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June 15, 2004

Congratulations to Bankstown City Makedonia, NSW Champions BANKSTOWN CITY Makedonia 2 (Z.Babic pen, L.Petrukowski og) BELCONNEN BLUE DEVILS 0

At Marconi Stadium, Crowd approx 5000

Bankstown City: Zlatko Josevski, Paul Wearne, Mathew Pressello (Anthony Doumanis), Richard Luksic, Saso Boskovski, Dimitri Nicolaou, Mathew Borg (Steve Liavas), Robbie Gomez, Marc Hoenselaars (Alex Trpkoski), Sasha Trajcevski, Sean Babic; Coach: Andy Papoulias.

Belconnen Blue Devils: Anthony Giannasca, Adrian Dowling, Lee Pietrukowski, Ilija Prenzoski (Matt Valeri), Elliot Zwangobani, Daniel Macor, Nic Purdue, Michael Katz, Alex Castro, Toplica Popovich (Adam Williams), Anthony Galliozzi; Coach: Chris Tanzey

Referee: Nick Asargiotis Assistant Referees: Sam D'Imperio and Atila Stibinger Fourth Official: Jonathan Streater

Bankstown Lions' one-hundred percent record in Grand Finals amazingly continued as they secured their first Premier League championship with a 2-0 victory over Belconnen Blue Devils amid euphoric scenes at Marconi Stadium.

A crowd of 5,000 crammed every vantage point to watch the Lions ride a wave of fervent support to score two second half goals and run away with the match.

Without the services of a known playmaker in the side, Bankstown coach Andy Papoulias pinned his faith in a veteran and relative unknown in a bid to breakdown the tough Blue Devils defence.

Saso Boskovski in the twilight of his career and Dimitri Nicolaou, a relative unknown, performed brilliantly in the centre of the park steering their side to an historic victory.

A veteran of the clubs last two championship wins in 1993 and 1994 Boskovski was the difference between the two sides, turning back the clock in a cameo performance which earnt him Man of the Match honours.

Maligned for much of the season as 'pretenders' the Lions dominated proceedings from start to finish, not allowing their more profile opponents to get into any real rhythm. With Matthew Borg and Sean Babic using the speed to full effect, the Blue Devils spent most of their afternoon camped inside their back third as they tried desperately to repel the Lions onslaught.

Belconnen fans were given some early joy when Daniel Macor found the net in the 18th minute but referee Nick Asargiotis was quick to disallow the goal for offside.

Michael Katz burst through a couple of feeble Lions tackle to loft a short cross to Macor who met the ball unmarked at the back post and bundled the ball into the net. But their joy was short lived with Asagiotis correctly ruling that Katz was offside as he sent the final pass to Macor.

With Matthew Borg and partner Sean Babic leading the way, the Lions continued to create chances seemingly at will, and were unlucky not to be a goal in front at half-time. Saso Boskovski narrowly missing with a free kick in the 19th minute after Hoenselaars was bought down on the edge of the area by Alex Castro. Hitting the ball with the outside of his left foot, the Lions veteran skimmed the outside of the left-hand upright with Blue Devils goalkeeper Anthony Giannasca well beaten.

Dimitri Nicolaou hit the crossbar shortly after when he attempted to lob Giannasca from close range, but the real disappointment came in the 37th minute when Babic missed with what seemed like a routine penalty. Toplica Popovich bought down Babic just inside the area as he attempted to cut back and open up the play for his partner Borg. In a tangle of arms and legs referee Asargiotis had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, but with 5,000 plus fans riding the shot, Babic sprayed the penalty into the right hand upright.

The second half opening in much the same vein as the first, the Lions dominating possession and field position but unable to put the ball in the back of the net. Hoenselaars going the closest in the 58th minute when he shed his marker on the left hand side and met a Babic ball on the run.
Giannasca diving full length to his left pulling off a miraculous save which saw the ball ricochet harmlessly over the crossbar.

For all the Blue Devils hardwork and persistence they did have a couple of quality chances but sadly for their army of traveling fans they really failed to make the most of just a handful of opportunities. Sitting back and defending their back third with numbers they pushed forward on the break allowing Macor, Ilija Prenzoski and substitute Matt Valeri the chance to run at defenders on the counter attack.

But all their hardwork was undone in the 68th minute when Lee Pietrukowski fouled Borg as he attempted to turn onto his favoured right foot just inside the penalty box, referee Asargiotis again pointing to the spot for the Lions second penalty kick of the game. After his earlier miss, Babic gave the chance to Boskovski who calmly sent Giannasca the wrong way and slotted the ball into the bottom right hand corner.

Amid euphoric scenes the Lions first goal seemed to push them onto greater efforts, some sustained pressure on the Blue Devils back four finally saw them score a second. Pietrukowski capped an unhappy afternoon was again in the action in the 75th minute when he amazingly turned a cross from Babic into his own net. Attempting to clear a seemingly harmless cross the ball ricochet from the back of his head and beat Giannasca at the back post.

The victory was especially poignant for Lions head coach Andy Papoulias.
Another relative unknown at the beginning of the year, the former United States international midfielder has turned Bankstown from one of the most under achieving clubs in the league into one of the most entertaining with a regular diet of attacking fast paced football.

With twin strikers Sean Babic and Matthew Borg the focal point, Papoulias built the rest of the side around them, a hardworking midfield and a couple of pacy flankers in Hoenselaars and Gomez gave the side an attacking feel which took all before them in the semi-final series. Despite the absence of a recognized playmaker, Papoulias used Boskovski and Nicolaou in a dual role to great effect, the trophy a fitting reward for a side that was arguably the most entertaining in the league.

FROM THE SIDELINES

*Bankstown City midfielder Saso Boskovski capped off an amazing return to football, finishing the season with the Man of the Match award in the Lions 2-0 Grand Final win over Belconnen on Sunday. Having decided to turn out with his under-20 side as a squad player, first grade coach Andy Papoulias drafted Boskovski into the first grade squad when injuries had sidelined three of his key midfielders. His faith in the veteran was paid back in spades as Boskovski added to his collection of two Grand Final medals in
1993 and 1994 with a third and another for the best player in the match.