Week 2 of Finals

What a huge weekend it was for the Club with so many teams playing in finals football.

On Saturday, the semi final action started off at Strathfield Park at 12.30pm where our AllAge/15 men played minor premiers in Marrickville in the major semi final. Unfortunately, our men went down 2-0 and now are playing in the preliminary final this Saturday against Strathfield at Bennett Park at 12.30pm for another chance to make it to the Grand Final.

At 1.00pm, our AllAge/4 men played minor premiers in Leichhardt Saints in the major semi final at Henley Park. Unfortunately, our men conceded three goals in the first half despite having some good chances of their own and also created 3 very good chances in the second half before conded two more times to go down 5-0 in the end. They are now set to play in the preliminary final this Saturday against ACU at Bennett Park immediately after our AA/15 men at 2.30pm for another chance to make it to the Grand Final.

The final match on Saturday for the Club was at Strathfield Park at 2.45pm where our AllAge/2 men as minor premiers played against Strathfield in the major semi final. The Titans looked the stronger of the two teams but went into the half time break at 0-0. A speculative free kick in the second half landed in the top corner and the Titans took the lead. Strathfield hit back through a penalty to draw level but the Titans pressed hard for a winner and retook the lead with 12 minutes to play with a scorching effort which gave the keeper no chance. Strathfield then had to push bodies forward and this created more space in behind allowing Cooks River to drive forward with only a minute to spare and seal the victory with another top class strike to end the match 3-1. They now have a week off and wait in the Grand Final for the winner of Roselands and Strathfield.

On Sunday, it got even busier with five teams in action.

The first game of the rank were our Under14/3 girls who only just scraped into the semi finals and played Balmain at Waterfront Drive with a 10.15am kick off. The strong wind helped Balmain in the first half but neither team could break the deadlock. In the second half, Balmain hit the lead with a shot from out wide which was too powerful for the Titans keeper to hold out. The game looked destined for a Tigers 1-0 win until Cooks River won a corner with 2 minutes to go. Balmain managed to scramble the corner clear but the next corner was knocked into the net and in turn sent the game into extra time. The pressure was high as both teams pushed forward but at the same time were cautious not to concede which forced the game into penalties. Cooks River started the shootout and had their first two shots saved by the Balmain keeper while Balmain score their first two to take a 2-0 lead. The Titans then scored their next three while Balmain had their 3^rd shot incredibly saved, their 4^th shot went over the bar and their 5^th shot again saved by the Titans keeper which sent the girls into raptures and through to the preliminary final. They will now play against Marrickville at Henley Park at 9am this Sunday for a chance to go through to the Grand Final.

Several suburbs across, our Under16/1 boys played minor premiers in Enfield in the major semi final for a place in the Grand Final at 10.45am at Edwards Park. In the previous three meetings this season Enfield win all three games 2-1, 4-1 and 6-1 in order of games played but the team was prepared for the challenged and confident of an upset. In a very tight battle with chances at both ends, it was Enfield who managed the solitary goal to win 1-0. Our boys will now play Balmain at Rudd Park at 9am this Sunday for a chance to go through to the Grand Final.

Our AAWomen/2 as minor premiers were next to kick off at 12.30pm at Centenary Park against Balmain. The wind was strong in favour of the Titans and along some nice interchanging of passes gave our women the opening goal. As they used the wind to their advantage, they continued to create many great chances which went begging. A nice cross from the right was connected with a right foot aerial first time volley with class with about ten minutes to go in the first half and that’s how the scores would stay until half time. 2-0 flattered Balmain but the tide quickly changed in the second half when Balmain scored after 8 minutes to bring the score back to 2-1. They pushed hard for an equaliser and the wind became gusty forcing the Titans women to find it difficult to get out of their own half at times. A counter attack gave Cooks River a glorious chance to seal the victory with a one-on-one but the shot went straight to the Balmain keeper. Cooks River held on and moved through to the Grand Final to be played the weekend after next.

The next game to kick off at 1.40pm was the Under15/3 major semi final between our minor premiers and Lakemba at Parry Park. Games in the past have been tense and this was no different but it was the Titans who scored first. Before half time, Cooks River doubled the lead. Lakemba pegged a goal back to add some tension but the sky blues scored another to seal a 3-1 win and move through to the Grand Final to be played the weekend after next.

Our final match of the day was the AllAgeSunday/2 who were up against minor premiers in Abbotsford in the major semi final at 1.45pm at Croydon Park. The game was fiery at times but it was Cooks River who prevailed 3-2 in the end and go on to the Grand Final to be played the weekend after next.

Our Over45/1s are scheduled to play in the Grand Final this Friday night at Strathfield Park against APIA at 6.45pm.

Two other teams also commence their finals campaigns this weekend. Our Under13/3 secured the minor premiership and were undefeated all season. They play in the major semi final against Ashfield on Sunday at Mackey Park kicking off at 9.00am for the chance of a Grand Final berth.

Our AA/8 also secured the minor premiership losing only one game all season. They face off against Leichhardt Saints at 12.30pm this Saturday at Rudd Park to see who will progress into the Grand Final.

The 11 teams from the Club which made the semi finals are all still in contention. If you have any free time and would like to get along to a game please do so. The summarised schedule for this weekend is as follows: