Photos by Loopii for Football NSW - with thanks
Saturday 14 February at Valentine Park in Sydney saw nine Grand Finals played to cap off the Football NSW State League season for 14/15.
The Boomerangs were represented by the Youth Men and the Open Women’s team – both up against teams from the strong Sutherland Club (a club that had five teams represented on Grand Final day).
Youth Men
Boomerangs 4 – 3 Sutherland
Another Grand Final appearance for the majority of this Boomerangs team, to back up their sensational win at the Futsal Nationals against Sydney Thunder in early January.
The Sutherland team went through the season on an unbeaten run of 13 matches, including a 4-3 win over the Boomers way back in Round 1 and a penalty shootout win against the same Boomers team in the semi-final two weeks ago. This gifted the Sutherland lads a trip straight to the Grand Final, while our Boomerangs Youth needed another final against Mt Druitt (3-2) to qualify.
The match was therefore a clash of the titans in this age group, and a match up worthy of a season finale.
The game commenced with the Boomers lads looking comfortable and knowing what they needed to do to win with the recent Nationals Grand Final experience still fresh in their minds. Sutherland on the other hand, looked a little tense and hesitant, but when the whistle blew, it was definitely game on. The first ten minutes were played at break neck speed, with the tempo better suiting the Sutherland style of play. And although there were several scoring opportunities at either end in this first period, it was the Boomerangs with some terrific team play, resulting in a lovely goal to Ben Basser-Silk.
Sutherland levelled it up with a minute of the first half remaining with a neat passage of passing play leaving Zac Sorenson with little chance to stop the shot on goal.
The highlight of the game though was the 15 minutes of play after half-time. The Boomers lads played brilliantly as they lifted their intensity and pace another few notches – the passes were harder, more precise and the running off the ball was intense. Three goals in fairly rapid succession in the 24th (Ciminelli), 29th (Rinaudo) and 33rd (Zeitlhofer) minutes of the match all came from beautiful futsal where the passing was sublime and the finishes sweet. During this period the Sutherland lads were made to fruitlessly chase the ball around the court. The third goal particularly damaging in the context of the match as the Sutherland team had only just resorted to a fifth man play with seven and a half minutes remaining in order to make up the two goal shortfall – however the Zeitlhofer goal from a steal made them pay dearly.
However, this tough and talented Sutherland team are not quitters and they threw everything at the Boomers in the final five minutes, with resultant goals in the 39th and 40th minutes. Too little too late though, and the Sutherland unbeaten run had come to an end when the final whistle blew, and the Boomerangs Youth Men picking themselves up two major trophies in the space of five weeks.
An excellent effort by this talented bunch of lads, who were terrifically coached all season by Grant Davoren assisted by Sam Smith.
For this team though, the last time they play together as a unit, as several of them will ‘graduate’ to the men’s competition next season (even though many have played men’s this current season, and previous F-League seasons). The team though, will remain strong next year with a few quality players coming up from 16s to fill the gaps.
Congratulations to the lads on the day…. Ben Basser-Silk, Jonathan Ciminelli, Nick Rathjen, Michael Rinaudo, Chris Smith, Jake Wilsener, Thomas Zeitlhofer, Zac Sorenson (GK) Nicholas van Aalst (GK) and 15 year old sub for the match David O’Gorman. Thanks also to the others who filled in and played minutes during the season including Tully Keegan, David Fabrizio, Harry Williams and Sean O’Neill.
Open Women
Boomerangs 3 – 2 Sutherland
This Women’s Grand Final match up had some eerily similar comparisons to the Youth Men’s match up which preceded it…
Two weeks prior to this Grand Final, these two teams met in the major semi-final as 1 v 2 (as per the Youth). The team that finished on top of the regular season table won that encounter (as per the Youth).
The Boomerangs Women had lost only one match all season – their first in Round 1 against Sutherland (3-1) – again, as per the Youth. However the Sutherland ladies did lose two other games during the season (Rnd 4 to Hakoah and Rnd 12 against West City Crusaders) unlike their Youth club mates.
Two weeks earlier in the semi-final, the Sutherland ladies stunned the Boomerangs scoring three goals in a powerful five minute opening stanza. Boomerangs Women’s coach Kristian Collins immediately called a time out to re group and the message was clear — lift defensive intensity, allow no more goals, and work your way back into this match. And that they did, scoring two themselves before half time whilst not conceding any further, then taking out the second half 3-1, to win the match 5-4. A terrifically executed ‘come-from-behind’ victory which would put them in a positive frame of mind for this match, and clearly gave the Sutherland ladies some nervous thoughts even though they managed to lead the Grand Final by two.
An even first half saw equal opportunity with little conversion from both sides. The goalkeepers did well to keep out some powerful shots and the woodwork was hit on more than one occasion. Sutherland broke the deadlock in the 13th minute with a nicely worked counter attack after a period of Boomers dominance, and held on to the slenderest of leads at the half-time break.
The second half again saw end to end quality futsal with Sutherland slotting home their second on the 25th minute mark to take the lead out to two. The Boomerangs though, knew they could match it with this opponent and lifted their intensity a notch or two, with Gurney looking threatening on a number of front-third drives after some terrific build up work by Aurousseau and Buckingham.
The 29th minute saw the turn around with a moment of sheer determination by a young Maddy Whittall who won the ball at half way, beat a couple of Sutherland tackles and slotted home a powerful shot off the left upright. A definitive response that was very soon followed up by yet another jinking run by Olivia Gurney finished off with a powerful shot from outside the ‘D’ easily beating the keeper. All tied up with ten minutes to play, with the Boomerangs seizing the momentum with those two goal scoring opportunities converted.
The Boomers continued to dominate until a delay in the match with a nasty fall and injury to the Boomers Rebecca Collins. Immediately after this delay, the Boomers were pressing once again and a sustained period of pressure and shot on goal allowed Sabrina Spinapolice to slot home from a ‘keeper parry. 3-2 up with five to play.
History shows that the Boomers ladies saw out that pressurised final five minutes and held off the Sutherland attempts to level it back up again. The final one goal victory an accurate reflection of the match.
Grand Final Winners, Premiers, and to top it off, young Sophie Rolfe awarded the Golden Glove for Open Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year. A tremendous result.
This was a sensational set of results for this team, ably led by Kristian Collins, with assistance from Sam Smith. The team was a mixture of experience and youth, and the older team members did brilliantly in leading and mentoring the young guns – most of whom are still only 16 or 17 years old.
Congratulations to the players on the day…. Michelle Aurousseau (C), Hayley Buckingham, Sabrina Spinapolice, Rebecca Collins, Olivia Gurney, Maddy Whittall, Sophie Rolfe (GK), Alex Martens and Rachel Corbett – and Mikaela Day (who couldn’t travel to Sydney due to work commitments) and Lorena Barbaro who was injured and couldn’t play.
The match report extracts below are from Football NSW… (they may or may not be factually correct, but they are very close…)
The Futsal State League championship day delivered everything it promised with nine outstanding trophy matches held at a packed Valentine Sports Park, featuring several come-from-behind wins, some stunning upsets and plenty of outstanding play.
Sutherland came away with little despite fielding five grand final sides and it was left to club champions South Coast to clean up with three Taipans victories (17 Girls, 15 Girls & 14 Boys) matching the feats of Eastern Suburbs Hakoah (Open Men, 13 Girls & 12 Boys). Boomerangs won the Open Women and Youth Men divisions.
Open Women – Boomerangs break Sutherland
Sutherland Shire were excellent value in a heartbreaking 2-3 loss to premiers Boomerangs in a riveting Open Women grand final at Valentine Sports Park.
The Territorians hadn’t lost since a 3-1 opening round defeat to Sutherland but they were faced with a tough Shire challenge from the outset.
A cagey opening saw Boomerangs with the only half-chances, Madelyn Whittall’s shot clipping the post on the way out and Alex Martens shooting just over the bar, and then (as it often does) Sutherland turned the tables with a Melissah Parlato goal against the run of play making it 1-0 to Shire.
Montana Bolzan had a good chance to double the lead five minutes out from halftime but Boomerangs custodian Sophie Rolfe was up to the task with a fine block, her Sutherland counterpart Amy Woodhouse also contributing with a couple of great saves at the opposite end to maintain Shire’s slight edge at the interval.
Sutherland’s Emma Noro was presented a good opportunity seconds into the second term with Rolfe pulling off a great block, but they didn’t have to wait much longer to find a breakthrough with Megan Embleton capitalising on some good lead-up play from Parlato to double the Shire lead.
Their joy was shortlived however as Whittall went on a canter upcourt and finished off superbly and then Olivia Gurney pounced with a 12-metre dazzler that brought Boomerangs right back into the contest at 2-2 with 10 minutes to play.
Gurney added to her heroics with a second goal with five minutes to play and Boomerangs held on for a nailbiting 3-2 victory, much to the delight of stalwart coach Kristian Collins.
“We were behind 3-0 in the semi-final and came back and we were down again today. Traditionally we’re not good coming from behind but the girls put in another great effort,” he said.
“We’ve got some good young girls coming through learning off the experienced older girls and that’s made a good balance in the team… hopefully it’s the sort of progress that will help get the club back into premier league very soon.”
Boomerangs FS: Rebecca Collins, Rebecca Watts, Michelle Aurousseau, Michaela Day, Sabrina Spinapolice, Madelyn Whittall, Olivia Gurney, Sophie Rolfe, Hayley Buckingham, Alex Martens, Ruth Kravis, Ragel Corbett, Coach Kristian Collins & Sam Smith & Michelle Aurosseau, Manager Jennifer Rolfe
Sutherland Shire: Amy Woodhouse, Raegan Deeley, Megan Embleton, Emma Noro, Willow Shorrocks, Alisha Dudman, Melissah Parlato, Montana Bolzan, Allegra Vickas, Mikayla Cecere, Coach Glenn Woodhouse & Glenn Errington, Manager Tania Black
Referees: Cameron Lee, Kaine Mannell, Matthew McOrist
Youth Men – Boomerangs bring down Sutherland
Boomerangs played out of their skins to bring down previously unbeaten Youth Men premiers Sutherland Shire 4-3 in an exciting trophy match at Valentine Sports Park.
The result was sweet revenge for two heartbreaking defeats during the season – 4-3 in the opening round and a penalty shootout loss in the major semi-final – and underlined the Australian capital’s deep Futsal talent
Boomerangs fired the first shot across the bow when Thomas Zeitlhofer showed dexterity in beating three Shire players, including Sutherland keeper Brad Peryman, only to see his shot into an open goal denied by some brilliant scrambling defence.
Shire fired straight back when James Markovic fed Jack Lombo across goal and his shot was well blocked by Boomerangs glovesman Zachary Sorenson.
The game was well and truly alive as Jake Wilsener found Boomers team-mate Ben Basser-Silk on the right and his strike cannoned off the upright with the contest flowing from one end to the other.
Boomerangs eventually hit the front with a terrific team goal when Jonathan Ciminelli lured Peryman out and laid across for Basser-Silk to push home into an open net and the Territorians led 1-0.
Nicholas Rathjen almost doubled the advantage with a cheeky backheel in front of goal that was nervously nudged clear by the Sutherland defence.
At the other end Lombo had a great chance to square it up for Shire after Boomerangs lost it in defence and Sorenson was heroic in his dive to knock it clear, but he couldn’t do anything to stop Nathan Spinola’s cutback for Rodney Lewin to smash home and tie it up at 1-1 just before the break.
The Boomers nudged in front again when Basser-Silk passed to Ciminelli away from goal and no-one closed him out so he blasted away from range into the top corner to make it 2-1.
An amazing reflex save from Peryman stopped Basser-Silk’s low poke but Chris Smith’s neat pass for Michael Rinaudo to finish off extended the Boomerangs break to 3-1, and Zeitlhofer’s fastbreak goal against a Shire fifth-man press seconds later gave Boomerangs a healthy three-goal cushion.
Sutherland never stopped trying and their tenacity paid off when Spinola’s hopeful shot ricocheted off team-mate Steven Kalantzis into goal to halve the deficit with minutes remaining and they grabbed another through Samuel Gulisano seconds later, but it was too late as Boomerangs pulled off a stunning 4-3 victory.
Sutherland Shire: James Markovic, Rodney Lewin, Brandon Groom, Jack Lombo, Nathan Spinola, Steven Kalantzis, Samuel Gulisano, Bradley Peryman, Scott Armstrong, Thomas Papa, Samuel Kelly, Coach Babak Menati, Managers Frances Groom & Leanne Peryman
Boomerangs FS: Benjamin Basser Silk, Thomas Zeitlhofer, Jonathan Ciminelli, Jake Wilsener, Nicholas Van Aalst, Nicholas Rathjen, Michael Rinaudo, Christopher Smith, Zachary Sorenson, David O’Gorman, Coach Grant Davoren & Sam Smith & Daniel Fulton, Manager Leah Zeitlhofer
Referees: Salma Aly, Matthew McOrist, Jordan Lake