Walter Pless on Football

By Walter Pless

Intrastate Match, KGV Park, Friday, 19 October 2007

Tasmania 2 (Butler og 36, Brazendale 73)

South Australia 1 (Reeves 47)

HT: 1-0 Att: 500 Ref: K Barker

Tasmania(3-5-2): N Pitchford - A Telega, R Smith, H Fagg - T Roach, B Gasparinatos, J Ladic, B Beecroft, J Lo (B Crosswell 73) - A Brazendale (D Brown 80), C McKenna (T Kakadumane 59) [Substitutes not used: F Mainella, A Brownlie] [Coach: E Kelly; Assistant Coach: T McGinn]

South Australia (3-4-1-2): R Greenwood - S Wilson, R Cerrachio (S Butler 33), M Andrews - D Ironside (M Barber 55), R Fuda (T Elliott 64), T Scalzi, D Kljajic (T Vickery 68) - T Reeves - P Jones, M Brooks [Substitute not used: B Gale] [Coach: E Norman]

It is 17 years since a senior men’s Tasmanian side went on to the park in combat.

In 1994, Tasmania lost 5-4 to New South Wales, coached by Rale Rasic, after leading 4-1 with 20 minutes remaining, and 2-0 to Victoria, both games being played at South Hobart. Some of the players from those sides, including Colin Shepherd, were at KGV Park to watch this latest match.

The previous year, Tasmania had lost 3-0 to Japanese J-League club, Nagoya Grampus Eight, complete with England international, Gary Lineker, at North Hobart.

Tasmania last played South Australia in 1963. That game, which featured South Australia’s famous Australian international, John Moriarty, an Aboriginal who hailed from Borroloola in the Northern Territory, was played at South Hobart and ended in a 0-0 draw, a creditable result for the home side, who had lost 5-0 to Western Australia shortly before.

Those were the days when a Tasmanian side participated in an Australasian tournament in New Zealand during the week and some of the players, most notably Ismet Gzurbozovic of Croatia-Glenorchy, arrived home at lunch time on the Saturday and raced to South Hobart to turn out for their club sides that afternoon.

To beat this South Australia amateur side 2-1 was a creditable achievement, therefore, particularly given the short time for preparation and given that some players one would have expected to be in the squad were not chosen for one reason or another.

Tasmania coach Eamonn Kelly was in hospital after undergoing surgery during the week and the team was in the care of assistant coach Tom McGinn and manager Nick Lapolla.

South Australia looked more technically accomplished, but their moves often broke down as they tried to be too elaborate.

Their captain, Tony Reeves, played just behind the front two and looked creative and strong, while their back-three were nippy and seemed to have the measure of the Tasmanian attack.

Tasmania looked fitter and faster than the visitors, but they found it difficult to get their passing going in the windy conditions.

Having said that, South Australia lacked penetration in attack, while Tasmania were at least creating some half-chances and forcing corners.

Bart Beecroft looked a little subdued in a deep defensive midfield role, but Jonathon Ladic showed early on that he would be dangerous at set-pieces, including corners.

Tasmania’s first real chance came in the 12^th minute when Jonathon Lo glanced a header wide after a deep cross from the right towards the far post.

Three minutes later, Ladic thumped a tremendous wind-assisted free-kick against the South Australia crossbar as goalkeeper Robby Greenwood back-pedalled desperately towards the far top corner.

In the 17^th minute, Ladic found a way behind South Australia defence down the right, but his cross was wasted as no-one was up in support.

South Australia fashioned a decent attack a minute later and, when referee Mr Barker chose to ignore his assistant, Mr Jozelic, and his off-side flag, Michael Brooks headed straight at Tasmanian goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford from close range after a cross into the box. If he had scored, Tasmania would have been justly aggrieved.

A cross by Tom Roach in the 19^th minute resulted in a fruitless Tasmanian corner, but things were looking promising for the home side.

Midway through the first half came the best build-up so far by Tasmania. Roach headed the ball clear from the edge of his box and McKenna, in midfield, nodded it back and down for Ladic to put Brazendale away on the right, but he wasted his cross

In the 24^th minute, Brazendale crossed from the right, but the advancing and unmarked Beecroft blazed high over the crossbar

In the 32^nd minute, Brazendale worked his way through the visitors’ defence and sent in a low shot, but the South Australian goalkeeper dived to his left and saved comfortably as the effort lacked power.

Brazendale was proving elusive and, a minute later, he outwitted two defenders with a quick turn in a tight situation, but his shot sailed over the bar.

South Australia lost key defender Rick Cerrachio at this stage after he was injured in a tackle with Roach and Sean Butler came on at the centre of the defence.

In the 35th minute, Brazendale ran onto a poor back-header by a defender, but he missed a marvellous chance with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Tasmania took the lead a minute later after forcing two quick corners in succession, one from either side. Ladic took the second from the left and Drago Kljajic could only nod the ball on and towards the far post, where Sean Butler at full stretch and with his goalkeeper beaten, headed it up and into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

The South Australia defenders tried to claim the ball had not crossed the line, but referee’s assistant Mr Gadd was already sprinting to the half-way line and Mr Barker signalled a goal to give the home side a 1-0 lead at the interval.

The second half was barely a minute old when South Australia equalised.

With Tasmania still waking up after the half-time break, Tony Scalzi crossed low from the right towards the far post and the visitors’ captain, Tony Reeves, drove an easy shot into the net to make it 1-1.

Three minutes later, a great shot by Ladic was tipped over the bar by the South Australia goalkeeper for a corner.

In the 49^th minute, Roberto Fuda won the ball from Andrew Telega and attacked down the left, but with team-mate Michael Brooks unmarked at the far post, the South Australian fired harmlessly across the face of goal. It was a let-off for the home side.

In the 58^th minute, Tasmania created a fine attacking move, but Chris McKenna placed his shot wide of the left-hand post.

In the 66^th minute, Tasmania squandered two good chances in quick succession, with Lo’s shot blocked by the goalkeeper and Billy Gasparinatos shooting over the bar from the rebound.

Seven minutes later, however, Tasmania was again in front as Greenwood failed to hold a cross in the swirling wind and Brazendale gleefully drove the ball into the net to make it 2-1.

In the 79^th minute, Greenwood thwarted Brazendale by narrowly beating the striker to a through-ball as Tasmania piled on the pressure.

The introduction of Thataetsile Kakadumane for McKenna and Ben Crosswell for Lo had revitalised the home side’s attack and Tasmania were looking increasingly dangerous against the tiring visitors.

In the 82^nd minute, Telega floated in a cross from the right and the South Australian goalkeeper fumbled the ball, but he recovered and gained possession at the second attempt.

With five minutes remaining, South Australia had a good chance when Brooks broke through, but he tried to round Pitchford and lost control of the ball and then possession to the goalkeeper.

Tasmania produced a flurry of attacks and shots in the closing minutes.

In the 87^th minute, Kakadumane fired across the face of goal and substitute Martin Barber just cleared the danger ahead of the advancing Crosswell.

A minute later, Roach shot straight at the South Australian goalkeeper, who clutched the ball to his chest gratefully.

In the very next minute, Roach played Kakadumane through, but the goalkeeper saved brilliantly from the striker’s shot.

Roach then twice fired straight at the keeper. The second of these shots was only parried by Greenwood, the ball falling perfectly for Ladic, but he shot wide of the far post.

Deep into injury time, Tasmania had a legitimate claim for a penalty when substitute Daniel Brown appeared to be up-ended by a defender, but Mr Barker waved away the appeals and, shortly after, blew the final whistle.

“Absolutely brilliant,” said Tasmania’s assistant coach, Tom McGinn. “We could have been five or six one there at the finish, so I think for the first time probably in about thirteen years that a Tassie team has been together, it’s sensational to come away with a win.

“I thought the boys, their endeavour, they fought hard, they worked hard for each other, made a lot of chances.

“I think the southern boys and the northern boys, even though they’ve only played against each other a couple of times, they gelled well.

“I’m really pleased.”

South Australia coach, Eric Norman, was disappointed with the result and with the injuries his side sustained ahead of the second match in Launceston the following afternoon.

“I thought Tasmania was slightly the better side but our goalkeeper was the man of the match,” Norman said.

“Our game plan was to put Tasmania under pressure in the second half by getting the ball long and cutting out the pretty football and just trying to get the second ball coming out from your defence.

“It worked. I thought when we were through in a one-on-one with your keeper we should have scored and gone 2-1 up.

“Tasmania was a very difficult side. They played the conditions well, played the ground well. They are quick and a good side, and a bit quicker than our guys, probably semi-pros against our amateur boys.

“But, no excuses. I thought it was a pretty evenly contested game.

“We’ve got a few injuries. I’m a man of my word. The two incidents where two of my players were stretchered off…I think one is seriously injured and no free-kick given.

“No sour grapes, gentlemen, no sour grapes at all. I’ve been in the game all my life, but some of the decisions were a little bit in favour of the home side, but I’m not crying over spilt milk.

“On the night, Tasmania probably deserved to win it.

“It’ll be difficult to regroup for tomorrow’s game. I’ve got one guy with tweaked hamstrings and two players who won’t play, so that reduces the squad to thirteen.

“We’ve a spare goalkeeper who can’t play centre-forward, unfortunately. I may have to put my boots on.

“That was my first defeat as coach of the South Australian amateur side.

“We currently hold the Australian amateur championships back-to-back and this Tasmanian side compares very favourably indeed. It’s a pretty good side you’ve got down here.

“I was pretty impressed with some of your players. I had to man-mark number 5 [Ladic] and number 14 [Brazendale]. I thought they were exceptional players.

“We all have game plans and we have things in our head that we try to do, but, as I say, as a coach on the side, once you put your team on the park, the lads have got to then play it to the best of their ability on the park.

“But your two playmakers were exceptional lads. Number 5 and number 14 are two very clever players.

“But, our goalkeeper was the man of the match. He had to be. He brought off some marvellous saves.”

TASMANIA		SOUTH AUSTRALIA
20	Goal Attempts	6
10	Shots on Target	2
10	Corners	2
12	Fouls Committed	10
3	Off-Sides	3
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0

Tasmania:

 

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Lo	3	1
Ladic	3	2
Roach	6	4
Beecroft	1	0
Fagg	1	0
Brazendale	2	2
Gasparinatos	1	0
Brown	1	0
Kakadumane	1	1
McKenna	1	0

South Australia:

 

PLAYER	GOAL ATTEMPTS	SHOTS ON TARGET
Brooks	2	1
Reeves	1	1
Fuda	1	0
Kljajic	1	0
Barber	1	0

By Walter Pless

The Tasmanian senior state men’s team will be in action for the first time in more than a decade when they take on a South Australian amateur representative side at KGV Park on Friday at 7.30pm and at Launceston’s Mitsubishi Park on Saturday at 2.30pm.

The Tasmanian side was chosen after the two recent north versus south intrastate representative games.

Tom Roach will captain the Tasmanians, who have worked a lot on set-pieces at training this week, as well as on fitness.

The home side is likely to line up in a 3-5-2 formation for Friday’s opening match and the team is likely to be in the care of assistant coach Tom McGinn as coach Eamonn Kelly is reported to be entering hospital for surgery.

Frank Mainella is likely to be in goal, while Nathan Pitchford is likely to get a start between the posts in Saturday’s match.

The back-three is likely to comprise Andrew Telega, Ryan Smith and Henry Fagg, while the midfield combination seems certain to be Roach, Bart Beecroft, Jonathon Ladic, Billy Gasparinatos and Jonathon Lo.

Aaron Brazendale and possibly Chris McKenna will lead the attack.

Northerners Alex Brownlie and Thataetsile Kakadumane are likely to get their chance on Saturday, while no-one seems certain whether Ben Crosswell will make an appearance as he has not attended training.

The South Australians do not represent the top tier of soccer in that State, although they have performed well at national amateur championships and won the Australian title four times since 2001.

Friday’s game will be the first time the team have played together in serious competition, although they have been training for six weeks and have played two practice matches.

The coach is Eric Norman, a former player with Adelaide Juventus. He also once played with Launceston Juventus.

The South Australians are due to arrive in Hobart on Thursday at 5.30pm and may have a light training session on Friday prior to the evening’s game.

Tasmania drew 0-0 with a top-flight South Australian State side at South Hobart in the early 1960s.

Tasmania’s most recent performances were in the early 1990s and included a 3-0 loss to J-League side Nagoya Grampus Eight at North Hobart in 1993, a 5-4 loss to New South Wales, coached by Rale Rasic, at South Hobart, and a 2-0 loss to Victoria at South Hobart.

The South Australian squad is: Brian Gale, Tyson Vickery (St Peter’s O/C), Robby Greenwood, Paul Jones (Ingle Farm), David Ironside (Stirling District), Drago Klajic (USC Lion), Martin Barber (Riverland), Tony Reeves, Roberto Fuda, Sean Butler, Matthew Andrews (Elizabeth Downs), Scott Wilson (Salisbury Inter), Tony Scalzi, Rick Cerrachio (Adelaide Villa), Trevor Elliott (Salisbury Florina), Michael Brooks (Elizabeth Vale); Eric Norman (Coach), Gary Collis (Assistant Coach), John Brown (Trainer), Hugh McGibbon (Manager).

Football Federation Australia CEO, in Hobart

Thursday, 11 October 2007

_______________________________________________________

What brings you to Tasmania?

We’re here to meet with Football Federation Tasmania and give them an outline of our FFA strategic plan for the next four to five years and, in addition to that, to look through some of the specific initiatives that we hope to develop, particularly in the area of game development and community football development and talent identification programs that we want to initiate and work with the Tasmanian Football Federation to implement.

Does the FFT strategic plan mesh with the FFA plan?

Well, generally, the goals are generally similar. Obviously, we have a more broadly national focus where we’re the competition manager of the Hyundai A-League and, we have some slightly different responsibilities. I think in the areas of game development and the broad promotion of the game, they’re pretty consistent. That’s something we’ll talk about.

One could argue that Tasmania is the sort of forgotten State. How does FFA see that? Do we have a role to play?

I spent my teenage years growing up in Tasmania. I certainly know where the State is and have spent a lot of time here. No, I don’t think it’s a case of forgotten State. In fact, I think the game has come a long way here in recent periods and the young team, as I understand it, did very well in the national championships just recently, so we’re hopeful that Tasmania produces a number of A-League players and, hopefully, future Socceroos.

We used to, but that seems to have dropped by the wayside. What can FFA do to help us regain that lost ground?

I think it works at a whole range of levels. The Tasmanian Institute of Sport is up and running and that will help in terms of advancing of our preparation of the more talented end of the player pool. I think some of the reforms that we will outline to the Board today in relation to the way competition formats work in the early age group and how we can maybe move towards a different structure of competition formats for young players will develop better players for the future as well. Improved coach education, improved referee education, retention programs, facilities development. Really, it operates at all levels.

Are we talking about small-sided games for youngsters here?

Yes, that’s certainly an initiative that we’ll talk about at length with the Board, and we have with all the other member federations around the country. We are looking to implement that on a national basis over the next few years.

You’ve been in the job almost a year now. You had big shoes to fill. How is it going?

I think the game has still got really positive momentum coming off the last two or three years. We’re in the first year of a four-year World Cup cycle, so we haven’t had a World Cup year to put the halo over the game, but the A-League continues to grow in its importance in the sporting landscape. Crowds are growing, audiences on television are growing, so that’s very good for the game and, next year, on February 6, we start a very long qualification program which is a first in Australia for football, so everyone is getting geared up for that.

My impression is that the A-League isn’t quite what it was last year. Crowds are down a bit, aren’t they? Some clubs don’t have shirt sponsors as yet.

No, crowds are up about 17 per cent across the board. In particular, Wellington is driving a lot of that growth, as is Newcastle. Crowds are moderately up in both Melbourne and Sydney, so that’s positive. You know, I think there’s always a lot of debate about whether the game is better one year to the next. I think you’ve got to wait to see the whole year and not judge any one particular phase of the year to see whether that’s true. We’ve had some very good-quality players come into the league, you know, Tony Popovic, Craig Moore, Danny Tiatto, players of that quality, Juninho, so the calibre of players is growing all the time.

Is there any chance of Tasmania - this is the old chestnut - having an A-League side in the future if there is an expansion?

Well, we’re undertaking a major review of the expansion opportunities. At present, we hope to have a report completed some time in the early part of next year. Clearly, we will factor in every State and Territory around the country where the game is played, so, you know, if someone in Tasmania came forward with a proposal that was appealing, we’d have to review it. And, certainly, we’ll review every major population centre around the country and, of course, Tasmania is one of those.

If I can now get on to the national team, the young Celtic player, Scott MacDonald, typifies the sort of problem we have. He is scoring goals by the hatful for Celtic, had a huge impact in Europe, but the first time he’s asked to make himself available for Australia, he’s got a hamstring strain, doesn’t show, and three days later he plays for Celtic and stars. How do you see that sort of problem being solved?

Well, we were hopeful Scott would play, but, you know, he had a legitimate medical reason why he couldn’t and our doctors reviewed that at the time and there was nothing to doubt the bona fide of it and I guess he had a very speedy recovery. But, we look forward, you know, I mean it’s great to see someone like Scott doing so well and, you know, hopefully, he’ll be pushing for selection the next game.

Is this the sort of problem countries like Australia will always face, the club versus country issue?

I think we do and I don’t think… there’s no a perfect solution. You know, countries in South America face it, countries in Africa face it, and countries in Asia face it. We all have a club versus country issue. Ours is exacerbated by the fact we’re twenty-four hours away, so I think we’re always going to have some of those issues. But, I think, on the most part, we get the best available players.

Has a final decision been made on the next national-team coach?

I can say we are hopeful of making an announcement shortly.

Our first venture into Asia was very disappointing. Do you think we can improve for the important World Cup qualifiers?

Well, I think there is an improvement to be had. I think we were all disappointed with the results in the Asian Cup, but, to the team’s credit, its last two games were much better than where we started. But, we’ve got some plans in place to continue to improve and, when the new coach is in place, he’ll obviously have his own views and his own plans, and I think we need to allow him to announce those and outline what sort of plan he wants to adopt.

When it comes to World Cup qualifiers, is there an opportunity for a game against one of the so-called lesser countries to be played, say, in a regional centre such as Launceston?

I wouldn’t rule it out. In fact, I think we were very pleasantly surprised by the crowd at the pre-season game this year for the Hyundai A-League. I think Tasmanians love their sport and they love their international sport. I think we saw that a few years ago with the Rugby World Cup, so, certainly, it’s in the mix.

Women’s Intrastate Challenge Series

By Walter Pless

________________________________________________________

Jill Couch showed her class by scoring both goals for North, who were level at 1-1 at the break and 2-2 midway through the second half.

A goal five minutes before the end settled the matter in South’s favour.

Emily Parker was excellent on the left for South and her runs down the wing were dangerous, while Bliss Cantrell netted twice in a fine performance.

South started strongly and Parker made a run down the left in the first minute, only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.

North lost goalkeeper Amanda Newson after a mere 12 minutes when she sustained a blow to the back of the head.

South goalkeeper Chelsea Thomas had to be at her best in the 21^st minute when an error by Claire Farquhar allowed Krystine Jeffery and Chelsea Smith to fire in shots.

On the half-hour, Thomas could only parry Nao Fujimoto’s long-range shot and Couch blasted home the rebound to give North the lead.

Parker made it 1-1 in the 41^st minute after Cantrell’s shot hit the post.

South took the lead in the 56^th minute when Cantrell headed home Kath Prescott’s left-wing cross.

In the 65^th minute, South’s substitute goalkeeper Isoline Ottavi made a brilliant save as she tipped Smith’s clever lob over the bar after the North striker had broken through the home defence.

Smith took the corner and Crouch, stationed at the far post, nodded home to make it 2-2.

With five minutes remaining, Cantrell made the most of a defensive error to grab her second goal of the game and the winner for the home side.

The sides meet again next Saturday at Mitsubishi Park in Launceston.

________________________________________________________

· South coach, Matthew Shaw, said:

“It was enjoyable and it was nice to see some goals and some good saves from both the keepers.

“Obviously, that probably means some of the defending got a bit lax at times, but it’s nice to see them knock the ball around.

“It would have been nice if we’d knocked it around a little more some of the time because we sometimes panicked and hoofed it forward to no great effect.

“But, it was fun and I think they enjoyed it. Hopefully, the people watching enjoyed it, too.”

· North coach, Jason Jones, said:

“I was really pleased with the contribution of the girls.

“They haven’t played together before and we haven’t been able to have a practice match the way the roster’s been scheduled.

“So, for them to come out and play the way that they did their first time together, I’m just really, really pleased.

“We ran short of fit players. We started with two players pulling out before the game so we didn’t have enough fresh legs and it really showed in the last ten minutes when they scored.

“I look forward to next week.”

_________________________________________________________

South: Thomas; Parker, L Jarman, K Presott, Cantrell, L Prescott, Jones, Saito, Manuela, Farquhar, Barnes.

(Subs: Ottavi, Hale, Clark, Gibbons, Dixon)

Booked: Farquhar

Goals: Parker 41, Cantrell 56, 85

North: Newson; Berger, Norton, Ayton, McCulloch, Smith, McGregin, Brazendale, Couch, Fujimoto, Goodwin.

(Subs: Jeffrey, Shatton, Crack, Jones, Rolfe)

Goals: Couch 30, 66

Att: 200

Ref: I Colhoun

Intrastate Men’s Challenge Series

By Walter Pless

_____________________________________________________

South had beaten the North 5-3 in an exhibition match in Launceston in July and they won this first leg of the Intrastate Challenge Series comfortably at KGV Park with a goal in each half.

The second goal was an own-goal, although Aaron Brazendale was claiming it, saying that the ball had already dipped under the crossbar and over the line before Tim Claxton chested it into the net.

It was, however, Tom Roach who had created the chance with a shot against the right-hand post and a goal was a fitting reward. The ball rebounded wide, where Brazendale gained possession and floated a cross into the six-yard box

North goalkeeper Marshall Pooley received a knock early on and was a little clumsy in his handling for the rest of the match.

Begovic wins a header deep in defense for South

Alex Brownlie blocked a Jonathon Ladic shot on the line in the 11^th minute as South exerted early pressure.

North’s first chance did not come until the 29^th minute when Thataetsile Kakadumane blazed high and wide of the target.

In the 40^th minute, a back-header by Brownlie to his keeper saw Pooley drop the ball, but he recovered just before South’s lurking attackers could take advantage.

A minute before the break, great play down the left by South saw Brazendale nutmeg a defender inside the box and send a low cross towards the far post, where Roach hammered home the opening goal.

 Substitute Michael Bulis forced a corner for South on the hour with a dangerous shot that took a slight deflection.

In the 66^th minute, Ben Crosswell released Kakdumane down the inside-left channel, but Frank Mainella blocked the shot and conceded a fruitless corner.

The second goal 16 minutes from the end killed off the contest.

   

The sides meet again next Saturday at Mitsubishi Park in Launceston.

_____________________________________________________

• South coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“I thought we most probably played the better football on the day.

“We kept positive, we kept shape and I think the back-four were absolutely magnificent and didn’t put a foot wrong all day.

“The same with the midfield. We couldn’t fault any one person today.

“Everyone put in 110 per cent effort and everyone played well and we just seemed to click as a team and play well as a team.

“That was the difference between us and them. We didn’t play as individuals and we played as a team.

• North coach, Tom McGinn, said:

“I thought they were by far the better team in the first half.

“I thought it was a really scrappy game and I thought we probably showed them too much respect, a few young lads in our team.

“I thought in the second half we came into the game and had a couple of chances. If we’d finished them off early on, well.

“I thought the second goal was a bit unlucky…just the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Once again, I think the better team won on the day.”

______________________________________________________

South (4-4-2): Mainella - Begovic, A Telega, Smith, Fagg - Roach, Beecroft, Ladic, Lo - Brown, Brazendale.

(Substitutes: Bulis, Fielding, Gasparinatos, D Lapolla, Pitchford)

Goals: Roach 44, Claxton 74 og

 

North (4-4-2): Pooley - Claxton, Hingston, Brownlie, Johnson - Crosswell, Schipper, Douglas, Tabrett - Kakadumane, McKenna.

(Substitutes: S Howe, Skene, De Bomford, A Howe)

Booked: Brownlie 68, De Bomford 81

Att: 350

Ref: C Phillips

   

By Walter Pless

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Metro-Claremont survive in the Premier League despite losing 1-0 to Division One champions Beachside in this second-leg match in the promotion-relegation play-off at KGV Park.

Metro won the first leg 3-1 last Sunday at North Chigwell and, therefore, win 3-2 on aggregate.

Beachside complained that the Football Federation Tasmania rules for the play-off give them victory on away goals, but anywhere else in the world, it’s the aggregate score that counts and this will undoubtedly be so at the end of the day.

Beachside dominated this match and could easily have won by more than enough goals to make any arguments about the rules superfluous.

But, Metro defended resolutely and created some excellent chances of their own.

Metro’s best chance of the first half came in the 13^th minute when Aaron Marney was given time and space to control the ball inside the box, but the youngster side-footed the chance wide of the right-hand post.

Beachside has even better opportunities, however, but were denied by poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Neil Biggar.

In the 11^th minute, Sebastian Milford blazed over the bar when he should really have hit the target, while in the 27^th minute, Sam Howarth shot straight at Biggar.

In the 31^st minute, Milford took advantage of a rare error by Terry Kent to cut inside and shoot, but Biggar blocked with his feet. Milford also had Jacob Kavanagh unmarked to his left and as pass to him may have been more effective.

A terrible back-pass by Marney led to Beachside’s goal in the 35^th minute. Marney collected the ball in midfield and inexplicably tried to pass it back to the edge of his own box.

Milford gratefully accepted the pass and knocked the ball to Kavanagh, whose shot was parried by Biggar, but only to Milford, who scored with ease.

Eight minutes after the resumption, Shane Kent made a good run down the left but finished with a tame shot straight at goalkeeper Michael Soszynski.

Beachside suffered a major set-back in the 71^st minute when defender Anthony Grzinic was sent off after having won a free-kick. He made his feelings known to the Metro player who had fouled him and the assistant referee signalled for referee Mr Gadd.

After a brief consultation, Mr Gadd brandished the red card. He said later Grzinic was sent off for using foul and abusive language towards an opponent.

Beachside still managed to attack and in the 72^nd minute, Milford’s header almost put Kavanagh and Jonathon Greenwood through on goal, but the alert Biggar intercepted.

Metro, with a one-man advantage, managed to launch a few dangerous counter-attacks and, in the 94^th minute, found themselves in a three against one situation in attack. Adam McKeown’s shot, however, was turned wide for a corner by Soszynski.

From the corner, Metro created two more chances, but McKeown and Jason Dawes were thwarted in quick succession by the post and by Soszynski.

Mr Gadd blew the final whistle in the 95^th minute and it was the Metro supporters who went wild.

______________________________________________________

• Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, said:

“It came down to a little bit of luck, and we needed just a little bit of luck today.

“We did enough to win. We stuck to our game plan and everyone played well and nobody let us down.

“Just a little bit of luck. I thought we were dealt with pretty harshly on the send-off and it cost us the promotion.”

• Metro-Claremont coach, Matthew Gasparin, said:

“It was a tough game, but credit to our boys today. We battled for the full ninety minutes.

“Our soccer was pretty ugly for most of the game, but we battled hard.

“I feel a bit sorry for Beachside. They had a week and a half of good soccer, so commiserations to them.”

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Beachside (1-2-5-2): Soszynski - Holmes - Grzinic, Johnson - MacDonald, Greenwood (Klasen 65), Howarth, Davis, Westland - Kavanagh, Milford.

(Subs not used: Dae Won,