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

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

______________________________________________________

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.”

_____________________________________________________________________

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

(Subs not used: Dae Won, Gardner, Reason)

Booked: Milford

Sent-off: Grzinic

Goals: Milford 35

Metro-Claremont (1-3-4-2): Biggar - T Kent - Dutton, Chaffey, Curran (Herring 87) - Marney, McKeown, Rahni, Dawes - Guma (Hope 65), S Kent.

(Subs not used: Saunders, Kaden)

Booked: Chaffey, Dutton, Dawes, S Kent

Att: 350

Ref: D Gadd

By Walter Pless

Premier League-Division One Promotion/Relegation Play-off, 1^st Leg, North Chigwell, Sunday, 9 September 2007.

Metro-Claremont 3 (McKeown 9 pen, Guma 28, Chaffey 90)

Beachside 1 (Milford 52)

Match officials Michael Thain, Kim Barker & Steve Fagg

HT: 2-0 Att: 250 Ref: K Barker (Assistants: S Fagg, M Thain)

Metro-Claremont (1-2-5-2): N Biggar - T Kent - D Chaffey, R Dutton - J Dawes (J Saunders 79), A McKeown, S Hope, M Rahni, P Curran - E Guma, A Marney [Substitutes not used: A Herring, A Cooke, T Kaden] [Coach: M Gasparin]

Beachside (1-3-4-2): M Soszynski - A Holmes - S Johnson, B Davis, K Dae Won (A Reason 70) - A Grzinic (S Howarth 59), J Westland, B Klasen (J Greenwood 43), T Sherman - J Kavanagh, S Milford [Substitute not used: S MacDonald] [Coach: A Kavanagh]

Metro-Claremont breathed an audible and collective sigh of relief when central-defender Darrin Chaffey headed home Phil Curran’s corner in the final minute to give the home-side a 3-1 win over Division One champions Beachside in this promotion-relegation play-off at North Chigwell.

The result puts Metro in a commanding position as they fight for their Premier League survival.

The return leg is at KGV Park next Saturday. Beachside had to give up their home-ground advantage as their Sandown Park pitch has already been stripped of the goalposts and the ground prepared for athletics.

Beachside clear

Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, does not mind the change of venue because he believes the good surface at KGV will suit his team.

The talk for much of the week before this game was about ‘team stacking’. Beachside were accused of it when they signed South Hobart midfielder Bernhard Klasen on the Friday before the match.

Counter-accusations were levelled at Metro because of the signing of midfielder Mohand Rahni from Hobart United.

Neither claim carries much substance. Klasen has hardly played in South Hobart’s Premier League side this season and his appearances in the club’s lower-league sides were limited because of injury. Indeed, he limped off just before the interval in this game with a strained hamstring. His contribution up until then has been negligible and he must be in doubt for the return leg.

Beachside’s Ben Davis watches the outcome of an aerial tussle

Rahni was signed many weeks ago by Metro, and well before they knew they would be in the relegation play-offs.

It was all a storm in a teacup, according to Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh.

Metro were without striker and captain, Shane Kent, but the experienced Terry Kent returned from suspension and lined up at sweeper. He was excellent in the first half, but his game fell below expectations in the second period as Metro had their backs to the wall and threatened to crumble.

Kim Dae Won played for Beachside, first at left-back and then in midfield. The Korean, who is in his 40s and has experience in the NSL and in the Korean top flight, showed some wonderful close ball skills when confronted by strong physical challenges, but his passing, especially over distance, sometimes left a lot to be desired.

Metro led 2-0 at the interval and appeared comfortable, but Beachside came back strongly in the second half and pulled a goal back early in the half to make for a tense finish.

While the last-minute goal will prove invaluable for Metro as they go into the return leg at KGV Park with a two-goal advantage, Beachside will be pleased that they at least scored an away goal.

Beachside goalkeeper, Michael Soszynski, received a nasty cut to the chin in a collision with Metro’s Edward Guma in the 39^th minute and play was held up for five minutes while the keeper received treatment.

                       
Soszynski with bandaged jaw and saving at the feet of Metro’s Guma

Soszynski saw out the game, however, and made a crucial save in the second half in a one-on-one situation with Guma.

Beachside’s Tom Sherman missed two good chances in the second half as Metro started to give the ball away in midfield, but both efforts flashed wide of the far post.

An Adam McKeown penalty, awarded for Sam Johnson’s foul on Guma in the 9^th minute, gave Metro the perfect start, while Guma headed the second into an empty net in the 28^th minute after Soszynski could only beat out McKeown’s ferocious shot.

Sebastian Milford scored for Beachside with a cracking shot in the 52^nd minute after Metro keeper Neil Biggar did well to parry a stinging low drive from substitute Jonathon Greenwood.

As the game wore on, Beachside looked satisfied with a one-goal deficit going into the second leg, but Metro’s supporters in the large crowd went wild when Chaffey popped up in the last minute with a vital third goal for the home side.

Soszynski thwarts Metro’s Darrin Chaffey

“That third goal was a God-send and it certainly sets us up for next week,” said Metro coach, Matthew Gasparin.

“It would have been pretty nervy if we’d stayed at 2-1.

“But, credit to Beachside. I thought they really battled well.

“They started well early in the first half, while in the second they really took it up to us.

Metro’s Stuart Hope & Aaron Marney challenges the Beachside defence

“We panicked a fair bit and we were very undisciplined, but next week’s another ball game and we’re looking forward to it.

“At half-time we felt pretty confident. That’s probably one of the most frustrating things about it.

“At half-time we spoke about just making sure we kept disciplined. We were determined and we shut their space down nice and early as we did in the first half.

Injured duo Bernhard Klasen and Michael Soszynski

“It fell away a bit, but credit again to Beachside. They took it up to us and they deserved to win Division One, that’s for sure.”

Beachside coach, Tony Kavanagh, said: “It was a scrappy affair and we could have done a little bit better.

“I thought we did enough to score some goals, but we could have done a little bit better.

“The third goal was a blow. We don’t normally concede goals from corners because we’re normally strong in the air.

“But, we left someone free and paid the price.