WBSA WEEK 1 FINALS PREVIEW

Matt Weistra will need to be at his best this weekend if the Sharks hope to upset in form Centrals

The Western Border Soccer Association heads into unfamiliar territory this weekend with the first round of the Dycer Constructions Premiership Final Series.

The top four have been head and shoulders above the bottom four and Sunday will see one team move into the final and another knocked out of the competition.
The elimination final takes place at Apollo's home ground Webb Street and sees third placed Gambier Centrals take on the fourth placed Gambier City Sharks. These two sides have met twice this year with Centrals boasting the better record. In round 4 Centrals fought back to record a gutsy 2 all draw and in round 11 Centrals travelled to Shark Park and took all three points against an understrength Sharks outfit.

The Sharks, on paper have a side that can match anyone and after months of injury and suspension will field a full strength side. On paper the Sharks look good, they boost one of the best keepers inn the league in Norton Fuller, three quality defenders in Heath Widdison, Craig Wright and Cory Pilven. In midfield they have the established combination of Matthew Gordon and Tobbei Kennett, the drive of Jason Brooks and the flair of Matty Weistra. Add to that Salva Kosole has been in great form, Julian Trolungo is in red hot form and Chris Trolungo was best on ground last week. If they can keep it together they should win, and that is the big question, can they keep it together against a young and fit Centrals outfit that well and truly got under their skin in round 4.
Centrals have been in good form lately and the emergence of Mark Judd and Alex Sims has been a huge boost for coach Jeff O'laughlin. Centrals boast a back line that has conceded the lowest amount of goals in the league. In fact they have conceded 11 goals less than the sharks and scored a whopping 27 more goals. For centrals the big test will be if they can mix it physically and not get involved in off the ball issues like they did in round 4. Centrals deserve to be favorites for two reasons, one they have not lost to the Sharks this year and two they finished above them on the ladder after the home and away season, however, the Sharks, man for man, have the better side. At the end of the day this game could be decided by the coaches.
The qualifying final between the leagues top ten International Soccer Club and current champions Apollo Soccer Club will take place at the home of Blue Lake Soccer Club, Malseed Park. The two best teams in the competition have already faced off or silverware on several occasions with Apollo taking out the Clem Michelin trophy earlier in the year and the Belgiornos Cup Final in late June.
On both those occasions Apollo were too good winning 5 2 on each occasion. In fact Apollo have put 13 goals past Inter on the three occasions they have played, a fact Lou Zaccardo will be keen to address on Sunday. In his favour, he was impressed by his sides fightback against Apollo in their last tussle and despite going behind early feels they dominated the second half and deserved more. Up front Inter have pace and can be very direct. They have a more stable midfield with the return of Marcus Morony and Andrew Ielasi's form has been the best of his career. It is the leaky defense that will be the greatest concern for Zaccardo.

Apollo, on the other hand are the highest goal scorers in the competition and with so many options, coach Derek Ferguson should be confident his boys are the team to beat. In the cup final George Panagopolous, Ash Stenner and Stewie Wallace tore apart inter and with likes of Adam hodge and Wayne Lennon keen to add to the trophy cabinet Apollo are in the box seat to move into the final.

Apollo should have too much for international on Sunday, and they should take another step towards back to back premierships.