Futsal Super League
The game began at a very fast tempo with both teams wanting to assert their authority. The two sides probed with out luck until the Warriors Tobias Seeto opened scoring virtually unchallenged.
When the ball went out of play for a kick-in on the right touchline Matthew Dorigo tapped the ball nonchalantly to Tobias who slammed the ball into the right hand corner. Dural came close again when Elliot Ragomo intercepted a pass and raced toward goal but to be thwarted by a fine stop from keeper Owen Rogers.
West City pushed hard to level the score but the Warriors defence repelled most attacks and in turn the Dural defence were able to carry the ball forward without much pressure being applied. Ben Lawson and Elliot Ragomo were causing the Crusaders headaches with their pace and ball control.
Dural seized control of the game when they netted twice in succession the first coming from a quick breakout from defence which saw Adam Bradley?s shot from the left parried by the Crusaders keeper but Ben Lawson pounced on the ball to score. Ben Lawson then set up the third when he fed the ball to Rhys Giovenali whose deflected shot gave Dural a 3-0 lead.
West City were trying hard and got a lifeline back into the game when Adam Wood drilled the ball home expertly through a crowded penalty area after receiving a pass from a kick-in. Things began to look even better for the Crusaders after the break when Engin Ongel received the ball with his back to goal then turned his defender and tenaciously cracked the ball home to make it 2-3.
Dural still continued to look dangerous and signs were ominous when Elliot Ragomo smashed the ball against the crossbar.
Then the Warriors scored the goal of the night when a succession of four lightening passes involving three Dural players Elliot Ragomo, Tobias Seeto saw Matthew Dorigo slide the ball home.
The wind went out the Crusaders sails when Elliot Ragomo nipped the ball off a West City defender then turned onto his right foot to drill the ball home to make it 5-2.
Try as they might the Crusaders looked out of sorts and could not get their game going on the night as the Warriors moved their opponents and the ball around the court at pace and perhaps could have won by a much bigger margin. Right at the end Dural made it 6-2 when Kent Grogan slipped the ball passed the keeper after Ben Lawson dispossessed a defender.
While in the Open Women?s clash West City Crusaders featuring a hat-trick from Elisha Passarello, put in a commanding performance to strengthen their cause near the top of the league whilst virtually ending Dural?s hopes of making this year?s finals series.
West City?s defensive organisation and cutting edge in attack helped them control most of the game but credit should also go to Dural who never gave up throughout and deserved a bit more from the game.
The contest started evenly with both sides having chances with notably Dural nearly opening the scoring when Caitlyn Mahony?s shot struck the post with the keeper recovering the rebound.
Before long the Crusaders were gaining control with the Warriors working hard to keep them at bay. Elisha Passarello was looking dangerous and it was no surprise when she opened the scoring after Nicole Gigi led a swift counter attack then fed the ball to Passarello to score.
Nicole Gigi then scored herself when she fought her way along the by-line line to squeeze the ball between the keeper and the post. Soon after Lorissa Monkerud made it 3-0 when her shot deflected off the keeper into the net to give the Crusaders a commanding lead.
The Crusaders made it 4-0 when Elisha Passarello finished off a very nice move. Joanne Donaldson?s quick long pass wrong footed the defence and Laura Elliott beautifully flicked the ball around the back of her body for Passarello to sweep home.
Then a lax pass out of the Dural defence enabled Passarello to swoop and pick up her hat-trick for the night.
Despite being behind Dural kept plugging away and peppered the Crusaders goal regularly with Renee Tanti, Sarah Codrington, Michelle Brown and Ellie Geekie all going close in the second half.
Dural?s efforts were intertwined with the Crusaders keeper Melissa Khoury often amusing attempts at trying to get on the score sheet herself with several often wayward shots from her own goal line.
Not to mention her first half effort of rolling the ball out to no-one in particular which saw the ball trickle over the sideline for a kick-in. Coach Rob Hill could not have been amused.
Sarah Bittner perhaps left the best for last when her excellent mid court strike sailed high into the top left hand corner to make it 6-0.
