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CENTRAL COAST FOOTBALL
COUNTRYNET MENS PREMIER GRAND FINALS
(10 SEPTEMBER 2011)
by Alistair Kennedy
FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL
UMINA 4 BERKELEY VALE 3
Umina has taken out the 2011 CountryNet Central Coast Mens Premier League title with a 4-3 extra-time win over Berkeley Vale in a classic grand final in front of a large crowd at Pluim Park, Lisarow on Saturday night.
Berkeley Vale went into the match as favourites having taken out the League Championship with a last round 4-0 over Umina. They firmed further in the first ten minutes of the match initially through a goal to striker Scott Imberger and then almost immediately afterwards when Umina defender, Grant Brisbin, broke his leg in a tackle and was taken to hospital. However these setbacks only spurred on the experience Umina team who equalised in the 11th minute through Joel Wilkinson and then took the lead from a brilliant 30-metre drive from Josh Schumann just three minutes later. With Berkeley Vale wilting under the continuing pressure Umina extended their lead to 3-1 at the half-hour mark through Matt Goodwin.
The tide turned in the second half with Berkeley Vale mounting a series of attacks and just five minutes in, a superb cross from David Graham found Imberger who scored his second goal. The Wombats continued to test the Umina defense and finally broke through in the 80thh minute when defender Luke Rogers leveled the match at 3-3.
The match went into extra time and, with players from both teams showing signs of fatigue, a penalty shootout looked likely to decide the title. However, with just three minutes left, Umina-s David Brewer headed a through ball over the head of Berkeley Vale goalkeeper Steve Grimmitt for what proved to be the decisive goal.
The win was Umina-s third premiership in six years and the fourth for the team-s iconic captain, Andrew French, who had announced his retirement prior to the match. It was also a third premiership for Umina-s long-serving coach, Chris Powell.
The result was a body blow to coach Stuart Davis and his Berkeley Vale team having lost each of the two previous grand finals, to Wyoming in 2009 and The Entrance last year. They do have the consolation of contesting the prestigious Football NSW Champion of Champions competition which starts later this month, hoping to improve on their 2009 effort when they reached the semi-final stage.
RESERVE GRADE GRAND FINAL
WYOMING 1 BERKELEY VALE 0
A second-half double to striker Eamonn Akarmarmoi has given Berkeley Vale a 2-0 win over East Gosford and the chance of taking out the First/Reserve Grade double. Berkeley Vale have dominated the Reserve Grade competition to date, losing just two of their 20 matches on their way to a nine-point win in the League Championship, the most recent loss being against their Grand Final opponents, Wyoming, in the Major Semi-Final. It will be Wyoming-s fifth Grand Final appearance in Reserve Grade in the past six years having won the title in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and going down to Umina last year.
WOMENS PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
GOSFORD 3 DOYALSON 2
Gosford has completed a clean sweep of the 2011 Womens Premier League competition, winning its 17th straight match of the season by downing Doyalson in a harder than expected grand final at Pluim Park. After a scoreless first half Doyalson took a surprise lead early in the second period through Nicole Mackie however Gosford fought back with three quick goals before Doyalson scored a consolation goal in the last minute of the match. As league champions Gosford will also compete in the Champion of Champions.
DIVISION ONE FIRST GRADE FINAL
DOYALSON 4 SOUTHERN-ETTALONG 3
DIVISION ONE RESERVE GRADE FINAL
GOSFORD 3 SOUTHERN-ETTALONG 2
After suffering an unexpected loss to Avoca in the major semi-final league champions Doyalson have won through to next Sunday-s Division One grand final with a hard-fought 4-3 win over Southern-Ettalong. Gosford and Terrigal will meet in the Division One Reserve Grade decider.
NEXT WEEK-S MATCHES – SATURDAY 18 SEPTEMBER
DIVISION ONE FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL
AVOCA vs. DOYALSON Pluim Park 1 (3pm)
DIVISION ONE RESERVE GRADE GRAND FINAL
TERRIGAL vs. GOSFORD Pluim Park 1 (1pm)
