1996/1997 Season Round 12 Results written by Thomas Esamie
Played (28/12/1996) Bruce Stadium Referee : S Micallef, Crowd : 1600
Canberra Cosmos Anthony Giannasca, Paul Dee, Norman Kelly, Lachlan Armstrong, Marko Perinovic, James Baxter, John Koch, Peter Mazis, George Sorras, Ante Juric, Rodrigo Moreno (Tony Lemezina 68) Goal : Dee 20	1	-	0	South Melbourne Michael Petkovic, Nick Orlic, Alex Kuzmanovic, Jason Polak, Steve Panopoulos (Mickey Petersen 76), Vaughan Coveny, Steve Iosifidis, David Clarkson, Ivan Kelic, George Goutzioulis (Daniel Allsopp 63), Fausto DeAmicis
I'm not sure if Michael Petkovic thought he could dribble past Paul Dee or if Paul was just too quick. All the same the ball was taken off Petkovic's toes and ended up in the net he was supposedly protecting. Canberra held out and occasionally threatened to extend the lead but 1-0 it stayed. Canberra's first win of the season after 12 failed attempts (yes 12, see Rnd 19).
Played (28/12/1996) Falcons Park Referee : M Breeze, Crowd : 2581
Gippsland Falcons Jim Kourtis, Doug Marcina, Marcus Stergiopoulos, Nick Palamaras, Hugo Giminez (Billy Wright 74), Mark Foy, Eddie Krncevic, Alex Duric (Joe Tricarico 86), Clayton Bell, Manny Gotis (sent off 83), Willie Hastie (Levent Osman 46) Goal : Giminez 68	1	-	0	Brisbane Strikers Graham Ross, Glen Gwynne, Alan Hunter, Gary Phillips, Frank Farina (Chris Slater 24), Rod Brown, Danny Wright, Troy Cranney (Vedran Becirbegovic 72), Mark Battistin, Jeremy Harris (Chay Hews 46), Reece Tollenaere
Jim Kourtis was the busier of the two 'keepers but Brisbane conceded the first goal when a Giminez shot was deflected high and ballooned over both the keeper and the backpedalling defender. Gotis was sent off after he earned a second yellow card for a tackle on Rod Brown but the Falcons held on for their first home win.
Played (29/12/1996) Victoria Park Referee : G Connelly, Crowd : 2987
Collingwood Warriors Frank Juric, Alan Scott, Joe Vrkic, Enrico Cerrachio (Dean Anastasiadis 74), Aleksandr Pryhodko (George Jolevski 46), Carlo Talladira, Kimon Taliadoros, Ernie Tapai, Goran Lozanovski, Brian MacNicol, Mark Silic (Peter Di Iorio 72) Goal : Cerrachio 30	1	-	1	Wollongong City Adam Brodbeck, Alvin Ceccoli, Gary van Egmond, Matthew Horsley, Sonny Sevin, Michael Reda (Sasho Dimoski 53), Neil Harlock (Michael Kariamis 59), Nick Joseski, Richard Lloyd, Anthony Surjan (Martin Bourke 83), Scott Chipperfield Goal : Joseski 8
Joseski opened the scoring early with a smartly taken shot to the near post. Cerrachio then drove a dipping volley for the equaliser but the scoring, but for profligate finishing, should have been far higher for both sides. Perhaps a fair result for the game then.
Played (28/12/1996) Perth Oval Referee : A Gorton, Crowd : 14759
Perth Glory Vincent Matassa, Craig Naven, Gavin Wilkinson, Gareth Naven, Vinko Buljubasic, Scott Miller, Paul McVittie, Paul Strudwick, Slobodan Despotovski, Vasili Kalogeracos (Vladimir Beretovac 79), Dale Wingell (sent off 77) Goals : McVittie 34, Kalogeracos 40, Miller 90	3	-	2	Melbourne Knights Joe Didulica, David Cervinski, Zoran Markovski, Andrew Marth, Joe Simunic, Lubomir Lapsansky (Adrian Cervinski 45), Ice Kutlesovski, Tom Pondeljak, Ante Kovacevic, Joe Caleta (Damian Vojtek 34), Ivan Duzel (Josip Biskic 78) Goals : A Cervinski 53, 60
After a series of length of the field raids Perth won two successive corners which saw the ball finally resting in the back of the Melbourne net via the back of Paul McVitties head beating the 'keeper at the near post. David Cervinski then turned over posession at the last line of defence and although the ball was partially cleared Kalogeracos eventually slammed a left foot drive into goal. Davids brother Adrian came on as a substitute and restored family honour with two goals, the first something of a scramble after another defensive blunder and the second a neat finish to a Kutlesovski cutback. Adrian was then fouled just outside Perth's penalty area by Dale Wingell, the latter being booked previously for handball. Goodbye Mr Wingell. The resulting free kick was blocked by the wall from Joe Simunic but down to 10 men Perth were facing an onslaught. 2 streakers lightened the tone of a now tense match but Miller provided the 14000 screaming fans with the relief they desired when he lobbed the ball over the Knights defence and 'keeper after a quick counterattack.
Played (29/12/1996) Belmore Oval Referee : C Diomis, Crowd : 5128
UTS Olympic Tony Franken, David Barrett, Nick Meredith, Scott Baillie, Adam Ciantar, John Angelovski (Elias Augerinos 78), Norman Tome, Milan Blagojevic, Peter Tsekenis, Kris Trajanovski, Alistair Edwards (Carlos Gonzales 89) Goals : Barrett 65, Trajanovski 67	2	-	2	Newcastle Breakers Liam Baker, Peter Ritchie, Todd McManus, Andy Roberts, Shane Pryce, Glen Sprod, Scott Thomas, Robert Ironside, Troy Halpin, Jason Bennett (Liam McGuire 81), Harry James (sent off 56) Goals : Meredith 64og, Ironside 89
Harry James was sent off for a second yellow card after clattering into the UTS 'keeper, having collected his first only minutes earlier. Meredith helped out with the numbers briefly becoming a Breakers striker to neatly turn a Halpin cross in at the near post. To return the favour Liam Baker completely mishandled a corner letting it drop behind him where Davie Barrett could hardly believe his luck to nod the ball in. Another UTS corner was briefly cleared by Newcastle before Milan Blagojevic lobbed the ball onto Trajanovski's chest who in turn controlled the ball neatly and shot home for the lead. Newcastle rescued a point with an Ironside header from a Halpin free kick.
Match report by Chris Dunkerley
Played (29/12/1996) Hindmarsh Stadium Referee : E Lennie, Crowd : 4079
West Adelaide Michael Harkness, Hamilton Thorp, Robert Hooker, Robert Slager, Ross Aloisi, Alex Castro, Con Kokkinoplitis, Frank Tibaldi (Jamie Perin 78), Nathan Day (Pablo Cardozo 73), Cory Artone, Jim Tsekinis Goals : Thorp 42, Perin 82	2	-	1	Marconi-Fairfield Bob Catlin, Robert Stanton, Matthew Bingley, Luke Casserly, Andrew Harper, Craig Foster, Bradley Maloney, Dominic Longo, Sean Babic, Francis Awaritefe (Mark Robertson 70), Vlado Zoric Goal : Maloney 67
Marconi looked disoriented, perhaps due to failing to bring their away strip and thus having to wear an orange abomination supplied by the hosts. Nathan day crossed for Thorp to open the scoring at the far post but Maloneys long range shot restored the equilibrium. Jamie Perin finally won the game for West Adelaide with a shot from the edge of the box after Marconi failed to clear the ball effectively. For the record Marconi had two goals disallowed, but of course they don't count.
Played (29/12/1996) Sydney United Sports Centre Referee : E Brazzale, Crowd : 5195
Sydney United Zeljko Kalac, Robert Trajkovski, Mark Babic, Robert Enes, Kresimir Marusic, Ante Moric (Aytek Genc 70), Ante Milicic, Damir Cvetko (Robert Markovac 57), David Zdrilic, Paul Bilokapic, Mark Rudan Goal : Armour 74og	1	-	1	Adelaide City Jason Petkovic, Bradley Armour (Mark Brazzale 83), Mark Yates, Milan Ivanovic, Alex Tobin, Angelo Costanzo, Bradley Hassell, Dino Mennillo, John Gibson, Michael Musitano, Michael Brooks (Travis Dodd 72) Goal : Hassell 41
Though Sydney United had most of the running for the game it was Adelaide who opened the scoring with a fast break from the defence. Mennillo, who was fouled in the move but play was continued, combined with Hassell to allow him to run 3/4 of the length of the pitch and finish with a shot to wrongfoot Zeljko Kalac. Petkovic had a great day in goal for Adelaide but was eventually beaten by one of his own when a Milicic cross was turned in at the far post.