. A scrappy first half was followed by some much better structured play from the Boomers girls as they focussed more on their path to goal rather than the goals themselves. The breakthrough came with only a few minutes remaining on the clock with a goal to Caity Lister. The girls could then confidently sit back and protect the lead, something they can do with relative ease given they have a superb defensive record having not conceded a solitary goal since the round of December 9, and have conceded only ten goals in the fourteen regular season matches this season.
The team looks forward to the challenge of the qualifying final against a strong Raiders outfit next weekend.
Goal to Caity Listar
Ladder Position: 1st ( – )
16 Boys: Boomerangs 3 – 2 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 2 – 0)
The 16 boys had little to play for in this match bar pride, respect and a bit of fun. And they certainly put on a show. Sparkling performances across the court saw some terrific goals and entertaining play. The only downside coming with the concession of a couple of goals towards the end, making the match appear closer than it really was.
Some of these lads will step up to youth next season and will certainly notice the difference. The remainder will be joined by a few 14s ‘graduating’ from the age group below. But there are certainly promising signs that this middle age group can perform far better next season.
Goals to Will Manalo, Fabian Olivares, OG
Ladder Position: 7th ( – )
18 Girls: Boomerangs 3 – 0 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 1 – 0)
A typically stoic and efficient win by the 18s – again. And given that they required a win to finish top two, a fairly calm and confident effort. The girls never looked in trouble, and built on a solid defensive attitude (equal best defensive record in the league), knowing they had firepower up front to score a few goals when quality opportunities presented themselves.
The girls will take on the 1st placed Raiders in the qualifying finals next weekend, where a win would see them earn a week off before the Grand Final.
Goals to Grace Basser-Silk (2), Ellen Brown
Ladder Position: 2nd ( – )
Youth Men: Boomerangs 7 – 1 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 4 – 0)
The Youth Men knew they had to win, and have a result or two go their way to lock in a finals spot. Indeed this solid win over Mt Druitt, in combination with a few other match results has lifted the Boomers youth from fifth to third spot on the table at season end. This means a sudden-death elimination final next weekend against fourth-placed Sydney City Eagles, a team with which they drew in Round 1 and were defeated by (2-4) in Round 8. Finals are different to regular season games, and the lads are playing well enough at the moment to certainly challenge the big guns over the next few weeks.
Three goals to Jayde James-Ward the highlight at the offensive end for the youth.
Goals to Jayde James-Ward (3), Buddy Abbas, Finn Jurak, Dylan Aitolu, Will Manalo
Ladder Position: 3rd (+2)
Open Women: Boomerangs 5 – 0 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 3 – 0)
After last week’s concession of the minor premiership due to the defeat against Hakoah, the ladies were keen to atone and ensure a solid performance leading into finals. Like the 18s, this team needed a win to ensure the double chance and a first-week qualifying final.
A solid effort all over the court and some terrific defensive and offensive work, saw them bring home the three competition points. With all players on board, this team looks the goods and will be looking to acquit themselves well across the three weeks of the finals series, starting with the 1 v 2 match up against Hakoah.
Goals to Grace Basser-Silk, Alex Martens, Olivia Gurney, Amanda Aurousseau, OG
Ladder Position: 2nd ( – )
Open Men: Boomerangs 3 – 5 Mt Druitt Town Rangers (ht 0 – 3)
With only five competition points separating first to fifth position on the ladder prior to this round, there were a number of permutations (of results) that could have seen anything from a second placing to a fifth. A top four finish required at minimum a win, and possibly a draw would have sufficed (it would have in the end).
However, the winless Mt Druitt wanted to make a mark on their final match in PL2 (as a club they will be relegated to State League next season), and made it very difficult for the Boomers to get into any game flow. They scored thrice themselves and were threatening constantly in fast break situations. The Boomers men did themselves no favours by showing little control and found it difficult to maintain possession for long periods of play.
Despite their average playmaking, the Boomers men did produce multiple scoring opportunities and hit the uprights and crossbar no fewer than ten times during the match. Shots that were more accurate and on target were effectively and regularly parried by the in-form Mt Druitt ‘keeper.
At 3-0 down and with about fifteen minutes to play, the Boomers threw everything they had at Mt Druitt and were able to produce three goals in 14 minutes, but with the players (incl keeper) playing higher up court, they left themselves exposed at the back allowing the visitors to score twice late to seal their solitary win for the season.
A very disappointing end to the season for the team. They certainly would have challenged for the title during the finals series had they finished anywhere in the top four.
Goals to Daniel Giovinazzo (2) Nic Dahl
Ladder Position: 5th ( – )
Check out the Club Championship after the final of fourteen rounds of the 17/18 competition – it sees the club finish the Club Championship in third spot, with Eastern Suburbs Hakoah finishing on top and will be invited into PL1 for next season. Replacing them in PL2 will be South Coast Taipans (from Wollongong) a club that finished at the bottom of the PL1 Club Championship.
NEXT WEEKEND FINALS
The first round of the finals’ series takes place at Dural, Saturday 10 February, with the qualifying finals on the main court and the elimination finals on the back court.
- Boomerangs FS 14 boys take on Raiders Futsal in an elimination final at 11am
- Boomerangs FS 15 girls take on Raiders Futsal in the qualifying final at noon
- Boomerangs FS 18 girls take on Raiders Futsal in a qualifying final at 2pm
- Boomerangs FS Youth Men take on Sydney City Eagles in an elimination final at 4pm
- Boomerangs FS Women take on Easter Suburbs Hakoah in a qualifying final at 5pm
To check out the photos of this round head to the Boomerangs photo site.