OZ SOCCER FOOTBALL PAGES
Page No. 2 - 1997/98 Season - January to May, 1998
This page has just recorded 'hit' number :
since the counter was set on 4th November, 1996
This page has just recorded 'hit' number :
since the counter was set on 4th November, 1996
Australian National Football Team & Supporters Page
Oz Football Grounds & Clubs Page
1997/98 EC season reports archive page No. 1 (Sep-Dec 97)
1997/98 EC season reports archive page No. 2 (Dec 97-Mar 98)
1996/97 EC season reports archive page No. 1 (Nov-Mar)
1996/97 EC season reports archive page No. 2 (Apr on)
Captain: Shane Pryce 
"These Pages have been set up to promote interest in and access to the REAL Football!
My first love and one that after 29 years enjoyable years on the turf I can no longer play!"
- Chris Dunkerley
Live Match Report: As I saw it the game was below normal EC standard in that it was a) slower, b) passing was astray, c) goal chances were squandered even more, and d) Con Diomis only issued 2 or 3 cards! ;-) BTW compared to the last SL game I saw this year (Demons v. Ryde) this was far superior. Bonnyrigg definitely dominated the first half and sliced through the Demons defence repeatedly, especially wide, and should have had some goals but for blasting too many over. In the second half Blacktown came out with more ideas and really should have put the game beyond reach, especially the last minute chance from Berry. Bouhader missed 3.
Live Match Report: 
NSW Super LeagueIt was as expected a fast and physical game with Demons perhaps dishing out more and 3 yellow cards are unusual in SL. Ryde's fine prospect Nils Johnsson was off through injury within 10 mins. The first half saw the Demons slightly on top but with Ryde combative. Ryde just seemed to lack the confidence when approaching goal to take the chances. I suppose with only 7 points from 30 they do need a boost. At half time the score was 0-0 and this reflected the close tussle.
In the second half Blacktown put on more pressure but Ryde weathered the storm, gaining confidence through it, then pushing the ball around well out of defence started to look the more likely to score. At 75 mins a long cross from the right went out to Paul Watkins on the left and he slotted it away past the stranded keeper. The Demons were stung into action and Ryde's tall defence was called into action time and again heading clear. One sensed that the Ryde 'droop' that has seen them throw away leads 3 times this year was coming. Intense pressure led to a Demons goal from former Marconi player Aaron Holst at 85 mins but Ryde held out for a very well earned draw. Blacktown will not be happy with the dropped point but the draw was only fair, and Ryde played the best I've seen them.
LIve Match Report : 
UTS Olympic 2 v Newcastle Topper Breakers 2 (0-1)
Scorers: NTB - Reece Tollenaere 12 min, Leo Langone 60 min; UTSO - Norman Tome 51 & 83 min. Crowd: 2,032 (ie. less than 2K silent Olympic supporters and 60+ noisy Breakers fans). Game: 7/10 Referee: Matthew Beeze 6/10 (3 yellows?) Starting team: NTB: Swancott, Sprod, Pryce (c), McManus? (West)(Wilson) , Ritchie, Lowe, Bosnar, Langone, Bennett, Tollenaere (Umlil), Zane.
After the first rain on Friday for weeks the skies were dark and it was sprinkling on the way to Belmore but it held off giving the smallish crowd a reasonable game to enjoy. A free programme "Blues News" on entry and a nice (but $3) lamb skewer sort of helped make up for the high charges for children ($5) of which I had 3 with me ($3 or recently free at Topper). With 'Mr Spirit' Geoff Coy we joined the nice group of Breakers supporters who came down by coach and car from Newcastle and others Sydney based and who were in the centre of the stand ready for action.
Best: NTB: Langone, Bosnar, Pryce. UTSO: Catlin, Tome, Baillie.
The first half started with Breakers on the back foot as Olympic pushed the ball around nicely. With Emerton suspended however the attacking thrust fell to Ardone (held well) on the right and Tome in the middle (see below.) The Breakers defence was being well marshalled by Shane Pryce however and with Eddie Bosnar sweeping ahead of him and Ritchie, and Sprod doing well on the left, they got quickly back in the game. A fine strike by Tollenaere who slipped his close marker at 12 mins beat Catlin and sent the Breakers fans wild. Can you hear Olympic sing ... noo-oh, noo-oh! Tome was being well held and the Breakers despite utilising too many crap balls to the strikers did threaten Catlin's goal - thus at half time looked on top. Olympic too had been restricted - resorting to long range strikes and lacking their usual penetration up the flanks.
NTB goals were scored at almost exactly the same point as last week but this time they let UTSO back in. In the second half UTSO quickly put pressure on and Tome left free blasted a superb shot which gave Swancott no chance at the 51 min. Breakers replied 9 minutes later when Zane moved wide on the left and placed for once a ball out of Catlin's reach and Langone showed his hed is more accurate than hios shooting to place the ball into the net. There weren't too, many cardboard Breakers supporters at this point young and old, urged on by a smattering of Rowdies, chanting loudly. This at last got a few Olympic fans going but the O-lim-pick chant never really got on top. The Breakers attack started to lose momentum with Zane slackening off (more?) and Tollenaere being held. Only Langone seem to pick up a cog and did some great work on the right. Unfortunately the Breakers defence eventually dropped concentration and a low cross from the right saw Tome slot it away for his second at the 83 min. Both teams despite nothing to play for battled away to the end leaving fans with at least the satisfaction of having seen a real game.
PS - For Breakers fans - we gave the boys a standing chanting send-off which they returned. I hope many of them reappear next season as they have shown so often they almost have it. eg. Sproddy is on the team sheet for Central Coast in NSWSL but has done really well over the last few games, and Lowe, Wilson, Pryce, West, Baker, Lane, Austin, etc. deserve more time. Can we retain Tollenaere and the fast settling Bosnar? Just a few extra players needed but rumours leave everyone including Kosmina in doubt at present.
LIve Match Report : Friday, 3rd April, 1998 EC Rnd 25 Topper Stadium 7.30pm
Newcastle Topper Breakers 2 v. Canberra Novell Cosmos 1 (1-0) 
Scorers: NTB: Shane Pryce (pen) 12 mins, Eddie Bosnar (free) 57 mins; CNC: Peter Buljan 63 mins. Referee: Con "The Card" Diomis 6/10 (9 yellow cards / 1 red) Crowd: 3,344 Game: 6/10.
The last home game promised a tough battle for the wooden spoon. With daylight saving gone the NYL game finished after nightfall with a 3-1 win to the Breakers (top 6 chance), but it meant a perfect night for football. Canberra came with 3 ex Breakers, former crowd favourite Harry James, Andy Roberts (also ex Marconi), and Damian Brown. As anticipated the first two played out of their skin against their old club and more importantly their old coach John Kosmina. With Raul Blanco being in a box running his rule over some players it was hoped for plenty of commitment.
NTB team starting: Brad Swancott, Shane Pryce (c), Todd McManus, Peter Ritchie, Glen Sprod, Eddie Bosnar, Leo Langone (Doug West), Clayton Zane, Matthew Lowe, Reece Tollenaere, Jason Bennett.
The first half started slowly but it was soon clear that Canberra were not there to be pretty and Con Diomis started handing out yellows to them very early on. After 10 minutes the Breakers got some rythm and for the next twenty played some good football without success (nor importantly really troubling Giannasca in the Cosmos goal). Clacka Zane and Tolenare were being held well with Roberts troubling the Olyroo. Clacka broke through in the 12nd min but Harry James kicked out his foot to bring him down in the box. The penalty was well taken by Captain Pryce. The rest of the half saw little action from Canberra but no real chances from the Breakers.
The second half saw Canberra pick up the tempo and the Breakers fall away. Canberra made some chances especially to James and Buljan but Swancott was equal to them. At the 59 min Zane waltzed through and was clipped by a Cosmos player and made a very 'clear' fall. The free kick just out of the area was taken by ex AIS captain Eddie Bosnar and his kick bent around the wall and then moved away to beat the keeper. 2-0 Whether it was complacency or what, the Breakers lost all cohesion and despite Cosmos having Perinovic sent off for a 2nd card after a brutal challnge on Swancott, they were on top. It was no surprise then when from a Juric corner an unmarked Peter Buljan slotted the ball home past an exposed Swancott. Canberra could have equalised but the game ran out to a scrappy affair marred by so many cards.
Best: NTB: Sprod, Bosnar, Swancott CNC: Roberts, James, Hunter
LIve Match Report : 
Ryde City Gunners 0 v. Blacktown City Demons 2 (0-0) Sunday, 15th March, 1998
Scorers: Steve Berry (87ish), Jon Angelucci (89ish); Crowd: a dissapointing 350 or so (due to rain?). Referee: Matthew Breeze 6/10 Yellows: BCD Jon Angelucci, plus 1 to each side (names?). Seemed to have all been for dissent. Game: 7/10 - very combative and good skills despite the 'cow' paddock (read a Union ground).
Both sides came off dissapointments in the Pre-season Cup but Blacktown particularly were hungry. The first half was fairly even until the last 10 when the Demons put on a lot of pressure and had Ryde on the defensive with Sam Krslovic in the Ryde goal making several interceptions. For Ryde the 2 Tims Gledhill & Stratford were closely marked but made some chances as well. Blacktown ahead on points at the break.
Referee: Matthew Breeze 5/10 (5 yellow cards?) A few dubious offsides and possible penalty miss but otherwise passable despite the Rowdies opinion - which is always unflattering) Crowd: 2,837 - it was worth much more. Game: 7/10.
NTB team starting: Brad Swancott, Shane Pryce (c), Todd McManus, Peter Ritchie, Glen Sprod, Eddie Bosnar, Rob Ironside, Leo Langone, Clayton Zane, Reece Tollenaere, Jason Bennett.
A very hot day gave way to a perfect evening with the sun down by kick off. The NYL side had beaten the AIS 3-2 so omens were good. I arrived just in time with my two older kids and a Bodhran (Irish drum). Having convinced the very fine young blonde security officer *(female) that there wasn't any alchohol or bottles inside it we settled among a good crowd of Rowdies.
The first half was standard fayre with it settling down to a midfield battle in the centre of the park after both teams failed in their early attempts to play wide. Their were a couple of half chances at each end (both keepers doing well) but it was noticeable that the Breakers were playing a zonal defence and not sitting anyone on Mori. He was being picked up quickly by someone every time he moved. Danger man Costanzo was being kept quiet by Sproddy but on the other hand Tollenare and Langone were receiving close attention too. This allowed Jason Bwennett from midfield more latitude. At half time no score and the points were even - fair call.
Starting teams: NTB: Brad Swancott, Shane Pryce (c), Todd McManus, Doug West, Glen Sprod, Rob Ironside, Leo Langone, Reece Tollenaere, Jason Bennett, Eddie Bosnar, LIam McGuire.
Not a game for the purists but the Breakers started well having Tollenare forward early on. McGuire has a chance smothered at 10 mins after minutes earlier Swancott had to punch clear a ball at the edge of his area. Gwynne is injured in a clash with his own player and goes off the treatment, comes back on, and then leave 10 mins later. Brisbane also pressure but Breakers have 3 chances before the break with Bolton doing well. 4 yellows by time for oranges. After the half Brisbane pick up the pace and for the next 20 put Swancott under pressure.
A scarmble in the goalmouth leads to substitute Harper rifling his shot in at 64 mins. At 82 mins Langone receives a ball from Bennett and faced with a wall of players chips it over the Tollenaere who salutes it by slotting it over the head of the advancing Boltion. The Brisbane reject strikes back. 3 more yellows and a red to Laybutt in the second half.
Scorers: SU: Phillips 24 mins, NTB: Ironside 46, Zane 48, Bennett 85. Referee: Greg Leverton 6/10, Game: 8/10, Crowd: 2,119.
Starting teams: NTB: Brad Swancott, Matt Austin, Shane Pryce (c), Todd McManus, Doug West, Glen Sprod, Rob Ironside, Leo Langone, Clayton Zane, Reece Tollenaere. SU: Kalac, Vrkic, Hooker, *Munro, Bennett, *Rudan, Phillips, Bilokapic, *Burns, Bosevski, Saad.
A very hot day gave way to a southerly change which brough dark clouds, lightning, and a strong wind. The rain however stayed out to sea. After the Perth win we had hoped for perfect spectator conditions to bring Newcastle's knowledgable fans back - a shame for they missed a treat.
The first half began with pressure from the home side, and at 2mins Zane was well up but Pryce couldn't steer the resultant corner on goal. Then Langone places a great ball to Zane who pushes it to Bennett but the resurrected striker can't get a clear shot. SU get down the other end but Pryce, sweeping in front of the back two, blocks the attack. Shades of things to come - a Yellow for Mark Rudan on Jason Bennett and then for Langone studs up on Bilokapic. At 20 mins the Breakers are starting to push SU back to the southern end despite the wind, and ex Cosmos Leo Langone and Doug West hit up a partnerrship down the right which goes on to tear SU apart for most of the match and makes Hooker look ordinary. Langone to West, who centers dangerously but the wind deflects it. Saad gets into NTB half and lets fly a 35m strike which the wind carries over the crossbar. The next 5 mins sees some see-sawing and then from a Zane cross Langone misses off a Tollenaere lay off. Down the other end at 24 mins a free kick outside the box after a possible 'dive' sees the ball played short to Marcus Phillips who is free and he nicely steers the ball with the outside of his foot just inside Swancott's left hand post. 0-1 This is SU best period with them holding psssession and interpassing well. Why they don't deliver a killer punch is odd - perhaps they were stopped from doing so - but SU now try to hold the Breakers in midfield, They succeed in the middle but on the flanks Langone/West and Sprod/Bennett push up to seek the equaliser. The balls into the middle however are either astray or put Zane and Tollenaere offside (or not). They start getting frustrated and Zane is booked kicking the ball away in disgust. Still for SU there is only one strike by Phillips saved well by Swancott and plenty of action at the SU end as Langone and West cause havok - but we waste the final ball (still).
A magnificent win boys, and everyone deserves praise. Yes even Ironside! They showed discipline, concentration, as well as flair in attack and importantly some real system of attack. That was the best effort since the middle of last season.
In the 2nd half it got even more physical and eventualy Referee Breeze pulled out his yellow card on Jon Angeluccci (actually he flashed a red first which drew a loud "oooohhh.." from the crowd and red face from Breeze). Tim Gledhill had two good chances to score for Ryde but miss hit them both. The Demons slowly got on top especially after a series of injuries to Ryde players including Richard Miranda stretchered off and a badly limping Matthew Borg. A great through ball in the air for Blacktown was met with a glancing header by Steve Berry to beat Sam Krslovicat his right post. It seemed that a 0-1 result would truly reflect the game when Jon Angelucci found himself umarked in the box with the ball at his feet, which he steered around Krslovic for 0-2 final result. It had been a hard fought game and both sides should do well. Ryde is still to get right up to SL fitness and concentration. Enjoyable. Nice sanger sandwiches too Ryde.
Friday, 13th March, 1998 EC Rnd 22 Topper Stadium 7.30pm
LIve Match Report : Newcastle Topper Breakers 0 v. Adelaide City 0
Kossie had his 3 recent signings (not the last 2) in the side and their was a buzz about the team as they warmed up. I wondered why Austin, West and Lowe were out however. It was Friday the 13th but Adelaide City found some good luck (and excellent goalkeeping by Petkovic) to escape Topper Stadium with the score: 0-0.
The second half expoded with the Breakers pushing up running north toward the cemetary end and Rowdies Hill. The Rowdies and nearby supporters just got louder and louder and lifted the attack. SBS cameras focus on kids with 'drum'. Jason Petkovic was under seige for periods he was superb saving two certain goals. Despite the Rowdies very 'blue' razzing of Jason there was much admiration too. "Kalac would have dropped it" was chanted a few times. Definitely man of the match.
It took all the guile of Alex Tobin and Ivanovic to hold out. In fact there were three occasions when I (as a fomer Adcity fan) had to admire how they got away without a penalty by obscuring the referees view. There were some chances at the other end but not from Mori who was taken out cleanly by Eddie Bosnar several times. Mori slipped the ball in at one stage but had strayed offside in the box in Breeze's view.. Ex AIS captain Bosnar is getting better with each run. I wish Kossie would play him as a sweeper and piss off McManus from the backline. Swancott is growing in stature every game (:-) and did very well. The result except for the goalkeeping would have been reasonable at 2-1.
We await the Breakers Board meeting in two weeks to see if a takeover is to happen for next year!
Best: MOM Petkovic other AC: Tobin, Gibson. NTB: Bennett, Swancott, Tollenaere.
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Saturday 7th January, 1998 EC Rnd 21Match Report off Optus: Newcastle Topper Breakers 1 v. Brisbane Strikers (0-0)
Best: NTB: Bennett, West, Swancott.
Topper Stadium, Newcastle 7.40pm Friday 27th January, 1998 EC Rnd 20Match Report off Optus: Newcastle Topper Breakers 3 v. Sydney United 1 (0-1)
Sydney United came minus Kupresak, Plesa, and Barrett but they still have depth* enough to carry on and put 4 fringe Socceroos on the park. In round 6 the Breakers had outplayed SU for periods of the 2nd half so with their new infusion of Tollenaere and Langone, and an away win in Perth, in front of a vocal core Rowdie group at the cemetary end, they didn't need to feel overawed. They weren't.
The second half opens with two attacks by the Breakers which result in throws near the corner. The second from the left side sees Zane flick on to Ironside who with 3 around him swivels and bangs it past a lunging Kalac. 1-1 and we have a game. Two minutes later Zane is played through and as Kalac advances Zane lobs him nicely. 2-1. Delirium, and a rush of blood to Zane's head as he rips off his shirt in celebration. Idiot - yellow/red/off! How will the Breakers hang on for 45 mins with ten men? SU seek to use the advantage and Bilokapic hits one over. The Breakers now settle into a counter attacking style I haven't seen this season with Tollenaere up front and Ironside sweeping across the middle, plus Austin taking a big load at the back. On the break Bennett grazes the post. Langone, West, and Tollenaere don't read the script and keep breaking through SU right side and three times Tollenaere is inside the box with the ball causing panic in the SU defence. At the other end the Breakers show new discipline and concentration to blunt every attack with Sprod picking up Phillips and Austin doing the job on Saad. Magnificent. Kosmina keeps faith with his 11 as Mitchell puts 3 fresh bodies on the park. It makes no difference. With 10 minutes to go SU get through twice. One saved by Swancott, and the other resolved with Joe Moric putting one over from 25m. Just when Tollenaere looks like Monaghetti after a marathon Jason Bennett slips quietly up in support and as Reece is surrounded at the edge of the box he slips the ball to Jason who turns the one defender on him inside out and wacks it past Kalac. 3-1 Even then they continued to attack. Sing Rowdies, sing!
Best: NTB: Langone, West, Austin (but Tollenaere gets a special mention for his selfless running and holding). SU: Phillips, Vrkic, Kalac
- kevrenor@ozemail.com.au Click to return to the TOP of this page
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