Roy Hay

(Click on the photographs below to enlarge them)

Hamish Flavell of Golden Plains at full stretch as he tries to grab a Corio corner kick in the final

Corio have appeared in the last five finals of the Geelong Community Cup and its predecessors, and lost the lot, but on Sunday night at Myers Reserve it was sixth time lucky as they downed newcomers Golden Plains by two goals to nil. Vedran Stojanovic was the hero with both goals one in each half in a game that the green machine dominated without being able to relax as Golden Plains refused to concede defeat.

Heading duel in the grand final

Corio was nearly at full strength for the final, though striker Jasmin Ikanovic started on the bench. That allowed Stojanovic to play in a more advanced role after his brief cameo in the semi-final. In the twentieth minute the big man strode on to a through ball and gave Hamish Flavell in the Plains goal no chance. A few minutes later he put over a deep low cross from the right but Elton Savice could not reach the ball and it squirted away for a goal kick. Corio had more of the play, but Golden Plains defended well and broke quickly when they could. There was no further score in the first half.

Andrew Longo of Golden Plains had a shot that just cleared the cross-bar in the 49th minute, and three minutes later there was an incident in midfield that resulted in bookings for Longo and Nicholas Anderson of Corio. The resultant free kick to Golden Plains was headed over by Shayan Zarne. Ikanovic came on for Savice in the 56th minute and was quickly in the action shooting just wide a minute later. Michael Boyar carved out another opening for Corio and Stojanovic applied the finishing touch. Lucas Bonifacio tried to lob Corio keeper Simon Smyth but the effort just cleared the cross-bar. In injury time Corio skipper, Ronnie Clayson was booked for a severe challenge on the edge of the penalty area but the free kick was blocked and with that Golden Plains gallant campaign ended.

Golden Plains with their runners-up medals

In the match for third place, Geelong Rangers showed some of the cutting edge that was missing in the semi-final and had a comfortable four-nil win over Bell Park. Bell Park lost Anthony Nekrep inside the first couple of minutes with a leg injury that forced his replacement by Ibi Matjara. The reshuffled defence was breached twice in two minutes. Ryan Supple converted a cross from the left in the 10th minute and when Rangers caused a turnover in the Bell Park half, Zac Harry ran through to score a minute later. Mijo Marinovic had a chance to reduce the deficit for Bell Park, but the big man sclaffed the ball wide of the post (Sclaff is a Scottish word for a mishit slice). Left back Colin Hamilton had a run and a long shot that hit the top of the cross bar as Rangers kept pressing. A combined move down the left gave Harry his second opportunity which he converted. Rangers should have gone four-up in the 49th minute but Daniel Earley put his penalty kick wide of the left-hand post. Matt Humphries came on as substitute and finished a driven cross from the left with a precise grounder.

Colin Hamilton of Geelong Rangers on the ball

Victorian Minister for Sport and football devotee, John Eren, presented the medals to players and officials and handed the Community Cup to Ronnie Clayson, who led the Corio celebrations with gusto.

Ronnie Clayson leads the Corio celebrations

Roy Hay

Corio will be an unbackable favourite to win the Geelong Community Cup on Sunday when it takes on newcomer Golden Plains in the final at Myers Reserve at 6 pm. Corio has been in the last five finals and lost them all and this time it is determined to reclaim the pre-season trophy it last won in 2010. Golden Plains surprised everyone, including host club Geelong Rangers, with a single goal victory in its semi-final last Sunday and has nothing to lose in its first appearance in the competition.

Golden Plains (in yellow) take on Geelong Rangers in the Geelong Community Cup semi-final

Both teams should be close to full strength. Corio gave Vedran Stojanovic a brief run off the bench against Bell Park last Sunday and he responded with the final goal in a four–two win. Andrew Longo’s blistering free kick produced the only goal of the second semi-final, but it was enough to down the Dark Blues.

Corio (photo courtesy of Mario Gregorio)

The match for third place between Geelong Rangers and Bell Park will kick off at 4 pm at Myers Reserve on Sunday, followed by the final at 6 pm.

Geelong Advertiser Cup/Diversity Cup Finals 1981–2017

1981    Bell Park                                    1          Hamlyn Rangers                     0

(Ray Pocock)

1982    Corio                                          3          Geelong United                       2

(George Tillinger, Mick Oppermann,      (Joe Fopiani, Pilgrim)

Eddie Radojevic)

1983    Geelong                                      5          West Geelong                          1

(Andy Munro, Darren Tuck 2,                (Bill Nikolovski)

Don Smythe 2)

1984    West Geelong                             2          Geelong                                    1

(Wally Stojanovski 2)                             (Liam McCloskey)

1985    North Geelong                           2          Geelong United                       1

(John Hrkac, Robert Cosic)                    (Hugh Rattray)

1986    North Geelong                           2          Geelong                                    0

(Billy Auld, John Hrkac)

1987    Hamlyn Rangers                       1          East Geelong                           0

(Billy Muir)

1988    Bell Park                                    6          North Geelong                         4

(Paul Mills 2, Tommy Cumming 2,        (John Hrkac 3, John Coutts)

Zoran Babic, Own goal) After one-all draw

1989    Corio-Geelong United               0          North Geelong                         2

(Mirko Brandich, David Krasic)

1990    Geelong                                      2          North Geelong                         2

(Kenny Prior, Mel Jones)                       (John Hrkac, Adrian Cervinski)

Geelong won 4-3 on penalties

1991    North Geelong                           3          Corio-Geelong United            1

(Adrian Cervinski 2, David Cervinski) (Sergio di Blasi)

1992    North Geelong                           6          Geelong                                    1

(John Didulica 3,                                     (Mel Jones)

Goran Georgievski 2, Bogdan Bonk)

1993    North Geelong                           1          Bell Park                                  0

(John Didulica)

1994    North Geelong                           4          Geelong                                    1

(John Didulica, Ivan Skoko,                   (Mark Linney)

Josip Skoko, Miro Stosic)

1995    North Geelong                           6          Geelong Rangers                     2

(Ivan Skoko 3, Charles Fitzpatrick,         (Andrew Munro, Scott Davison)

Zoran Roso, George Dimovski)

1996    North Geelong                           8          Geelong                                    1

(George Dimovski 3, Ante Deak 2,        (Steven Ginoski)

Ante Skoko, Charles Fitzpatrick, own goal)

1997    North Geelong                           3          Geelong                                    2

(Ivan Skoko 2, David Cuell)                   (Grant Carr, Vlado Stojanovski)

1998    North Geelong                           2          Corio                                        2

(Grgo Saric, Mate Dulic)                        (Stanko Leban, Boris Leban)

(Corio won 6-5 on penalties)

1999    Geelong                                      3          Corio                                        2

(Cedo Rakic, Lou Stefanovski,               (Ivan Biscan, Stanko Leban)

Bobby Kules)

2000    Geelong                                      1          North Geelong                         1

(George Dimovski)                                 (Robbie Noggler)

(Geelong won on penalties)

2001    North Geelong                           2          Corio                                        1

(Ivan Skoko 2)                                        (Miro Stosic)

2002    North Geelong                           1          Geelong                                    2

(Grgo Saric)                                            (Nick Bosevski, Troy Hardy)

2003    North Geelong                           3          Hoppers Crossing                   2

(Tom Gavran, Goran Skoko,                  (Vincent Honore, Andrew Jablonski)

Chris Tabak)

(North Geelong 2 Hoppers Crossing 2 at full time, North won by golden goal)

2004    North Geelong                           2          Geelong Rangers                     1

(Adrian Cervinski 2)                               (Scott Davison)

(North Geelong 1 Geelong Rangers 1 at full time, North won by golden goal)

2005    North Geelong                           4          Geelong                                    0

(Daniel Dragicevic, Mijo Trupkovic,

Adrian Cervinski, David Cervinski)

2006    North Geelong                           5          Geelong Rangers                     1

(Tom Gavran 2, Ante Deak,

Tony Saric, Robert Hibbins)

2007    North Geelong                           2          Geelong Rangers                     0

(Mark Paleka, Manny Karas)

2008    Geelong                                      3          Hoppers Crossing                   1

(Jasmin Ikanaovic 2,                               (Athan Likoudaris)

Bobby Sobevski)

2009    Surfcoast                                    0          Geelong Rangers                     1

(James Blackburn)

2010    Surfcoast                                    0          Corio                                        1

(Drew Corry)

2011    North Geelong                           4          Geelong                                    0

(Robert Zadworny 2, Bojan Misljenovic,

Matthew Demo)

2012    North Geelong                           8          Corio                                        1

(Michael Anderson 5, Alan Paleka,        (Mijo Marinovic)

Robbie Zadworny, Callum Ferguson)

2013    Corio                                          0          North Geelong                         2

(Jackson Davis, Reardo Luka)

2014    North Geelong                           1          Corio                                        1

(Matt Townley)                                       (Vedran Stojanovic)

(North won 4–1 on penalties)

2015    Geelong                                      1          Corio                                        1

(Jasmin Ikanovic)                                    (Andrew Palmieri)

(Geelong won 4–3 on penalties)

Morris Finance Cup

2016    Bell Park                                    2          Corio                                        1

(Mijo Marinovic, Frank Modica)            (Nathan Cook)

Action between Lara United (in white) and Golden Plains in the group stages of the Community Cup.

Geelong Community Cup

2017    Corio                                          v          Golden Plains

()                                                                         ()

Roy Hay

(Click on the images below to enlarge them)

In probably the biggest upset in the long history of the Geelong pre-season Cup, newcomers Golden Plains downed host and joint tournament favourite Geelong Rangers by a goal to nil to reach the final where they will meet Corio next Sunday. Corio came from behind to beat Bell Park by four goals to two in the other semi-final. Corio has lost the last five finals in succession, but if the club thinks they are sure to lift the trophy in 2017 they had better learn from what happened on Sunday night.

Action from the Golden Plains versus Geelong Rangers match

Golden Plains played a disciplined first half, packing the midfield and defence and relying on the odd breakaway to lift the pressure. Lucas Bonifacio of Golden Plains split the Rangers defence in the second last minute of the first half, but the grounder was saved by keeper Hayden van der Chys.

At half-time, long time Rangers’ president Paul Millar expected Rangers to run over their opposition as they had done in all the previous second halves in this year’s cup, but though the Dark Blues had nearly all the possession they could not convert that into a goal.

On the hour mark Golden Plains got a free kick a few metres outside the Rangers penalty area and slightly left of centre. Andrew Longo, formerly of Bell Park, has scored some cracking goals from distance in his career but none better than this swerving effort which flew into the top left hand corner of the goal.

Rangers still had plenty of time to get on terms and they peppered the goal for much of that time finding Hamish Flavell quite unbeatable until the very last minute. Stefan Bisinella of Golden Plains tripped Ryan Calder on the edge of the box. Jordan Swaney, who had a quieter game than usual, stepped up to take the kick, but it clipped the cross-bar and with it went Rangers’ chance of saving the game.

Corio's Nathan Cook (nearest camera) takes on Bell Park's Liam Page

In the early game Bell Park went behind after only seven minutes when following Corio’s corner from the left defender Ronnie Clayson was celebrating as if he had scored, but the last touch was probably by Josh Berta of Bell Park. Four minutes later and Corio were level. Once again a corner kick was involved and big Mijo Marinovic jumped for the ball and though he missed his header the ball went in off his shoulder.

Frozen in time to the amusement of referee Mal Bosnjak, a corner kick in the Corio v Bell Park semi-final.

Bell Park took the lead again in the 25th minute. This time Daniel Grozdanovski was given the freedom of the park and he ran through to beat the unprotected Adam Kumcevski. Three minutes of injury time had been played at the end of the first half when Elton Savice picked up a cross from the right and cut in to finish sweetly and put Corio level once again. The second half saw Corio gradually gain supremacy. Michael Boyar set up Jasmin Ikanovic for a shot which curled round the keeper in the 52nd minute. In the 70th a good cross from the right was met by substitute Vedran Stojanovic with a precise near post header to make it four-two to Corio.

The match for third place will take place next Sunday at 4 pm between Geelong Rangers and Bell Park and the grand final will follow at 6 pm as Corio takes on surprise packet Golden Plains. The Bannockburn club will go into the match full of confidence, determined that the fairy tale is not yet over.

Roy Hay

A one-all draw against Corio secured the last place in this year’s Community Cup finals at Geelong Rangers’ Myers Reserve on Sunday. Corio was already through and the result meant that Lara United had to win the last group match against Geelong to qualify. In the end the higher division club won by two goals to one. In appalling conditions as the rain pelted down the quality of play in both matches suffered though no one could fault the commitment of all those taking part.

Jasmin Ivanovic of Corio in green and white surrounded by Golden Plains players

Golden Plains shocked Corio with an early goal after 14 minutes. Ronnie Clayson appeared to fall over, but after the game he was still trying to convince the referee that he was pushed in the back. Lucas Bonafacio took advantage and rounded keeper Adam Kumcevski and put the ball into the empty net. It took Corio another twenty minutes to get on terms. Michael Boyar made an incisive run down the wing and his final shot was parried away for a corner kick. The ball was played back to Clayson who whipped it across and Boyar headed it home. It stayed at one-all as the heavens opened and both sides struggled to keep their feet. Jasmin Ikanovic had a good header for Corio that brought out an equally fine save by Plains keeper Hamish Flavell. Golden Plains did pin Corio back at times but could not find another goal. Nevertheless at their first Community Cup they are into the knock-out semi-finals where they will meet host and favourite, Geelong Rangers, next Sunday night.

Geelong line-up a free kick against Lara United

Geelong fielded their youngsters once again with Chris Balabarova lending his experience and drive in midfield in the heavy going. Lyndsay Falzon has been impressed by the effort of his squad at Lara United, and though his team went behind after seven minutes they continued to take the fight to Geelong. A long shot by Geelong’s Dusko Delic squirmed through the hands of keeper Harley Marsden. You could hardly blame the goalie since the ball must have been like the proverbial bar of soap. In the 16th minute Geelong keeper Dylan Nikolovski took out Ben Houston and was booked for the challenge. The youngster picked himself up and fired in the free kick which the keeper diverted on to the post and away for a fruitless corner. Geelong got a penalty in the last minute of the first half, but the kick was delayed because the penalty spot was pool of water. Eventually Matt Linney took the responsibility and put Geelong two ahead. Lara got back into the game early in the second half when there was huge scramble in the Geelong goal area and Jack Jones forced the ball home from close-in. Lara would still have needed two more goals to dislodge Golden Plains and though they did have a couple of chances there was no further score.

So next Sunday Corio will play Bell Park kicking-off at 4 pm, followed by Geelong Rangers against Golden Plains at 6 pm. The winners will meet in the final on 19 February.

Roy Hay

Geelong Rangers topped Group A of the Geelong Community Cup after a seven-one thrashing of Surfcoast, while Bell Park booked its place in the finals after coming from behind to beat Deakin Ducks by the odd goal in five.

Mijo Marinovic of Bell Park is tumbled over as he fights for the ball

In the early game Bell Park were stunned in the fourth minute when Deakin’s Abdullah Wahidi opened the scoring. Deakin should have had a second shortly after, but the ball rebounded from the post when it looked much easier to score. It took Park until the 19th minute before Andrew Palmieri brought the all whites level.

A crowded penalty box and the Deakin Ducks versus Bell Park match

Once again Park was slow out of the blocks in the second half and Sam Gower got his second goal of the competition for Deakin within a minute of the restart. There seemed little urgency about Bell Park’s efforts to remedy the situation until Joshua Berta equalised. Berta was also instrumental in the winning goal in the last minute beating his man and lifting the ball into the goal area for Mijo Marinovic to score with a short range header. Both teams hit the woodwork and had chances galore, but Park just fell over the line. So its defence of its Community Cup continues, while Deakin showed that it could give the teams from higher divisions a run for their money.

Michael Bothwell of Geelong Rangers holds off Liam Dunn of Surfcoast.

Host club Geelong Rangers was expected to be far too strong for an undermanned Surfcoast and so it turned out in the end, but the early stages were closely contested and Rangers had only a single goal advantage at the break. Surfcoast keeper Joel Gawne saved an inswinging corner kick but the ball was not cleared properly and when it came back in Jordan Swaney thumped it past the stranded keeper. A couple of minutes into the second half, Surfcoast got a corner on the right and Jordan Parker floated a dangerous ball into the goal area. Rangers’ keeper Hayden van der Chys tried to help it over the bar but only succeeded in turning it into his own net. Referee James Perks credited the goal to Parker, because it would probably have crept in without the keeper’s intervention.

Where has it gone? This would make a good spot-the-ball picture.

That stung Rangers into a sustained response and when Matt Humphries bamboozled a defender who brought him down in the box, Conor Reddan buried the resultant penalty. Substitute Alex Timms added a third goal with a deflected shot in 54 minutes and Lars Halse made it four from a good low cross by Daniel Earley. Swaney got his second and Rangers fifth from a diagonal ball in 61 minutes, then Halse gave big Colin Hamilton the chance to convert with a close-range header and finally Reddan ran through a static defence and nutmegged the keeper as the referee blew shortly afterwards for full time.

On Sunday night Group B will be settled when Golden Plains plays Corio at 6 pm, followed by Lara against Geelong. Corio is through already but all the other three clubs have a chance of joining them, though Lara and Golden Plains already have a win apiece, while Geelong has not yet picked up a point.

Roy Hay

A crowded penalty area as Bell Park takes on Surfcoast

There were big wins for host club, Geelong Rangers, and cup holder Bell Park in the Geelong Community Cup on Sunday night. After Golden Plains upsetting Geelong on Friday, the expected order of things was re-established as Rangers beat Deakin Ducks four-one and Bell Park hammered Surfcoast five-nil. Park ended the evening with a positive goal difference having started the evening at minus-four and second place in the Group A table. All the teams in the Cup this year seem to have rediscovered the spirit of the tournament and have given numerous youngsters a chance to see what they can do.

Antony De Guidice of Bell Park (6) tries to force his way into a shooting position.

Surfcoast was caught out in the first few minutes giving the ball away as it tried to break out of defence and was punished twice. Daniel Grozdanovski took advantage in the third minute and though his shot was blocked Antony Del Guidice followed up to score. Then another turn over in the 9th minute allowed Liam Page a chance to stroll through unchallenged for a second goal. Surfcoast’s task was made more difficult when Ryan Boardman crashed to the ground damaging his shoulder and he took no further part in the game. His team held out till the interval, but another turnover allowed Grozdanovski to make it three in 49 minutes. Five minutes later a cross from the right was converted by Joshua Berta. Then Berta chased a hopeful lob into the box and beat keeper Joel Gawne for the fifth and final goal.

Geelong Rangers keeper Sam Stoneley in possession.

Geelong Rangers was expected to have no trouble with Deakin Ducks. When Matthew Humphries was brought down for a penalty kick in the 13th minute and Matt Long buried the kick it all seemed to be going by the script. But Deakin hit back ten minutes later. Troy Harrison’s initial effort was blocked but Nick Mussara followed up to equalise. That set the pattern with Rangers having the majority of possession but looking vulnerable when Deakin mounted the odd quick counter-attack. Just on the stroke of half-time Rangers charged down the right and Matt Long  was credited with a goal thanks to a sharp eyed assistant referee who spotted the ball had just crossed the line.

Both teams made several changes in the second half and Rangers were eventually able to turn their greater share of possession into goals as the Deakin lads ran out of legs. Substitute Colin Rankin got the bye-line and cut the ball back for Jak Banks to score his third goal of the competition. Jordan Swaney thumped in an unstoppable shot from ‘Willy Muir distance’. Older fans will remember Willy’s goal that won the Advertiser Cup for Rangers in 1987 from a distance that increases every time the story is told. Deakin almost had a consolation when Tom Back hit a high ball from even further out but keeper Sam Stoneley scrambled back and diverted the effort for a corner kick.

Next Friday night Deakin Ducks take on Bell Park at 6 pm, followed by Geelong Rangers against Surfcoast at 7.20 pm and on Sunday it is Golden Plains against Corio and then Lara United versus Geelong.

Roy Hay

Corio is through to the finals of this season’s Geelong Community Cup after a comfortable three-nil win over a tiring Lara United, while Golden Plains upset a very young Geelong side by a single goal in the second half. Both matches were in Group B of the competition.

In the early game in Myers Reserve, Corio dominated possession but almost found themselves behind when keeper Simon Smyth handled a high pass back giving away a free kick. But his wall did its job blocking Kristian Edwards’ drive. At the other end Elton Savice troubled Harley Marsden but the ball was eventually cleared and Nathan Cook’s effort was saved after a good run by Jasmin Ikanovic.

Ethan Cook of Corio and Corey Houston of Lara (15, in blue) in action in the Geelong Community Cup.

In the final minute of the first half two Lara attackers could not put the ball in the net after Smyth’s miskick left them clear in front of goal. So the first half ended goalless and it was not till the 40th minute that Corio got the breakthrough. Billy Argyros found Ikanovic with a delicious through ball and the striker gave Savice an easy finish. Argyros had a hand in the second goal on the hour mark when his cross from the right set up Ikanovic in close range. As time ran out Ikanovic got his second goal as a tiring Lara defence was breached for the third time. Lara coach Lindsay Falzon was not downhearted. ‘All but one of the lads we fielded tonight was playing with the reserves last season and before kick off we were unsure if we would be able to field eleven players. They did well until they tired at the end.

Midfield action from Geelong in orange and Golden Plains

The second game might have been expected to be a walk over for Geelong, who won promotion last season and so will be three divisions above Golden Plains this coming winter. But the club decided to field a team of youngsters and it was the newcomers from Bannockburn who dominated the game for all but a ten-minute spell after half-time. Neither side could score in the first half despite a number of defensive mistakes. In the 44th minute, Lucas Bonifacio of Golden Plains had a great chance to score but shot straight at keeper Alex Kitanovski. Seven minutes later Jayden Kinces crossed and Alesandro Stefano could not miss from directly in front of goal to put Golden Plains ahead. There were chances at both ends in the dying stages. Geelong’s Tony Tassone tested keeper Hamish Flavell who palmed the ball away for a fruitless corner kick and with almost the last touch Jake Knilcic of Golden Plains hit the Geelong cross-bar, but there was no further score.

The Hon John Eren, Victorian Minister for Sport, fresh from launching the Cadel Evans bicycle race, was a keen spectator at Friday night’s games.

On Sunday night, Bell Park plays Surfcoast at 6 pm and Geelong Rangers takes on Deakin Ducks at 7.20 pm in Group A.

The Geelong-Corio match began with a bang and two goals inside the first four minutes. Geelong’s Matthew Linney and George Slefendorfan combined to cut through a static Corio defence and the latter beat keeper Adam Kumcovski from close range. Corio rebounded and were level immediately as Elton Savice pounced on a loose ball in the Geelong penalty area and gave Alec Kitanovski no chance. Shivasnan Kanapathy found himself in the clear for Corio in the 11th minute but put his shot well wide of goal. Geelong’s Isi Erdogan got himself booked for a challenge and possibly a bit of dissent, but neither side could add to its score in an even first half.

Ronnie Clayson of Corio goes up for a header

The second period promised more end-to-end action but when Kitanovski came charging off his line and cannoned into Corio’s Michael Boyar, referee Steven Kolar had no option but to award a penalty. Jasmin Ikanovic stepped up and converted the spot kick against his old club in the 41st minute. There was still plenty of time for Geelong to get on terms and Daniel Conte tested the keeper with a good effort after cutting in from the left. Ronnie Clayson and Steven Luczo held firm for Corio, which just about deserved its win. It would not surprise me if these teams were to meet again in the final, though the host team, Geelong Rangers, might have something to say about that.

Action from Corio v Geelong

Golden Plains made its debut in the competition and had a good share of the play against Lara United in the first half. A long free kick found former Andrew Longo’s head at the back post but Lara keeper Harley Marsden claimed the ball just under the bar. Justin Wilson fired in a free kick at the other end and Hamish Flavell saved it. On the half hour Lara made a quick break down the middle and Samuele Volpe converted from close range.

Golden Plains (in blue) v Lara United

Both sides were reduced to ten men in the second half. Ben Houston received a second yellow card for Lara and Shayan Zarale of Golden Plains got a straight red after a fierce tackle. As the game opened up chances were created at both ends. Golden Plains hit the woodwork in a late attack but Lara just held on for the narrow win.

Next Friday night Corio plays Lara at 6 pm followed by Geelong against Golden Plains at 7.20 pm. Then on Sunday it is Bell Park versus Surfcoast followed by Geelong Rangers versus Deakin Ducks.

Among the crowd were some of the stars of the Geelong Advertiser Cup. From the left, Tommy Cumming, Sam McNeilage, Slobodan Jovanovic and Mark Linney.