Belconnen United, six times Premiers and ten times Champions of the ACT Premier League, have been relegated from the National Premier League following a 3-1 loss to O’Connor Knights at O’Connor Enclosed.
The Blue Devils knew a win was a must if they were to harbour any hopes of staying in the top-flight but, despite a spirited second half display, they failed to overturn a half-time deficit and time ran out on their stay in the top-flight much to the chagrin of their long-term supporters.
They needed a bright start but fell behind to a glorious Knights goal after just nineteen minutes, Phakedi Manda cleverly nodded a Niko Kresic corner back into the path of Michael Adams who sent a first-time volley from the edge of the box looping over the cluster of defender and Alex Connell in the Blue Devils goal.
The Knights second, four minutes before the break, was a superb example of their pace in transition. Adams was involved again, his run curtailed but the ball falling kindly to Manda who arrowed an unerring drive low into the bottom corner.
Belconnen needed a miracle and, three minutes into the second half they were given a glimmer of hope as Luke Vallone leapt unmarked at the near post to flick home a Dustin Wells corner and reduce the arrears. The forward had a half-chance for 2-2 before the Knights took control.
Both Patrick O’Rourke and Connor Mynott-Smith might have scored before Adams did, sealing Belconnen’s fate, as a free-kick ricocheted off the unfortunate Jono Turek and fell on a plate for Adams who swept home from six yards, putting Knights into fourth and sending Belconnen into the Capital Premier League.
The Knights place in the Finals, having only been promoted into the NPL this season, was confirmed 24 hours later as nearest challengers, Canberra Olympic, were defeated 2-1 by Gungahlin United at Hawker Football Centre.
Olympic only required a draw to make the end of season showcase and looked well set to do so having seen out seventy minutes of the contest without undue peril. But they were shaken to the core when Misko Naumoski struck for the fourth time in three games, sending a beautiful free kick past Sebastian Usai to put the Gunners ahead.
Olympic needed a response, a draw would have been sufficient given their superior goal difference, but they were left chasing the game when they conceded a second with seven minutes remaining as Leon Michel scored.
The reply was immediate, Luca Florez scoring his seventh of the season to give them some hope of making the top four and set the stage for a nervy final few moments, but it was Gunners who could have sealed it Philippe Bernabo-Madrid missing a great chance after early striking a post with an overhead kick.
The final whistle left Olympic short of their requirement and sent the Knights into the finals where they will meet Monaro Panthers in the Elimination Final.
At the Riverside Stadium in Queanbeyan, Monaro Panthers ended their regular season with a 2-1 win over Tigers FC in the third league instalment of the Battle of the Big Cats.
In a bright first half both sides had half-chances, but the Panthers dominated possession and might have scored more than the one they managed four minutes before the break. Amilio Kista saw a drive pushed onto the bar by Tigers FC custodian Jakeb Cole, before the same player hit the base of the ‘keepers left-hand post.
The goal they did score was marvellous to behold. Ben Basser-Silk glided past three would-be challengers before sliding an inch-perfect pass into Adam Neou. Neou did not have to break stride to send a first-time side-foot effort low beyond Cole’s reach and into the far corner of the net.
Panthers had threatened a second, Michael John denied on a trio of occasions by Cole, and doubled their lead when Andre Carle, one of four half-time substitutions, fired an effort that deceived Cole to nestle in the net.
Tigers hit back within sixty seconds as Josh Gulevski created a goal for former Panther Kofi Danning, in an entertaining match, but Tigers couldn’t find a goal to secure an eleventh draw and Panthers completed a deserved victory.
The Champions, Canberra Croatia completed a fourteenth win of the season as they defeated a relaxed West Canberra Wanderers 5-0 at Deakin Stadium. Having been spared the agony of needing something from the game following Belconnen’s loss, the Wanderers looked lively, but Croatia were clinical.
Daniel Barac secured the Golden Boot with his fifteenth goal of the season as he slammed home from an acute angle in only the ninth minute, whilst Sam Brown pushed a shot onto the post at the other end.
A superb curling finish from Stephen Domenici made it two, before James Driscoll had a goal chalked off for Wanderers for offside. Domenici might have added to his tally, but blasted over when clean through, but the forward was to make no mistake in the 76th minute, clinically finishing for his 12th league goal of the season.
There was more to come as Hristjan Tanoski brilliantly thrashed in the fourth, shortly after volleying wide of goal, before the icing on the cake was applied by Nik Taneski. He was released by an astute pass from debutant substitute Nick Pratezina, Taneski lifting a cultured finish with the outside of the boot past substitute Wanderers’ stopper, Kristian Nel.
RESULTS
Saturday 10 September
O’Connor Knights 3 (Adams 19’, 84’, Manda 41’) Belconnen United 1 (Vallone 48’)
Monaro Panthers 2 (Neou 41’, Carle 53’) Tigers FC 1 (Danning 54’)
Sunday 11 September
Canberra Croatia 5 (Barac 9’, Domenici 58’, 76’, Tanoski 85’, Taneski 88’) West Canberra Wanderers 0
Gungahlin United 2 (Naumoski 70’, Michl 83’) Canberra Olympic 1 (Florez 84’)
TABLE
|
|
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
GD |
PTS |
|
1 |
Canberra Croatia (c) |
21 |
14 |
5 |
2 |
+40 |
44* |
|
2 |
Gungahlin United |
21 |
12 |
4 |
5 |
+19 |
40 |
|
3 |
Monaro Panthers |
21 |
9 |
8 |
4 |
+16 |
35 |
|
4 |
O’Connor Knights |
21 |
8 |
3 |
10 |
-10 |
27 |
|
5 |
Canberra Olympic |
21 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
-10 |
26 |
|
6 |
Tigers FC |
21 |
4 |
10 |
7 |
-11 |
22 |
|
7 |
West Canberra Wanderers |
21 |
4 |
5 |
12 |
-19 |
17 |
|
8 |
Belconnen United |
21 |
4 |
4 |
13 |
-25 |
16 |