Ten-man Rage win Super League Dual for Quarter-Final date
The home-side was down to ten men for most of the second-half and throughout extra time but still managed to collect a win which will see them advance into the Quarter Finals of the McDonald?s Cup.
The Tigers were the better side throughout most of the opening period, dominating a large portion of possession. Right attacking midfielder Paul Davies dominated down the flank causing havoc early on with some dangerous versatile crosses.
D. Vukovic and Thomas Geekie were creating the attack for the Tigers giving L. Tomich good space to maneuver past the defence on numerous occasions. However, Granville were holding strong. N. Bobo was instrumental up front for the home-side with his amazing partnership with C. Hedge shining throughout the game.
C. Hedge came close to opening the scoring off a well placed corner in the 20? minute of the game. His attempt just sailed over but it was enough to stamp his side?s authority onto the game.
P. Capuccuio struck in the 25? minute his shot making Stuart Page leap to his right, only for the ball to drift off past the post. Granville at this point were creating some good attacking options.
Paul Davies had the best chance of the first-half after a left side cross gave him a shooting opportunity at goal. The bounce didn?t favour the midfielder but his volley was still an impressive show of technique leaving the home-side on the back foot. The scores were locked at the interval leaving the fans wanting more in the second.
The second started much like the first with the Tigers pushing through, this time a sensational individual burst down the left flank by Paul Davies followed by a dangerous cross caused an own goal by Granville defender J. Ekehov in the 47? minute. His attempt to clear the ball struck the crossbar, then hit his foot, leaving him to just ponder about the error.
The Tigers were in control and Paul Davies just moments later put in another fine cross, this time for L. Tomich, who on this occasion blasted his attempt over the crossbar. The chance could have put the Tigers 2-0 up and left Granville?s task a lot more complex.
Granville pushed through courageously failing to give up the game, K. Holbrook and C. Hedge were superb trying every measure and tactic to bring the scores level. However, in the 72? minute, Granville was dealt a massive blow after defender D. Comito was sent off for what seemed to be a poor challenge.
The home-side continued to rally on with the Tigers looking in all sorts struggling to hold out Granville. The Tigers should have put the game to sleep in the 80? minute when a sensational shot by Paul Davies was met by a brilliant save by J. Holmes, leaving D. Vukovic to blast the rebound over the bar.
The chance would prove crucial as Granville attacked the Tigers goal and it proved costly for the away side in the 85? minute when K. Holbrook headed home the equaliser, leaving his side with an outside chance.
The Tigers sparked into gear and tried to look to counter-attack the ten-man Granville Rage. Substitute T. Mackay had a one on one opportunity in 89? minute only to be outsmarted by Granville goalkeeper J. Holmes. Granville were on the back foot at the wrong time and it proved costly, a sensational one- two play beginning with D. Vukovic allowed T. Mackay a second chance this time placing it neatly past J Holmes in the 91? minute.
The Tigers were on their way to a Quarter Finals spot when Granville?s attacking machine N. Bobo sparked into gear beating several players in the box slotting a shot in the 93? minute taking the game into extra-time and a chance for the ten men side to still claim victory.
It was a brilliant display of football by both sides, however the home-side showed the courageous effort needed in tight games. In the additional 30? extra time period, N. Bobo took only 6? minutes to advance his team into the Quarter Finals of the McDonalds Cup. A brilliant run by C. Hedge, which involved beating several tired Tigers defenders, and providing a precise pass to N. Bobo who secured a double for the game and an all important win for the Granville Rage.
Match Stats
Granville Rage 3 (Holbrook 85?, Bobo 90+3??, 96?)
Northern Tigers 2 (Ekehov 47? (og), Mackay 90?+1?)
Tuesday, 25th May, 2010
Garside Park
Granville Rage: 1.J. Holmes, 2.J. Ekehov, 3.D. Comito, 6.J. Cartisans, 8.D. Pyliotis (7.D. Harding 78?), 9.K. Holbrook, 11.N. Bobo, 13.D. Carrozza, 16.C. Hedge, 17.N. Rivera, 18.P. Capuccuio
Substitutes Not Used: 14.C. Bottalico, 19.A. Bakmaz, 21.G. Kallimanis, 22.C. Morley
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: D. Comito
Northern Tigers: 1.Stuart Page; 2.Travis Oughtred, 3.Thomas Geekie, 6.Paul Davies, 7.Tom Spencer, 10.S. Park, 11.D. Vukovic, 12.L. Dawson, 14.B. Salameh, 15.J. Yeates, 17.L. Tomich (8.T. Mackay 63?)
Substitutes Not Used: 36.M. Messina, 4.N. Saunders, 5.E. Koelma, 16.R. Davey
Yellow Cards: Thomas Geekie 26? ET
Red Cards: Nil
-By Johnny Casni
