10 Aug 2022
As the hangover from winning the South Coast Final lingered, only six days later the boys found themselves travelling 450km to the Central West city of Dubbo to play Dubbo College in the State Cup Quarter final match. Driving to Dubbo took up most of Monday 1 August, with the match scheduled the following day with a 10am kick off. The venue was Dubbo’s premium playing field, Apex Oval.
We were told to bring our thermals as the weather is normally freezing this time of year in Dubbo, but fortunately come match day, the perfect day greeted us with the sun shining bright and not a cloud in the sky.
The boys from Smith's Hill were up for the match and the better of the two teams from the opening whistle. Dubbo were intent on pressuring Smith’s Hill, but the accurate passing and dominant possession told early as we started to create some early opportunities. It didn’t take long for Sami Benten to have an impact on the match, as he lobbed a ball over the Dubbo defenders with the ever-calm Sebastian Stanojevic dribbling into the box and slotting the ball inside the far post for the opening goal. Smith’s Hill 1-0 with a great start taking the lead after nine minutes.
As the first half wore on, Dubbo tried breaking down our structure and posing a threat, but Smith’s Hill held firm and stuck to the game plan as set out by coach Elvis Necovski. Euan Reidy, goalkeeper, was barely tested in the first half, but was handy with his feet as he helped play the ball out from the back. With the match played at a frantic pace, fresh legs were called upon after 20 minutes of play. The ever-present William Aston switched to the right side of play, which paid dividends, as Luke Palermo sent one over the top for Sami Benten, who then put in a pinpoint cross for Aston to blast a header past the diving goalkeeper. Smith’s Hill lead 2-0 going into the half time break.
The half time talk was “more of the same” and the boys obliged playing some great football, but slowly the tide was starting to turn with Dubbo edging closer to opportunities and having a few shots at our goal. Jem Benten was called into action early in the second half as Samuel Palermo took a hefty knock on the shins and Ted Kelly continued his ever-improving game, working well with Jem to stifle Dubbo’s intent with the ball. On the 50th minute of the match, a match turning penalty was awarded to Dubbo College. Euan Reidy saved the first spot kick, only for a dubious decision to be awarded Dubbo’s way as they got a second bite of the cherry and a retake of the penalty. Showing amazing character, Euan held his nerve winning the mental battle with the Dubbo kick taker, saving straight down the middle of the goal for the second time.
The boys cheered and high fived as such a big moment stemmed the tide, with the pressure back on Dubbo to find a way back into the match. Full credit across the park, as the entire team lifted working hard to pressure Dubbo and win the ball back. In the 60th minute, Alex De Santis produced some silky moves as he left a defender in his wake, making his way down the line and squaring a perfect ball into the box for Sami Benten to tap in the finish. Dubbo managed to find a late goal, with the final score 3-1, but it was Smith’s Hill with the spoils at Apex Oval.
Team list: Euan Riedy, Nixon Nourie, Kai Kubota, Adam Kairis, Samuel Palermo, Luke Palermo, Louis Miller-Tamsitt, Sebastian Stanojevic, Alexander De Santis, Sami Benten, William Aston, Dylan Dimoski, Adrian Morgan, Oscar Lovrek, Ted Kelly, Jem Benten
Teacher: Lisa Gass
Coach: Elvis Necovski