Five-star Blacktown City Demons reach TigerTurf Cup Semi-Finals
The Demons – playing on their home surface – put an end to their score-less run in recent weeks with three unanswered first-half goals on a very chilly evening in Seven Hills. Ken Schembri?s men finished the match strongly with two more goals in the second period to reach the final four in the competition.
Fraser Park opened with a promising first venture forward down the right-flank. The delivery into the penalty-area from the byline only just failed to pick out Anthony Barletta; anticipated in the penalty-area by Michael Herbet in the Demons goal.
Adam Kwasnik responded moments later with a slalom effort inside the Fraser Park penalty-area. Kwasnik cleverly drew the goalkeeper off his line before slotting past the Fraser Park shot-stopper Ivan Kovacevic; denied by a last ditch save on the goal-line by Louis Duchesne.
Fraser Park was not overawed by the occasion as German Cabrera showed his skill and composure on the ball to win his side a free-kick 35-metres out. Alex Smith?s resulting effort from distance failed to find its way through a sea of legs inside the penalty-area.
The Demons took the lead on 12? minutes following a well rehearsed set-piece. A Luke Casserly inspired effort was cleverly flicked across goal into the path of Matt Lewis who neatly picked out Paul Karbon in-front of goal for the easiest of finishes.
Despite the early set-back, Fraser Park continued to move the ball well in the centre of the park via the feet of Alex Smith, German Cabrera and Paulo Oliveira, though on 18? minutes the latter was forced to leave the field through injury.
Fraser Park created their best chance of the opening half on 22? minutes when Leon Cusack found a way behind the Demons defence. From an acute angle to the left of goal Cusack skewed his effort; the final attempt neither a shot nor cross as the chance went begging.
Ante Deur doubled the Demons lead again from close-range with a powerful effort subduing the best attempts of goalkeeper Ivan Kovacevic. Deur was spoon fed the chance by Adam Kwasnik following a slick run down the left touchline, the A-League player carefully picking out Deur for the goal.
Paul Karbon kept the pressure on their Super League adversaries with a long-range effort on 34? minutes. The shot packed a punch though lacked precision as Kovacevic watched the ball finish over the crossbar.
Kwasnik kept Fraser Park in the match on 37? minutes when he squandered a golden chance. Through on goal, with only the goalkeeper to beat, Kwasnik slotted his effort wide of goal, much to the relief of the Fraser Park defensive line.
On 40? minutes, Daniel Wilkinson?s long-range effort carried too much weight for Kovacevic, and Joel Chianese was on hand to tap home for a 3-0 lead.
Fraser Park found the back of the net following the re-start via Cabrera though the crafty midfielder had strayed into an offside position prior to receiving the final pass.
Fraser Park carved out the opening chance of the second-half as Peter Bouzanis sprung the offside trap. Goalkeeper Michael Herbet forced the attacking midfielder wide, though the Fraser Park player picked out Cabrera on the edge of the penalty-area ? his effort finished over the crossbar.
Wilkinson responded via a set-piece for the Demons. His curling effort picked out a lunging Paul Karbon in the penalty-area, though the Demons defender could not keep his effort down.
Forbes almost made an immediate impact after entering the fray as a substitute, cleverly beating two defenders on the left-flank before firing on goal; his effort finished inches wide of the up-right.
The substitute did get his name on the score sheet on 72? minutes when he converted an Ante Deur cross from the right. Forbes finished with aplomb following an exquisite interchange of passes to set-up an unassailable four goal lead.
Matt Lewis added further misery to the Super League outfit when he turned in an Agyei Akwasi cross from the right with a looping header inside the far post 10? minutes from the end.
Ben Ellis nearly added a sixth in the final minutes of the match with a header that ricocheted off the crossbar; the Fraser Park defenders quickly thwarting the danger with a rushed clearance.
Victorious coach Ken Schmebri was delighted with his side?s win:
?I am relatively happy, yes,? Schembri commented.
?Tonight we played well in some really cold conditions, though contrary to our recent performances we managed to score some goals which is obviously pleasing.
?We scored a couple of really good goals too, a few of those we had tried and tried in training, though haven?t carried out in matches, so I am pleased with how we went.
?In-terms of our season, yes the Tiger Turf Cup is a priority now, though we want to finish as high up the ladder (TeleChoice Premier League) so we will be out to do the best we can in each match. We?ll await to see which team we draw in the Cup semi-final, though no matter who it is, it will be a tough match as each of the other three sides are quality,? concluded Schembri.
Fraser Park FC boss Ramsin Shamon was visibly disappointed with the result, though proud of his players? efforts:
?We were given a footballing lesson tonight by Blacktown City ? they really did hurt us and deserved the final result,? Shamon commented.
?We have done really well getting to this point in the tournament, and I knew that we could give it a real shot, though it obviously wasn?t meant to be.
?Unfortunately with player work commitments, it was difficult to prepare this match as best as possible. We also gave a few of the younger boys a run too, which is important for the development of this club.
?We?ll continue to fight in the Super League, I am confident that with the matches remaining we can string together some good results to move up the ladder, so we?ll be aiming to achieve this.
?Our season to-date, unfortunately, has been made up of quite a bit of bad luck as we have played some good football though the results have not been forthcoming. I am confident though that we can put in a strong finish to this season,? ended Shamon.
Tiger Turf Cup Quarter-Final Match Stats
Blacktown City Demons 5 (Paul Karbon 12?, Ante Deur 26?, Joel Chianese 40?, Gavin Forbes 72?, Matt Lewis 80?)
Fraser Park FC 0
Tuesday, 7th of July, 2009
Gabbie Stadium, Seven Hills
Crowd: 100 Approx.
Blacktown City Demons: 1.Michael Herbet; 2.Tyler Simpson (12.Brendan Maroney 46?), 3.Paul Karbon, 4.Luka Dukic, 5.Daniel Wilkinson, 6.Luke Casserly, 16.Ante Deur, 29.Matt Lewis, 17.Joel Chianese (18.Agyei Akwasi 74?), 19.Adam Kwasnik (14.Gavin Forbes 62?), 13.Ben Ellis
Substitutes Not Used: 8.Chris Bedzo, 20.Matt Ryan
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards: Nil
Fraser Park: 41.Ivan Kovacevic; 5.Anthony Barletta, 17.Diogo Andrade (7.Shivan Swamy 46?), 10.Paulo Oliveira (C) (21.Peter Bouzanis 18?), 19.German Cabrera (2.Daniell Zeleny 77?), 13.Daniel King, 32.James Raiti, 16.Louis Duchesne, 18.Alex Smith, 25.Leon Cusack, 30.Ian Estevao
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Tomi Vodovic, 45.Nestor Tsioustas
Yellow Cards: Paulo Oliveira 13?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Matt Lewis (BCD)
2 ? Paul Karbon (BCD)
1 ? German Cabrera (FP)
-By Joseph Carlucci
