Preliminary Round Waratah Cup Review

Known as being Football NSW?s answer to the FA Cup, the giant killing action commenced in pure knock-out style as a couple of great results saw various Association sides continue their run towards Round 1 of the Waratah Cup set to be played on the 6^th of April.
At ?The Bridge?, it was an all local Sutherland Association derby as Bonnet Bay took on the Barden Ridgebacks. It was the Bonnet Bay side that claimed all the bragging rights on the evening as they secured a passage into the next round of the competition with a 1-0 victory thanks to a T. Mitchell goal.          
At Playford Park, Bankstown Association side Chullora Wolves crushed Southern District?s Bringelly FC 4-1. It was all the howling Wolves as they scored four goals in the first half through S. Davis, L.Simeoni, S.Yildez and S.Kacanic before Bringelly added a consolation goal late in the second half via F.Mammolitti.
Gladesville Hornsby Association side Pacific Hills claimed a massive scalp after they defeated State League Two new boys Nepean FC at Cook Park, St Mary?s. The hero for Pacific Hills was Kris Roe who grabbed a double in the second half that all but wrapped up a round one spot for the association based side.
Eastern Suburbs Association side Waverly Old Boys scored a thrilling 3-2 victory over Macarthur Association side Gunners SC at Bensley Rd. After a scoreless first half the game was brought into life in the second as all five goals were scored. It was the Gunners who took the lead in the 48^th minute through a deflected free-kick via the boot of Watkins but the Old Boys struck back in the 55^th minute via Ricky Gallagher. The Gunners went ahead once more in the 77^th minute but with five minutes to go, Mario Lara equalised for the away side with a smashing free-kick. As extra-time loomed, the Waverly Old Boys struck in the 93^rd minute via substitute Michael Nesbitt who sent the away fans into raptures.
State League Two side Chopin Park Rams had a tough time beating Southern Districts Association side FC Lansvale United at Hartley Oval but ran out 2-1 victors. Goals by Goran Sivric and Benjamin Lam were enough to see the new State League Two side through.
Gladesville Hornsby Association?s Redbacks FC ran through 5-2 comfortable winners over St George Association?s Arncliffe Aurora at George Thornton Park. A.Salim put the visitors in front in the 2^nd minute but A. Williams scored the equaliser in the 12^th before A.Meguid put the home side in front in the 32^nd minute. M.Mittiga scored a third three minutes before half-time making it 3-1 at the break. The second half saw more goals fly through as A.Saab pulled a goal back for Aurora but Williams notched up his second of the game in the 58^th minute before B. Cherry sealed the victory in the 87^th with a well taken goal.
Nepean Association?s Glenmore Park scored a huge upset by defeating State League Two side Springwood United SC 2-0 at Summerhayes Park. Goals by B.Gough and T.Morten were enough to see the association side through to the first round of the knockout competition.
Drama unfolded at William Lawson Reserve as Canterbury Association based side Enfield Rovers (A) defeated State League Two outfit Prospect United in one of the evening?s biggest shocks. The Rovers coached by Joseph Piazza did it the hard way after going down 1-0 in the 65^th before the away side equalised in the 82^nd minute via Vince Cosentino. Prospect then took the lead once more two minutes later after Joseph Di Mento needlessly fouled his opponent but the game was brought back into life in the 86^th minute when Adrian Maruzza scored with a superb volley from 25 yards. With scores locked at 2-2, the stage was set for a huge finish and it was midfield general Steve Bandouvakis that stepped up to the plate and scored a scorching long drive from 30 yards to gift the Rovers a monumental victory.
In other matches, St George Associations All Saints Oately defeated Bankstown Association?s Padstow United 4-3, Bankstown Association?s Bass Hill scored a huge victory over State League Two side Hurstville City Minotaurs 3-2, State League Two side Northbridge defeated Manly Association?s Mosman 1-0, State League Two?s FC Gazy Lansvale defeated Manly Association?s Dee Why 4-0, Gladesville Hornsby Association?s Eastwood St Andrews thumped Sutherland Association?s Gwawley Bay 7-1, Eastern Suburbs Association?s Dunbar Rovers defeated Granville Association?s Rydalmere FC 6-2, Sutherland Shire?s Como West Janali defeated Eastern Suburbs Association?s Lokomotiv Cove 4-1 on penalties after the game finished 2-2 while finally State League Two?s Hawkesbury City SC defeated  Eastern Suburbs Association?s Glebe Wanderers 3-0.
Matches between Olympic Eagles v Fairfield Wanderers FC, Gymea United v Luddenham United and Bankstown Sports Strikers v Pagewood Botany were all called off as the lights went out at all their venues.
State League Two side Hakoah defeated fellow competition rivals Roosters FC 2-0 at Hensley Athletic Field on Thursday evening. Former Sutherland Sharks Scottish midfielder Neil Jablonski got the ball rolling in the 19th minute when he converted a successful spot-kick before Rani Rimmer all but ended the Roosters FC run in the Cup with a goal in in the 85th minute which gave Hakoah the 2-0 victory.
Twelve clubs have been given the bye and will be taking on their opponents in round 1 of the Waratah Cup but the positive sign from this season?s tournament is the increase of Association clubs ? a total of 33 registered for 2011.
There will be three teams from the Illawarra Premier League being Port Kembla, Picton Rangers and Dandaloo while ACT Premier League outfit Canberra FC as well as a Wagga Wagga side will feature in the opening round of the Cup.
Round 1 will see the remaining State League Two clubs enter the fray, Round 2 will see Super League and State League One clubs enter while Round 3 will see all NSW Premier League clubs join.
The 2011 Waratah Cup Preliminary Round Draw:

Wednesday 30^th March
Padstow United 3 v All Saints Oatley 4
Olympic Eagles v Fairfield Wanderers FC abandoned lights out
Barden Ridgebacks 0 v Bonnet Bay 1
Bass Hill 3 v Hurstville City Minotaurs 2
Gymea United v Luddenham United abandoned lights out
Mosman 0 v Northbridge FC 1
Nepean FC 0 v Pacific Hills 2
Gunners Soccer Club 2 v Waverly Old Boys 3
FC Gazy Lansvale 4 v Dee Why 0
Eastwood St. Andrews 7 v Gwawley Bay 1
Chullora Wolves 4 v Bringelly Football Clubs 1
Rydalmere FC 2 v Dunbar Rovers 6
Lokomotiv Cove 1 v Como West Janali 1 (2-2 extra-time, 2-4 win on penalties)
Bankstown Sports Strikers v Pagewood Botany abandoned ? lights out
Prospect United 2 v Enfield Rovers (A) 3
F.C Lansvale United 1 v Chopin Park Rams FC 2
Hawkesbury City SC 3 v Glebe Wanderers 0
Redbacks Football Club 5 v Arncliffe Aurora 2
Springwood United SC 0 v Glenmore Park 2
Hakoah 2 v Roosters FC 0 

Carringbah Redbacks v BYE
Wagga United v BYE
Port Kembla v BYE
Dandaloo Football Club v BYE
Canberra v BYE
Picton Rangers v BYE
Menai Hawks v BYE
Lidcombe Waratah v BYE
Belmore Hercules v BYE
Bathurst 75 v BYE
Collaroy Cromer v BYE
Enfield Rovers (B) v BYE

Forthcoming Waratah Cup Dates
Round One ? 13^th April
Round Two ? 20^th April
Round Three ? 4^th May
Round Four ? 18^th May (round of 16)
Quarter Final ? 1^st June
Semi Final ? 15^th June
Cup Final ? 10^th July
-By Mark Stavroulakis