Goals: 0:1 Paul Ivanic (5.); 0:2 Stephen Lee (10.); 0:3 Ivan Pavlak (19.); 1:3 Robbie Deeley (27.); 1:4 Stephen Lee (38.); 1:5 Paul Ivanic (40.); 2:5 Robbie Deeley (43.); 2:6 Adam Spaleta (51.); 3:6 Daniel Barac (59.); 3:7 John Glass (62.); 4:7 Robbie Deeley (78.); 4:8 Paul Ivanic (Penalty, 87.); 5:8 Daniel Barac (90+3.)

Simply unbelievable. At the end of ninety pulsating minutes of football Canberra FC emerged as the2011 ROCK Premier League Grand Final winners with a quite sensational 8-5 victory over Canberra Olympic at Deakin Stadium. This was the game that had everything, thirteen goals, a missed penalty and a sending off adding up to a match that will go down in the annals of local football history as one of the most epic matches ever seen. And, whilst the defending at times seemed optional, few present will ever forget this one.

It was the game that signalled the end of the career of Canberra FC stalwart John Glass, heading into retirement with a fairytale finish scoring a thumping header and leaving the field to a standing ovation when replaced by Michael Spaleta late on, and also showcased the talents of Robbie Deeley. Olympic’s New Zealand import demonstrated that he can be as pivotal to his team as Adam Spaleta is to Canberra FC, claiming a hat-trick in an effervescent performance that was only blotted by a horrendous penalty miss.

The match, as a contest, appeared to be over even before it had started when Canberra FC raced into a scarcely probable 3-0 lead after only eighteen minutes. Having lost to Olympic in the major semi-final a fortnight ago the home team were in no mood to succumb again and wasted little time in laying down a marker for the game ahead taking the lead as early as the fifth minute. The goal though owed much to ill fortune for Dean Ugrinic and his team with goalkeeper James Bradbury shanking a clearance into Joel Valtonen and watching as it broke to Paul Ivanic who gleefully turned in the first of his Grand Final treble.

Five minutes later and the home support was up and dancing again. Ian Graham, striding through midfield like a colossus, turned Nick Sallecchia inside-out on the right flank and centred for Ivanic to lay off into the path of Stephen Lee who curled a delicious left foot shot past the out-stretched hand of Bradbury and into the corner of the net.

Two became three in the eighteenth minute as Graham fed Ivan Pavlak allowing the rapid left winger space to run at the inexperienced Hristjan Tanoski, Pavlak cut outside and in before firing a low shot that eluded Bradbury at his near post and flashed into the net. Olympic were on their knees and needed a quick response. They got it on 26 minutes when Deeley showed just why he is the king of the set-piece with a wonderful free-kick from twenty-five metres that took a slight deflection off the Canberra FC wall on its way past Ben Klug in the goal.

By now Olympic were in the ascendancy and Jakob Williams went close from a free-kick, forcing Klug to tip the ball over the bar. From the resultant corner Robbie Schroder headed over when well-placed. This spell only furthered Canberra FC’s desire though and they went 4-1 up in the 38th minute. Ivanic used is strength to win the ball and play it back to Pavlak and from the lofted cross Lee, the smallest man on the field, leapt highest to send a header looping over Bradbury for a quite brilliant goal.

Two minutes later it was 5-1. Adam Spaleta sent a half-volleyed cross over the Olympic defence where Schroder missed his clearance allowing Ivanic the easiest of tasks to prod a shot past Bradbury from ten metres. And still the goals kept coming. Canberra FC failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Deeley who sent a snap shot straight back that beat Klug and crashed into the net off the base of the ‘keeper’s right hand post as Olympic went into the break down 5-2.

Any hope of an unlikely comeback was stifled five minutes after the restart when Canberra FC racked up the half dozen. Ivanic appeared to be fouled but referee Richard Naumovski played a superb advantage and Spaleta raced clear to slot home a well-taken goal. To their credit Olympic refused to give in and reduced the gap to 6-3 in the 58th minute. Substitute Travis Dries pounced on a mistake from Ryan Keir and fed Daniel Barac with the striker initially forcing a smart save from Klug before turning the rebound into the net from an acute angle.

Stung again, Canberra FC swarmed onto the offensive once more and from an inch-perfect Spaleta cross, Glass had his moment rising high to plant a thumping header into the corner of the goal with Bradbury, once again, left stranded. At 7-3 with fifteen minutes to play the players could have been forgiven for taking it easy. No such luck. Olympic were awarded a penalty when Oliver Wiederkehr sent a cross into the area that was handled by Aidan Brunskill only for Deeley to blaze the resultant kick miles over the bar. No matter. Within a dozen minutes he made amends. Exchanging passes with substitutes Elia Salloum and Dries, Deeley then arrowed in a drive into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick.

The last word it appeared would go to Canberra FC. The league champions broke again with Adam Spaleta racing clear and rounding Bradbury. His first touch was too heavy which allowed the young Olympic custodian to recover only for Spaleta to beat him again and then rifle a close range shot at goal that was handled by Schroder on the line. Naumovski had little option but to dismiss Schroder and Ivanic brought up his treble from the spot to make the score 8-4.

However, Olympic were to have the final say, even in defeat. As stoppage time ticked over Barac rose high to send a header past Klug and bring the curtain down on a sensational evening’s entertainment of which we’re unlikely to ever see it’s like again. Breathtaking stuff and some way to round out the 2011 ROCK Premier League season.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Valeri Medal Winner: Stephen Lee (Canberra FC): A strong running game from Stephen Lee ensured he won the Valeri Medal with the speedy winger scoring twice and causing havoc in the Canberra Olympic defence whenever he got the ball. Leapt splendidly for his second goal of the match showing it’s not just on the ground that he can be dangerous. Was one of a glut of players who could have claimed the prestigious award.

STATISTICS

Canberra FC: 18. Ben Klug (gk), 5. John Glass (9. Michael Spaleta), 6. Ryan Keir (4. Izach Clements), 7. Paul Ivanic, 10. Stephen Lee (13. Daniel Bennett), 11. Ivan Pavlak, 12. Ian Graham, 16. Matt Grbesa, 19. Adam Spaleta, 23. Marcin Zygmunt, 76. Aidan Brunskill

Substitutes not used: 3. Aaron Evans, 1 David Wilden-Constantin (gk)

Canberra Olympic: 1 James Bradbury (gk), 2. Hristjan Tanoski, 3. Joel Valtonen, 6. Jon Stone (19. Milan Popovich), 7. Robbie Deeley, 8. Nicholas Sallecchia, 9. Oliver Wiederkehr (17. Elia Salloum), 10. James Field (5. Travis Dries), 11. Jakob Williams, 12. Daniel Barac, 13 Robbie Schroder

Substitutes not used: 14. Matt Cachia, 20. Angelo Konstantinou (gk)

Discipline: YELLOW CARDS: 7. Robbie Deeley, 8. Nicholas Sallecchia (both Canberra Olympic)

RED CARD: 13 Robbie Schroder (Canberra Olympic)

Match Officials: Richard Naumovski (referee), Ben Wilson, Brett Woodford