Report by Rachel Collier

A Thomas Southgate goal earned Perth SC a 1-0 win over Stirling Lions in the U20 Grand Final at Dorrien Gardens.

The goal came in the 45th minute and ensured victory for the ladder leaders, who finished 14 points ahead of their opponents. Conceding only 17 goals in 22 games, Perth’s defence again stood strong to ensure a finals day triumph.

Coach Gavin Tate was thrilled with his team’s achievement.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” he said. “We started back in December and there is a lot of hard work that goes into a season from all of the background staff, coaches and players.  We’ve got a great bunch of lads who have really enjoyed this season and this is a fantastic way to cap it off.

 “A big congratulations must go to Stirling who have had a magic season. It’s great for us and them that we both got into the final, as we’ve been first and second throughout.  We’ve pushed each other all the way, playing some fantastic head to head games and today was no exception.”

Perth won 19 of the 22 games played, losing on only three occasions and scoring a total of 65 goals. Tate believed justice was done in the final.

“I’m from the old school and I believe that if you win the league you deserve to be champions,” he said. “We had to remain focused and concentrate on winning the finals and thankfully we did that. The players have been fantastic.

“We created lots of chances today and we sort of felt that it might not be our day especially when the penalty was saved.

“However, we spoke at half-time about remaining composed and keeping our lead in the second half. I told them to make sure we were focused on that second 45 and to maintain our physical and mental strength. It’s a long and difficult season and the boy’s hard work finally paid off today.”

Goal scorer Thomas Southgate made an outstanding contribution to the game and he got special praise from his coach.

“It’s quite fitting that Thomas Southgate scored as he’s turning 20 this year,” he said. “I brought him to the club when he was 12 years old and it’s a lovely way for him to finish his season as he pushes for a first team place. Nathan De Abreu in the middle was superb, his ball winning and desire was exceptional.”

The early exchanges were littered with nervousness, with both sides struggling to stamp their authority on the game. The final heated up in the 13 minute when Perth’s first meaningful attack led to a penalty.

Referee Gabriele Merlacco showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot when Nick Ambrogio was cut down in the box. Ambrogio picked himself up to take the resulting penalty but Stirling keeper Connor Campbell made an excellent diving save down to his left to keep the scores level.

The penalty miss brought the game to life with Perth in the ascendency.  Jordan Candlish beat two Stirling defenders with a mazy run in to the box. His side footed effort went just wide of the post.

Perth looked dangerous on the attack and threatened again in the 26th minute. A clever back heel from Ambrogio found Candlish, who neatly played in Jordan DeLeo.  His strike from the edge of the box went well over the bar.

Good build play once again by Southgate, Daniel Tait and Candlish led to a chance for Matt Milenkovic who could have put his side ahead. His effort from inside the area was well saved by Connor Campbell in the Stirling goal.

Perth had the better of the play but were unable to break down the Stirling defence. The game was a stop start affair with both teams giving away needless free kicks.

Stirling’s best chance of the half came in the 32nd minute. David Filippou’s free kick from the left wing fell to Simon Filocamo in the box, who instinctively poked an effort on goal. Perth keeper Domenic Savoldelli calmly collected after having very little goal threat to contend with.

A late challenge by Stirling’s Dylan Filocamo, resulted in a booking and a Perth free kick. Southgate whipped in a dangerous looking ball from 40m, which the Stirling keeper palmed behind. Milenkovic took the subsequent corner, which goal keeper Campbell could only punch away to the edge of the box.  An unmarked Southgate had time to weigh up a powerful low drive, which shot through a crowd of players and into the back of the net in the 45th minute.

With Stirling knowing that they had 45 minutes to reclaim the tie, they started the second half on the front foot. They were awarded a free kick in the 51st minute which Alen Patarov took. His effort cleared the wall but also cleared the crossbar.

David Da Silva Dias looked threatening down Stirling’s right side as the lions continued to press for an equaliser. Opportunities were limited thanks to a strong Perth defence who were intent on keeping their 1-0 lead.

Perth continued to look the mostly likely to score, with Southgate continuing to impress. His driving midfield run, out paced two Stirling players and his inch perfect through ball led to a one on one chance for Ambrogio, whose side footed effort was well saved in the 66th minute.

As the game entered its final stages, Stirling struggled to hold up the ball against a powerful and well organised Perth side. Chances were few and far between with Perth looking the most likely to extend their lead.

Perth came close to a second goal in the 89th minute. Southgate’s cross field pass was kept in by substitute Conor Mackay who drove to the by-line and stood up a perfect far post cross for unmarked, fellow sub, Joel Bayobahe. His looping header beat the keeper but rebounded of the crossbar.

Stirling Lions coach Rob Milevski was proud of his team’s effort.

“The boys have worked hard all season and it’s obviously disappointing to get to the final and lose but on the other side of the coin it’s great to have the top two sides battling out and Perth deserved it,” he said.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game and we knew there wouldn’t be many goals in it. We played them two weeks ago and I thought we created a lot more chances that day, but we just couldn’t break them down today. They were very good defensively, yet again.”

Over all the Stirling coach is pleased with how the season has gone.

“We rebuilt the team from last year with about 70% of the squad being new faces,” he said. “The boys have gelled together really well from the start and to finish second in the league and make the top four final is a great achievement.”

Perth SC 1 (Southgate 45’)
Stirling Lions 0
Saturday 13th September 2014
Dorrien Gardens, West Perth
Kick-off: 12.15pm
Referee: Gabriele Merlacco

Perth SC: 1 .D. SAVOLDELLI (GK) 2. M. SANTALUCIA 4. O. LALOVIC (c) 6. A. PIZZATA 7. M. MILENKOVIC 8. D. TAIT (3. C. BECSI 89’) 10. J. CANDLISH (14. J.BAYOBAHE 70’) 13. J. DELEO (11. C. MACKAY 84’) 15.  N. AMBROGIO 21. N. DE ABREU 22. T. SOUTHGATE
Substitutes not used: 16. A. CARLINO 24. S. WALLIS (GK)
Yellow Cards: 21. DE ABERU 23’ 8. TAIT 39’

Stirling Lions: 24. C. CAMPBELL (GK) 3. D. FILOCAMO 4. M. GAMA (9. J. KESSELL 78’) 5. D. FILIPPOU   7. L. KESSELL 8. A. PATAROV 10. S. FILOCAMO 11. R. PETKOV (c) 12. R. MARIANO 13. J. MATHIANG  14. D. DA SILVA DIAS (6. B. MTWALE 86’)
Substitutions not used: 20. A. VACCA (GK) 16. M. PRESCOTT 2. M. SULAIMON
Yellow Cards: 3. FILOCAMO 44’ 14. DA SILVA DIAS 59’ 4. GAMA 77’