The Futsal Winter State league entered round nine on a busy night at the Sports Halls at Sydney Olympic Park. With a Concert and a NRL fixture parking and the traffic caught a few sides by surprise with some sides starting with only four players. Tonight’s matches saw a few sides all but confirm their place in the top four while there are still a few sides in the men’s vying for the remaining spots.

In the Women’s action

In our first match of the night fourth placed Inner West Allstars took on third place Liverpool Fusion and with both sides running late both sides started with 4 players till the remaining members arrived. This was a fairly even battle but a Aurelie Gauthier hat-trick to help Inner west to an important five-three victory which means they need a win our draw next week to ensure a finals birth. Fusion remain in fourth and if they had a extra player the result may have been a different story.

Top of the table Sydney Tragic were in action against the bottom placed Dural Warriors, With Tragic at nearly full strength and Dural with no subs it was going to be a big ask for the Dural girls. Tragic cruised to a comfortable six-nil result which leaves both sides remaining in the same positions.

Fifth placed Sydney City needed a result against second place Quake a win would see the race to the final semi final spot go down to the wire with Inner West, while Quake were still a sniff of winning the minor premiership if Tragic happen to slip up in their final fixture. Both sided played some quality Futsal and some of the passing and movement of the ball was a pleasure to watch. Quake took the lead when Leesa Thomson found the net midway through the first half. Sydney City came fired up in the second to draw level thanks to a nice Jodie Bain effort. With ten minutes left in the game it was there for the taking and Quake took their chance when Clare Walsh sealed the win to wrap up he points for the Quake Girls. The result means Sydney City must win and score a few goals to have any hope of making the finals.

In the Men’s action

The fifth placed Dural Warriors took on ninth placed Northern Beaches. Dural warriors took advantage of Northern Beaches only having four men at the start of the match and produced two quick goals. Dural played some nice Futsal and for the second successive week produced an emphatic eight-nil victory with all Dural players getting on the score sheet this was a great team effort.

First placed Sydney Benfica took on eleventh placed Parramatta Blues. Benfica didn’t have it their own way against a physical young Blues outfit. However Sydney Benfica showed why they are currently sitting at the top of the table with some goals at key moments in the match which was enough for them to take the spoils. Parramatta will take a lot away from that performance as they made the top side work hard for their five-two result.

Match of the night saw sixth placed Commodores take on second place Quake. With a number of key personnel missing for Quake it was a good opportunity for Commodores to get a vital victory which would see them stay in contention for a top four finish. Both sides played some entertaining Futsal as it was end to end a real nail bitter. Quake took the points late on with a goal to Ashley Hasthibeer to secure the three-two victory over the unlucky Commodores. Commodores must win their remaining matches to be any hope of making the top four.

Inner West Allstars took on Sydney City Eagles in another very exciting match up. With both sides still in contention for a top four finish everything was on the line. Both sides started strongly with the game flowing end to end and the challengers flew in as there was a lot of passion in this encounter. In the end Sydney City kept their slim finals hopes alive with a five-two victory, both side will be desperate to win their remaining fixtures and hope that someone slips up to be a chance of a finals birth.

Last match of the night was the third placed Plumpton taking on seventh place West City Crusaders side. With some West City players failing to show up West City were left with only four men for the whole match this was a hard ask against one of this season most consistent sides in this competition. Plumpton cruised in first gear for most of the night and ran out comfortable eight-nil victors over a gallant Crusaders side.

Results on the Night

Women’s…

Inner West AllStars 5 (Aurelie Gauthier x3, Dominique Caridad x2, Elyce Goss) def. Liverpool Fusion 3 (Nichole Laws, Renee Tomkins, Justine Vella)

Sydney Tragic 6 def. Dural Warriors 0

Quake 2 (Leesa Thomson, Clare Walsh) def. Sydney City Eagles 1 (Jodie Bain)

Men’s…

Dural Warriors 8 (Greg Giovenali x2, Rhys Giovenali x2, Michael Thorton x2, Alister Hercus, Daniel Codrington) def. Northern Beaches 0

Sydney Benfica 5 def. Parramatta Blues 2

Quake 3 (Tim Simpson x2, Ashley Hasthibeer) def. Commodores 2

Sydney City Eagles 5 def. Inner West Allstars 2

Plumpton 8 (Mark Scriven x3, Daniel Fogarty x2, Troy Eedy x2, Jamal Saliba) def. West City Crusaders 0

Please note: the scheduled round 10 match between Maccabi vs Sydney City Eagles has been postponed

There will now be a catch up game from round 1 between West City Crusaders and Parramatta Blues on Court 1 at 8:40pm

Source : Football NSW
Published : 8/7/2008