Youth Cup Winners 2011

05 September 2011

Fernhill Youth Grade

Fernhill won in penalties 6-5 after a 2 all draw after extra time.

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FERNHILL TRIUMPH IN YOUTH CUP FINAL

Fernhill showed the Illawarra football community what the Red and White faithful have seen all season, with a terrific come from behind performance to take out the 2011 Youth Cup. The boys started the game well against a Dandaloo side that finished second on the League table.

Matt Kellett made the most of the space he made for himself but his well timed shot in the 10th minute hit the cross bar with the Dandy keeper well beaten. Fernhill continued their domination of the early stages of the game with wingers Joe Moerman and Lachlan Blayney finding plenty of space and turning their opposite numbers inside out as they made the most of the passes from midfielders Kevin McDonald, Simon Habak and Matt Kellett.

In the 21st minute Simon Habak showed his class when he latched onto a ball on the edge of the Dandaloo penalty box but the post came to Dandy’s rescue again to deny the Foxes the lead. Minutes later, the Fernhill defence did their best to beat keeper Josh Timpano with a deflection but Timpano’s reflexes saved any embarrassment and the half ended scoreless.

The Foxes got off to a poor start with Dandaloo grabbing the lead in the 55th minute after poor defending gifted an easy header to the Dandy left winger. True to form the Foxes quickly adjusted and got straight back into the game with Murray Boiserry and Joe Moerman combining down the right flank to pressure the Dandaloo defence.

With the ball being cleared down the Fernhill left side, Kevin McDonald quickly moved the ball forward and his precision pass found left winger Lachlan Blayney on the fly and his shot rattled the back of the net to equal the scores in the 58th minute. Fernhill made the first of their changes with strong running striker Christian Armour being replaced by Andrew Breslin. Andrew quickly made his mark with a well struck shot whistling past the right hand post.

A poor challenge 40 metres from the Fernhill goal gave Dandaloo a free kick and what looked like an easily defended ball into the box by the young Dandaloo defender, saw Nick Djuric get on the scoresheet with an own goal to gift Dandy the lead 2 – 1. Dandaloo took some inspiration from the goal and made it difficult for Fernhill to get back into their stride as quickly as they would have liked.

With wingers Joe Moerman and Lachlan Blayney swapping sides Fernhill began to scrap their way back and left full back Scott Simpson linked with Joe Moerman to send Andrew Breslin goal ward but after a great turn Andrew’s shot was well saved by the inform Dandy keeper. In desperation Dandaloo dragged down the goal bound Joe Moerman 30 metres from goal.

Matt Fsadni stepped up and placed his shot past the wall and inside the near post and the Fernhill fans roared into life as the scores were levelled at 2 – 2.  In the 87th minute Simon Habak was replaced with Godfrey Franco and in the 92nd minute Godfrey found Lachlan Blayney surging forward but his shot hit the crossbar and the young Foxes couldn’t find the winner and the game ended at 2 –2 with twenty minutes extra time required to try to find the winner.

With tiring legs on both sides the game swung from end to end but neither side could find the target. With spectators from both sides on the edge of their seats, extra time ended with no change to the score and the game was to be determined by a penalty shoot-out. First up for the Foxes was second half goal scorer Matt Fsadni, but Matt couldn’t make it two as his shot was well saved by the Dandy keeper.

Dandy scored their first shot and next up for Fernhill was Kevin McDonald and he made no mistake with his shot to put the pressure back on Dandy. They handled it well and put their shot into the net to keep them in the lead. Andrew Breslin calmly slotted his shot and Josh Timpano saved the next Dandaloo attempt to even the shoot-out.

Matt Kellett was next for the Foxes and his shot had the Dandy keeper frozen to the goal line. Dandaloo converted their next shot to keep the scores even and it was up to Godfrey Franco to keep the Foxes in the chase. Godfrey stepped up and gave the Dandaloo keeper no chance and put the Foxes in the box seat.

With the last of the first five shots on the line, Dandaloo’s shot was brilliantly saved by Josh Timpano to give the Foxes the win and send the Fernhill players and supporters into raptures.

This was a well deserved win for the squad including unused substitutes, Ben Kearton, Zac Noel-Strang, Adrion Djuric and Savo Maric, and congratulations to them all in capturing the Youth Cup for 2011.