Congratulations to Phil Stubbins who named coach of the year in the Vodafone Premier League. And to Rita Mankowska who has played three seasons at the Club in the Premier League and is still just 16 years of age. Rita was The awarded that the “Hoar-Melvin Award” for the “Most Valuable Junior State Team Member”

BERGERS MARCH ON IN SEARCH OF SEPTEMBER GLORY

By Simon Chiarelli

An early Nick Sabljak strike was enough to send Heidelberg United into the Vodafone Premier League Grand Final with a fighting 1-0 victory over fierce rival South Melbourne at Olympic Village. A healthy crowd witnessed a late South fight back but Heidelberg held firm and now face a primed Green Gully in the Championship decider.

A fiery opening saw some heated exchanges, but Heidelberg soon began to assert their authority on the game. The home side were awarded an early free-kick when Bill Damianos was fouled outside the area, but Eric Vassiliadis drove the resulting free-kick wide of the upright. Soon after, Vassiliadis had another chance at the edge of the area but he was off line again.

The wet conditions caused problems for both sides with ball control proving difficult. Heidelberg managed to adapt better and continued to cause havoc with the usually steady South defence. Yusuf Yusuf’s speed on the wing was a problem for South and he soon created another chance for the dominant ‘Bergers, when he received the ball on the wing before cutting inside and shooting low, but South ‘keeper Dean Anastasiadis was up to the task and saved with ease.

South Melbourne struggled when in possession and were unable to penetrate the final third of the park. The usually dangerous Robbie Cattanach struggled to exert any influence when South was in attack. Heidelberg soon found their deserved opening goal at the half hour mark when the ever-dangerous Nick Marinos was fouled on the edge of the area. Nick Sabljak took responsibility for the free kick and curled the ball into the wall before collecting the rebound and driving the ball past an unsighted Anastasiadis.

The goal was a catalyst for South to demonstrate the football they are capable of playing with their best chance of the half falling to Arthur Tsirtsakis. A Fernando De Moraes cross rebounded out of the area and landed invitingly at the feet of Tsirtsakis whose long-range effort was just wide of the goal.

A rejuvenated South came out of the change rooms at half time and began the second stanza by placing immediate pressure on the Warriors’ defence. Kosta Salapasidis was instrumental in the midfield for South and led their fight back. South Melbourne could have equalised when Salapasidis played a through ball to Cattanach, who drove the ball low across the face of goal to the agony of the large contingent of South supporters.

Heidelberg found their defence under siege with South’s momentum increasing by the minute. De Moraes had a great chance when he hit the crossbar, but soon South were awarded a penalty when Heidelberg’s defence handled the ball in the box. De Moraes took the shot from the spot but his effort was easily saved by Lou Acevski who spilled the ball before a follow up shot by Vaughan Coveny was smothered by the ‘Bergers defence.

As the final whistle approached, South threw all forward in an attempt to find an increasingly elusive equaliser. This left them exposed at the back and with little time remaining, chances fell to Sabljak and Marinos, who dribbled in to the area before firing powerfully into the crossbar.

The victory earns Heidelberg, the 2004 State League champions, the right to play the minor premiers Green Gully in the VPL decider at Olympic Park Stadium, while South will be left to rue missed opportunities after a disappointing end to the season.

Heidelberg United Line Up

L.Acevski, F.De Amicis, D.Jones, R.Liparoti, E.Vassiliadis, I.Erdogan, B.Damianos, T.Ouliaris, N.Sabljak (V.Korcarevski 92nd), Y.Yusuf (B.Beni 75th)