Premier League 2 – Finals Series – Week 1
Oak Flats 2 defeated Dandaloo 0 @ Keith Bond Oval
Oak Flats earned the right to host Dandaloo in the first week of the finals series. On a windy afternoon they continued their march toward clinching the premiership with a hard fought 2-0 victory.
The match started with Dandaloo intent on bringing a level of physicality to disrupt Oak Flats free flowing style of football. Oak Flats countered this with a driving run from Dane Matthews, but on this occasion directed his shot wide of the mark.
Oak Flats fullbacks went to work with their usual vigour from their fullbacks Nixon Nourie and Ky Nunn. Both provided a constant outlet for their midfielders to feed and a steady stream of quality delivery into the Dandaloo box.
The midfield combination of Matthews, Jeliffe and Vidler for Oak Flats was beginning to click and this started to signal to Dandaloo that a win away from home and against the quality of opposition was going to need something special.
Always dangerous from the set piece, Dandaloo Captain Jamie Holland had a glancing header cleared off the line, from a well directed corner. Shortly after an audacious bicycle kick attempt from Kyle Kirkland was also kept out by the Oak Flats defence.
Oak Flats opened the scoring after 31 minutes when Noah Vidler finished a fine passage of play. Joel Palermo initially beat a couple of players, switched the ball to Nixon Nourie, whose pinpoint cross found Vidler.
The home team looked to go in for the kill in the next passage of play. Both Brodey Jeliffe and Dane Matthews firing in efforts that kept Dandaloo keeper Damian Bedwell on his toes. Jeliffe brought out a save from a half volley that was nearly pushed into the path of Vidler, only for the keeper to mount a late recovery. Matthews crashed a powerful drive from outside the box that had the keeper beat, only to see it cannon into the crossbar.
On the stroke of half-time Dandaloo wideman Jeremy Flanagan tested Claude D’Alessio with a header, but the shot stopper was up to the task. Oak Flats with a slender lead at the break.
Noah Vidler started the second half quickly for Oak Flats with his trademark incisive runs creating havoc at the back for Dandaloo. After winning a corner, Oak Flats were nearly caught out from a sharp counter attack that saw Nick High through on goal but unable to convert for Dandaloo.
Dandaloo switched things up and began to press rather than waiting for opportunities on the counter. The game became a little more stop-start, which helped to keep Dandaloo in the match.
Young gun Benjamin Richards was injected into the match for Dandaloo and provided some much needed fresh legs. He had a half chance late in the match that required some intervention from D’Alessio.
Oak Flats put the game beyond doubt in the 82 minute when substitute Kohen White finished a wonderful piece of play. Dane Matthews was instrumental in providing a beautiful ball to Brodey Jeliffe, Jeliffe delivering a well directed cross with White directing his header over the keeper and into the left corner of the goal.
Jamie Holland mounted one more effort for Dandaloo with a powerful header, but D’Alessio was again up to the task.
Oak Flats progress and earn a week off and progress to the grand final. Dandaloo benefit from finishing second to have a second bite of the cherry and will now face Fernhill who won the elimination final to set up an intriguing clash.
Premier League 2 – Finals Series
Fernhill 1 defeated Balgownie 0 @ Barrack Heights Sports Ground
Fernhill booked their place in a crucial final showdown with Dandaloo after grinding out a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Balgownie on a sunny afternoon that produced more physicality than fluency.
From the opening whistle, Fernhill looked dangerous when they utilised the width of the pitch, with Jordan Hughes threatening early as they looked to stretch Balgownie’s defence and create space in the final third.
Balgownie, meanwhile, were intent on playing directly, regularly looking to bypass midfield and find their strikers as quickly as possible. The approach led to a spirited opening, with both sides engaged in a physical battle and neither willing to give an inch.
With conditions perfect for football, the game nevertheless struggled to find a rhythm. There were plenty of throw-ins, aerial contests and challenges, while both defensive lines remained switched on and applied heavy pressure whenever the opposition struggled with a first touch.
Fernhill’s fullbacks were eager to get forward and provide overlapping options, while Balgownie looked to counter at speed before Fernhill could settle into their defensive shape.
Balgownie also attempted to test the Fernhill defence aerially, sending plenty of balls into the box. A dangerous free kick from a promising position was whipped into the area by Fernhill’s Brendan Pattman, leading to Mattias Passlack rising highest with a glancing header putting the Foxes ahead.
A dangerous delivery into the box resulted in a scramble, with a subsequent effort blocked by Passlack as Fernhill continued to repel Balgownie’s attacking threat.
At the other end, Balgownie’s Anthony Stefanelli was proving an important outlet from right back, repeatedly making overlapping runs and whipping dangerous balls into the attacking area.
Fernhill showed greater patience when attempting to escape Balagownie’s pressure, using triangular passing combinations to move the ball through and around the press rather than resorting to rushed clearances.
Bally had perhaps their best opportunity of the half following a sharp counterattack. Hayden Manevski found himself in behind, but his attempted cross was blocked by the Fernhill goalkeeper before the follow-up effort was poorly timed and failed to trouble the hosts.
The physical nature of the contest was also evident at set pieces, with tensions rising during corners between Fernhill’s Dejan Djukic and Blake Coates.
Balgownie continued searching for a way back into the match and began building momentum late in the half, with Fernhill increasingly willing to sit deeper and invite deliveries into the box.
One of the best chances came when Balgownie’s Jayden Salucci delivered a dangerous ball, allowing Brodie O’Neil to strike on the half-volley. Fernhill’s goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to produce an important save and preserve the advantage.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with neither side able to find the attacking fluency required to change the scoreline.
Fernhill remained disciplined defensively, absorbing Balgownie’s pressure and doing enough to protect their slender advantage.
In the end, the 1–0 scoreline reflected a game defined by determination, defensive pressure and physical contests rather than free-flowing football.
Fernhill’s ability to withstand Balgownie’s late pressure proved crucial, with the result setting up a mouth-watering showdown against Dandaloo.
The stakes could hardly be higher, with Fernhill and Dandaloo now set to battle it out for the right to face Oak Flats in the grand final.
After grinding out victory in a contest where chances were at a premium, Fernhill will take plenty of confidence from their defensive resilience but Dandaloo will provide another stern test with a place in the grand final on the line.
