FFSA: MetroStars win Devine Super League

By Luca Cetta

MetroStars claimed the 2011 Devine Super League Minor Premiership on the final day of the home and away season with a 1-0 win over Adelaide Galaxy at TK Shutter Reserve as Adelaide City were held to a 1-1 draw by Croydon at Adelaide City Park on Saturday.

A win would have sealed first place for the black and whites and it looked good when Jono Negus got on the score sheet for the second successive match in the first half.

However, Croydon grabbed an equaliser and secured their top flight status as Chris Pepe scored a stunning goal after the break.

MetroStars 1-0 Adelaide Galaxy

James Yong got the all-important goal in the first half to ensure Metro turned a six point deficit to Adelaide City in Round 12 into a one-point advantage while Galaxy finished fifth ahead of the finals in a fortnight.

Steven Grelli, Jackson Groves and Scott Tunbridge were MetroStars best players, while the standouts for Galaxy were Tom Dittmar, Shaun McGreevy and Adam Lecornu.

Gun Metro striker Michael Matricciani admitted his side had held hopes Croydon would do them a favour across town.

"We were always hoping Croydon would cause an upset but we just went out there continuing our own momentum and doing our own thing," he said.

"We certainly didn't expect it. We heard at half time City were leading 1-0 then during the second half news filtered through that it was 1-1 so it made things exciting."

Matricciani, who also claimed the honour of top goalscorer for the season with 18 in as many matches, finishing two clear of Ricardo Da Silva of City, said Metro were delighted with top spot but know there is still a way to go.

"This is our third minor premiership but we've only won one championship so the job is only half
done," he said.

"I don't really set out to win awards like that. I just want to score goals for my team and this season I have so it is really rewarding."

Adelaide City captain Nick Budin could not hide his disappointment after first place slipped through City’s fingers.

"Certainly it is disappointing to lose first place," he said.

"And not just because of the position we were in during this match, but from the start we had this season. We probably shouldn’t have let it get to the last game."

"But we had a talk about it after the match and put it behind us. Now we go into the finals where anything can happen."

Croydon captain Michael Papacharalambous said his side was confident of getting a result after half-time.

"We sat down and said we can snatch a goal which will put us right back into it,” said the skipper.

"We were aware of some of the results but knew we still had a job to do."

Adelaide City 1-1 Croydon

Adelaide City controlled the first half and took the lead after 23 minutes. Eli Vlassis crossed from the right and found Negus, whose header at the back post evaded Kings shot-stopper Daniel Christison.

City could have increased the lead, but Ricardo Da Silva failed to convert with a header.

Budin found himself inside the six-yard box but tried to take more time than was available and the chance was cut out by the Croydon defence.

Croydon almost found an unlikely equaliser when a Lewis May cross struck the crossbar.

They did get the equaliser ten minutes into the second half as Pepe stunned City. From a Croydon corner the ball went to the edge of the penalty area where Pepe juggled it twice and chipped goalkeeper Luke Ostbye.

City coach Damian Mori threw himself into the fray as they searched for the winner and it was the former Australian international who cut the ball back from the by-line to Negus but he failed to make connection with the goal at his mercy.

Best on ground for Adelaide City were Matthew Mullen, Paul Pezos and Nicky Orr. For the Kings, Christison was the top performer, assisted by Anthony Boccacio and Ben Mcloughlin.

Modbury 0-0 Western Strikers

Modbury were relegated from the Devine Super League after a 0-0 draw with Western Strikers at Jet Park on Saturday.

The Jets needed maximum points to have any chance of survival but were unable to find a way past the finals-bound Strikers. Western Strikers, who will contest the Federation Cup Final next week, finish fourth.

Best on ground for Modbury were Dan Elekwachi, Matt Kelly and Chris Dean. Callum Flanagan, Ambesager Sium Yosief and Michael Russo were Strikers top players.

Campbelltown City 0-1 Adelaide Blue Eagles

Adelaide Blue Eagles claimed local bragging rights with a 1-0 victory against Campbelltown at Steve Woodcock Sports Centre on Saturday.

Both teams went in to the contest with their final position already sewn-up and Blue Eagles will take confidence into the Federation Cup final after Kym Harris scored the only goal of the game in the second half.

Captain Michael D’Aloisio was Campbelltown’s best, with Toby Nelson and Matthew Deegan just behind.

Para Hills 0-4 Raiders

Para Hills have been relegated from the Devine Super League after Raiders triumphed 4-0 in the relegation showdown at The Paddocks on Saturday.

Both sides knew a win would mean safety and a hat-trick to Nik Kuzman after Mario Marcinko opened the scoring ensured Raiders survived.

Rhys Townsend and Aaron Turner were Para Hills best players. For Raiders, Paul Covino, Kuzman and Matthew Stokes were the top three on the day.

POS		TEAM	P	W	D	L	For	Agst	GD	FF	PTS
1		Metro Stars	18	14	2	2	48	12	36	0	44
2		Adelaide City	18	13	4	1	46	15	31	0	43
3		Adelaide Blue Eagles	18	10	3	5	23	19	4	0	33
4		Western Strikers	18	8	3	7	22	19	3	0	27
5		Adelaide Galaxy	18	7	4	7	25	25	0	0	25
6		Campbelltown	18	6	3	9	17	21	-4	0	21
7		Raiders	18	5	3	10	24	30	-6	0	18
8		Croydon	18	3	6	9	11	26	-15	0	15
9		Para Hills	18	3	4	11	12	31	-19	0	13
10		Modbury	18	3	4	11	18	49	-31	0	13