HISTORY MAKING DAY FOR SHARKS

'The most anticipated match of the year to date'!!

That was the buzz around the region and the whole day didn't disappoint the many soccer fans that came to Shark Park.

The Sharks Under 12 squad were first up and with a hard fought 2-1 Victory, they book-ended one of the biggest days in The Shark camp history.

Apollo were able to take back momentum by winning in the next two grades, U17 and B Grade.

With A Grade players from both sides watching on, the Under 14 match proved to be the perfect curtain raiser for what was to come. The Sharks Under 14's were triumphant in a whistle to whistle battle that no-one was going to call until the game was done, finishing in a scoreline of 3-2.

The scene could never be more set than it was, as The Sharks A Grade side 'ran on' for final warm-ups before facing their foe.

The Sharks were missing one of it's biggest assets in Goal Keeper, Norton Fuller, all thoughts were on Corey Pilven, recovering from a hand injury, was deemed fit on the Saturday and named as keeper for the day. Before the game Corey said "Fullers', were big shoes to fill, but he would do his best to do The Club proud!"

Sharks Coach John Bruttomesso said to his players prior to the match, "This game is crucial to the Sharks season. If we lose and Millicent win.. we go out of the top 4."

"If we win we go equal 2nd or 3rd dependant on other results for the day".

"The aim is simple...score goals!"

Coach Bruttomesso urged his players "Put pressure on the player with the ball, force them to turn over and hit them with 'counter attack' style football, with our fast forwards, Stemberger, Kennett, Weistra and Kasole running forward to score".

With a couple of positional shifts for The Sharks this was going to be a titanic test of will, skill and perseverance.

From the onset it was obvious to see that both sides were there to stamp an early mark on the game. The fast moving attacks of Sharks and Apollo were making space and pushing hard forward to apply early pressure on defences and keepers alike.

11 minutes in and a hard running Damian Stemberger enters the top of box and settles to shoot, only to be pushed in back, the whistle blew and the roar went up from the supporters as Referee Nathan Butler pointed to The Spot for a penalty.

Stemberger stepped up to take the kick, picked his spot, then striking the ball low and left, the keeper diving to his right, but unable to get to in time.

First blood to The Sharks, had The Apollo side shaking their heads.

This had the effect on the game of, opening it up, and both camps worked the ball around finding space.

Corey Pilven was being called on to save at regular intervals, turning a save into deep attack had Apollo scrambling at the back and they put the ball out on the right side. A quick throw from winger Jason Brooks into the penalty area saw Captain Tobbei Kennett attempt an 'over head scissor kick', but only made slight contact and the ball went wide of the upright.

The half time whistle loomed as Apollo were awarded a free kick in attack, Apollos' number 11 set up to take the kick and his team set up to push for a goal. As the kick came in toward goal the bodies went up, the ball finding the head of Hancock for Apollo and giving Pilven no chance to save as the ball cleared his head.

The Apollo equaliser wasn't what The Sharks were wanting right before half time.

In the half time huddle talk was positive at The Sharks, with the feeling high that Apollo were struggling to counter what The Sharks are throwing at them.

Not to be out done, the field was taken again and The Apollo side set about to improve on their first half form.

Apollo came out of the blocks hard at The Sharks, who endured the next 20 minutes of renewed pressure by the Apollo mid-field.

The next ten minutes saw The Sharks regain control, Salva Kasole showed great pace to chase down a through ball by The Sharks mid-field and chipping through The Apollo keeper to slot home The Sharks second goal and put them back in the lead.

Only 3 minutes later, Tobbei Kennett makes a long run, taking the ball toward the keeper and shooting along the ground and under the keeper, who was unable to drop quick enough to save.

Now only 20 minutes left in the half and with a 2 goal lead, The Sharks kept coming, but also with the focus on maintaining the buffer.

Apollo Coach, Derek Ferguson, threw everything up front at The Sharks, pressuring the defence to breaking point but they were holding strong and tight.

The clock ticked into the last 2 minutes of regulation time when Apollo were able to break from close to halfway and go in for a goal.

The call of, 'offside', went up around the ground, but the flag stayed down and the goal was awarded.

Defence, defence, defence was the call from Coach Bruttomeeso, knowing that the final whistle was moments away from giving The Sharks the win they had been working so hard for.

When the final whistle came the ground was flooded by Sharks players and supporters, all there to be part of 'SHARKS HISTORY'!!

The game will be remembered by all for; 'The Day We First Defeated Apollo SC. A Grade!!'

After the game Coach Bruttomesso was vocal in saying, "The young Sharks made history today in beating the reigning Premiers, Apollo A Grade, for the first time."

"With the passing of young Shark, Craig Wrights' Grandfather that morning, the team were fired up to give a good performance for their team mates' loss."

Bruttomesso went on to say, "How very happy he was with the result of today, and the experience gained in last weeks Federation Cup clash with Modbury Jets, was invaluable in preparing for the Good passing game that Apollo would bring with them."

"We have been working hard on improving our own passing game and this being the difference between 2010 squad and 2011 squad."

"Lead by, 'on field brilliance', from Captain Tobbei Kennett, who scored an amazing solo effort to secure the Win for The Sharks."

Sharks Club President, Vic Gentile was later taken ill by over excitement and was later admitted to hospital suffering from nausea and 'shock' symptoms.

The 3 points keeps us in the top 4 with less than a games' points separating 1st to 4th.

The next 2 games for The Sharks see a trip east to Potland and home for Millicent. A win in both will see The Sharks have 16 points at the half way stage of the season.

Coach Bruttomesso hasn't named individual best players on the day, saying "The whole squad deserve the title, it was nothing short of an absolute team performance by all who took the field!"

GOAL SCORERS:Damian Stemberger 1, Salva Kasole 1, (C) Tobbei Kennett – 1

Other Scores:

U12 won 2-1

U14 won 3-2

U17 lost 8-3

B Grade lost 5-1

A Grade won 3-2

Written By Brenton Frahn GCSSC