Carramar Shamrock Rovers completed a league and cup double after defeating Dianella White Eagles 3-1 in Friday night’s Men’s State League Division Two final at Dorrien Gardens.
Rovers capped an unbelievable maiden year as a merged club under coach Gerry McEwan, with goals from Siyang Zhang, substitute Lachlan Parker and Nathan Diaz.
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Zhang struck early to give the Division Two league champions the lead but the well-supported White Eagles hit back right on half-time through Chris Rizidis.
Dianella coach Bobby Despotovski, who had lost top scorer Asa Sippits before kick-off, was forced into two substitutions through injury and that eventually took its toll, as Shamrock broke through via Parker’s 73rd minute strike before Diaz sealed the win with a diving header.
The result continues Dianella’s long wait for silverware, which dates back to 1993, and ends a tough year for the club following the death of coach Rod Banjac in July.
Zhang opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Jack Bardsley’s right-wing cross found him unmarked and his driven deflected shot beat Dianella keeper Thomas Livingstone.
Carramar almost had another minutes later when Bardsley’s long throw was headed onto the crossbar by the lively Ger Fitzgerald.
Dianella skipper Liam Merrigan tested goalkeeper Daniel Holgate as they started to get into the game, before Fitzgerald forced Livingstone into a sharp save.
White Eagles pair Scott Barker and Bojan Stefoski both were replaced before half-time, while Rovers hit the woodwork again from another long Bardsley throw which Kieran Harrison almost forced home.
But Dianella responded right on half-time when Milorad Vujacic lofted a ball into the box for Rizidis to chest down and bounce past Holgate for 1-1.
Moments after Dianella’s Milan Vulin was forced off injured, Carramar hit the woodwork for a third time in the 62nd minute when a lunging Diaz played in Harrison whose first-time left-foot strike beat Livingstone but not the upright.
The deadlock was broken by Parker, who had replaced Zhang in the 56th minute. The substitute worked a one-two with Diaz and produced a neat finish to initiate scenes of wild celebration.
Fitzgerald had a goal disallowed for a push shortly after, while Dianella thought they had levelled but Rizidis had hit the side netting.
But the Carramar party finally got started when Patrick Morrison laid off a right-flank cross for Diaz as he ghosted into the box and headed in to seal the deal.
And there was glory for another newly merged north-based club as Kingsley Westside won the Division Two Reserves final via a penalty shoot-out against Murdoch University Melville, following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
Keeper Ben Partridge was the hero for Kingsley, saving two penalties in the shootout.
On Saturday, the first of four finals sees Morley Windmills and Wanneroo City meet in the Division Two 18s final (10am).
Then it’s the Division One 18s final between Subiaco and Joondalup United (12.15pm), followed by the Division One Reserves final with Quinns facing Subiaco (2.30pm).
The last match on Saturday, which will be live streamed on Football West’s YouTube and Facebook pages, is the Division One first team final. Again it involves the league champions, Olympic Kingsway, who go up against Fremantle City (4.45pm).
On Sunday, there will be five finals and all will be live streamed.
First up is the NPLWA Men’s 18s encounter between Bayswater City and Sorrento (10am). Then it’s the NPLWA Women’s 23 decider between Northern Redbacks and Fremantle City (12.15pm). Next sees Bayswater City and ECU Joondalup clash in the NPLWA Men’s 20 final (2.30pm).
The final two matches are the NPLWA first team finals.
Meeting in the Women’s final are Northern Redbacks and Fremantle City (4.45pm).
Finally it’s the Men’s final between Floreat Athena and hosts Perth SC, which kicks off at 7.15pm.
All finals which are level at 90 minutes will go straight to penalties with the exception of the NPLWA first team games, which will have extra time and then penalties if necessary.
Admission to Dorrien Gardens for Saturday is $5, while it is $10 on Sunday.
Filed Under: Men's State League