Blacktown City too strong for Sydney University

The cold, wet and slippery conditions caused havoc for both sides as they tried to control the ball and limit the amount of clumsy challenges.
The game was played in a fast pace manner as both sides spread the ball from both ends of the park in what was a very entertaining and free flowing display of fast attacking football.
Within the opening minutes Blacktown City pushed forward and penetrated Sydney University?s midfield, catching the defence napping, and eventually caused the Sydney Uni backline to commit a clumsy challenge to concede Blacktown City a free-kick on the edge of the penalty-area.
A stunned Sydney Uni regrouped to form a wall, however Daniel Wilkinson took aim and drove the ball low and hard around the wall of players, gliding the ball towards the right side of goal – which looked certain to land in the back of the net – however the Sydney Uni goalkeeper, Lowery, did a fantastic job of blocking the ball and keeping it out of harm?s way. The loose ball however landed perfectly to Blacktown City?s Zac Cairncross who made no mistake to slot home from close-range.
Blacktown City were in front and it looked like they would score a second goal minutes later, however Sydney University slowly found their composure and started to find space with the like of Soares, Havern, and Delaney all combining well to produce opportunities  in the attacking-third. Sydney unit, looked at times, like they would find an equaliser, however the opportunities were not as frequent as those for Blacktown City.
Blacktown City seemed at ease in passing and finding space compared to Sydney, with the likes of Cairncross, Ibini and Austin all willing to draw players out and producing quick passing play. Blacktown moved the ball forward and penetrated Sydney?s left side of defence – a side that they would exploit continuously throughout the first-half.
Sydney Uni?s lack of control awarded Blacktown another free-kick on the edge of the penalty-area on the 17?minute. Blacktown?s Luke Roodenburg took aim shooting over the Sydney wall, easily beating the keeper but only just missing the right side of the goal post.
In the 23? minute Sydney Uni had a clear chance to equalize, following some poor play in the Blacktown City defence. Havern found the ball with no one marking him and continued to push forward drawing the goalkeeper off his line, Matt Ryan cleverly used his frame to scuttle his chance.
Blacktown City were in control of the game at this point, spreading the ball with accurate passes from the back line and moving it with ease up-front. Sydney University?s chances seemed to be from Blacktown City?s turnovers, however Matt Ryan was in good touch, thwarting any clear chances created by Sydney Uni.
In the 41? minute the first yellow card of the game was produced with Lachlan Cahill making a challenge for the ball in the middle of the park, and as the half drew to a close Sydney Uni?s attacking options resulted in shots from distance as Blacktown?s defence became compact and tight.
In the second-half Sydney Uni seemed to have composed themselves and they applied some early pressure to the Blacktown line of defence, however this was short lived as the game progressed.
Sydney University?s eventual strategy was to sit back and allow Blacktown to control the midfield and attack, however this was not so easy for Blacktown with nearly all Sydney players supporting their defensive line. Blacktown also found this strategy difficult at times but continued to move the ball unchallenged across the park hoping to draw their opponents off their defending lines with the hope of creating space.
Sydney Uni did crumbled in the 66?minute as Travis Major broke through Sydney?s left side of defence and crossed the ball high into the box finding Mitch Long who headed the ball into the back of the net to produce Blacktown?s second goal of the evening.
As the game progressed, with Blacktown looking for additional goals, a number of substitutions were made- bringing on fresh legs and changing the dynamics and pace of the game, while creating another round of fast attacking football.
Blacktown City had many opportunities to score while Sydney University scrambled to clear the ball out of their backline, and sometimes off their goal line.
Blacktown City FC won the game comfortably with two vital goals, however Sydney University proved themselves to be worthy opponents and did extremely well to make a contest out of the encounter.
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC  2 (Zac Cairncross 7?, Mitch Long 66?)
Sydney University FC 0
Tuesday, 25th May, 2010
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Blacktown City FC: 20.Matt Ryan, 3.Daniel Wilkinson, 4.Mirko Jurilj, 5.Luka Dukic, 7.Luke Roodenburg (17.Joel Chianese 75?), 9.Kain Rastall (16.Ante Deur 78?), 11.Mitch Long, 12.Bernie Ibini (21.Nick Fitzgerald 70?), 13.Lachlan Cahill, 22.Zac Cairncross, 23.Luke Austin (18.Travis Major 60?)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Matt Nemes
Yellow Cards: Lachlan Cahill 41?, Daniel Wilkinson 80?
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney University FC: 1.J. Lowery; 6.C. Delaney, 17.D. McMurray, 3.J. Savor (39.B Baker 85?), 9.M. Dowling, 21.D. Merrin, 5.P. Meducca, 12.J. O?Rourke (4.S. Turner 80?), 11.L. Delaney (16.C. Hayton 65?), 7.M. Havern (8.R. Morrison 67?), 10.C. Soares.
Substitutes Not Used: 30. W. Ali
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Peter Chiodo