CHECK out the latest results and news from the Central Coast Men’s Premier League.
Men’s Premier League
FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL
WYOMING 2 KILLARNEY DISTRICT 1
RESERVE GRADE GRAND FINAL
WYOMING 1 BERKELEY VALE 0
THIRD GRADE GRAND FINAL
WYOMING 2 BERKELEY VALE 1
Wyoming are the CountryNet Men’s Premier League champions for 2012 following a tense and exciting 2-1 Grand Final win over Killarney District in front of a large crowd at Pluim Park. The win capped off a memorable day for the Wyoming club who completed a clean sweep with both its Reserve and Third Grade teams also winning their respective premierships.
Although the Wyoming team, coached by Steve Frame, went into the match as firm favourites they were put another enormous early pressure by the young Killarney team who had put in an outstanding performance to reach the grand final in only their second season back in the top division. The pressure paid off in the 38th minute when Killarney-s in-form striker, Jared Reed, curled a ball into the corner of the Wyoming net to give his team a 1-0 lead and was then unlucky not to double the lead with Wyoming keeper pulling off a great save.
The game turned in the second half as Wyoming finally settled into the typically patient passing game which had been their hallmark for most of the season and gradually took control of the match. Eight minutes into the half Nathan Moseley equalised from a corner by Daniel Surridge. Despite Wyoming-s continued dominance the Killarney defence held and on several occasions threatened to score from counter-attacks. Then, with extra-time looming, Michael Payne chipped the ball over Killarney-s goalkeeper-s head to seal a dramatic win.
It was Wyoming-s fourth First Grade premiership in the past nine years and the club-s ninth overall equaling the record previously held alone by Umina. The match also marked the end of the Premier League career of Marcus Steele, one of the Coast-s most popular and highly-respected players.
The inaugural Andrew French Medal for the Player of the Match was awarded to Wyoming-s Darren Cooper.
Earlier, the Wyoming Reserve Grade team, coached by Michael Kennedy, had extended their domination of that competition taking out their fifth premiership in the past seven years and their second in succession with a 1-0 win over Berkeley Vale, the goal being scored by Wyoming midfielder Mark Bellemore. The win capped a perfect season for the Tigers second team having already won the pre-season Central Coast Cup as well as the League Championship.
In Third Grade, the Wyoming team, coached by Bret Lomax, caused something of an upset handing League Champions, Berkeley Vale only their second defeat of the season, winning 2-1 after extra-time and with only 10 men following the sending off of a Wyoming player shortly before full-time. 18-year-old striker Benji Gosson capped an impressive senior debut season, scoring both goals to take his season tally to 26.
NEXT WEEK (Saturday 22 September)
DIVISION ONE FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL
GOSFORD CITY vs KINCUMBER 4pm
DIVISION ONE RESERVE GRADE GRAND FINAL
GOSFORD CITY vs WOY WOY 2pm
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Men’s Premier League
FIRST GRADE FINAL
KILLARNEY DISTRICT 1 BERKELEY VALE 0
RESERVE GRADE FINAL
BERKELEY VALE 3 BUDGEWOI 0
THIRD GRADE FINAL
WYOMING 3 EAST GOSFORD 1
SUMMARY
Berkeley Vale-s quest for their first ever Premier League premiership is over for 2012 following a 1-0 loss to Killarney District in the preliminary final of the CountryNet Mens Premier League competition at Pluim Park.
The loss continues a frustrating run for Berkeley Vale who, despite being the most consistent team in the Premier League for the past four years – taking out the league championship on three occasions and playing in the each of the past three grand finals- have again failed to win the major prize. As league champions they will however contest the 2012 Football NSW Champion of Champions competition which kicks off later this month.
The match was marred by an injury to Killarney-s Jamie Young which stopped play for around 10 minutes early in the first half after a head clash with Berkeley Vale-s Scott Imberger saw a concussed Young replaced and eventually taken to hospital.
The only goal in the match came in the 24th minute from the head of Killarney-s leading striker, Nathan Byrn. Berkeley Vale struggled to get back into the match following this setback with a number of chances being missed especially in the last frantic minutes. Once again the experienced pair of Byrn and Jared Reed led the way for Killarney District who go into their first grand final since 2003 in just their second season back in the top division.
Their opponents , Wyoming, 2-0 victors over Berkeley Vale in last week-s major semi-final, will make their fifth grand final appearance in the past nine years looking for their fourth title after wins in 2004, 2007 and 2009. For Killarney coach Chris Ackerley-s it will be his second Premier League grand final, having taken The Entrance to the 2008 decider and a first for Wyoming-s Steve Frame.
Capping an outstanding season for their Premier League squad, Wyoming will play in all three of next Saturday-s grand finals, meeting Berkeley Vale in both Reserve Grade and Third Grade. Berkeley Vale bounced back from their 1-0 loss to Wyoming in the Reserve Grade major semi final with a 3-0 win over Budgewoi in the final while Wyoming did a similar thing in Third Grade coming back from a goal down to run out 3-1 winners over East Gosford.
In Division One Gosford City defeated Kincumber 5-1 to move into the First Grade Grand Final while Southern-Ettalong will meet Kincumber in next Sunday-s Final after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wyong.
In a major upset the Womens Premier League grand final was won 4-3 by Umina in a penalty shootout over League Champions and defending premiers, Gosford City.
NEXT WEEK (all matches on Pluim Park 1)
MPL FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL (Saturday 15 September)
WYOMING vs KILLARNEY DISTRICT 5pm
MPL RESERVE GRADE GRAND FINAL (Saturday 15 September)
WYOMING vs BERKELEY VALE 3pm
MPL THIRD GRADE GRAND FINAL (Saturday 15 September)
BERKELEY VALE vs WYOMING 1pm
DIVISION ONE FIRST GRADE FINAL (Sunday 16 September)
KINCUMBER vs SOUTHERN-ETTALONG 3pm
DIVISION ONE RESERVE GRADE FINAL (Sunday 16September)
KINCUMBER vs WOY WOY 1pm
