Waratah Cup Semi-Finals this Wednesday ? Be There
NSW Premier League clubs Manly United and South Coast Wolves along with Super League side Blacktown Spartans and State League One club Mounties Wanderers are the final four set to go to battle in Wednesday?s encounters.
At John Crehan Park in Cringilla, its an all NSW Premier League affair as South Coast Wolves entertain Manly United in a north versus south clash at 7.30pm on Wednesday 29th June.
Trevor Morgan?s men had a gallant 3-1 win over Parramatta FC in the Quarter Finals while Manly United needed an extra-time goal against Super League side Hills Brumbies to progress to the Semis.
The last time these two teams met was in Round 9 of the NSW Premier League at Cromer Park where the score ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Manly United looked home and hosed as they took a two goal lead via Colin Illey and Justin Hayward but two goals in the final six minutes via John Martinoski and Mark Piccolini gave Morgan?s men a precious point from home.
Both clubs had great results over the weekend as Manly United came from a goal down to defeat the Marconi Stallions 3-1 while the Wolves also came from a goal behind against the APIA Leichhardt Tigers to win 2-1 with Sasho Petrovski the hero scoring the winner in the 91st minute.
Craig Midgley?s men will be raring to go for their trip to the South Coast and will no doubt give it their all in hoping to push Manly United to the final ? coincidently, Manly last played in the Cup Final in 2009 against the Sutherland Sharks where they were beaten 2-1 on the day via an extra-time goal by Nick Stavroulakis.
Meanwhile the other Semi-Final will see State League One ?giant killers? Mounties Wanderers, who have gone undefeated thus far in both league and cup competitions, take on tough Super League side Blacktown Spartans at Cook Park (Mt Pritchard) with kick off set for 7.30pm on Wednesday 29th June.
Both clubs have had a fairy-tale run into the Semi-Finals with both teams defeating NSW Premier League opposition in the Quarter-Finals.
Mounties Wanderers defeated current NSW Premier League front runners Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground 3-2 in extra which went down as one of their greatest results in the club?s history while the mighty Spartans had a heroic 2-0 victory over APIA Leichhardt Tigers at Lambert Park albeit with ten men for the majority of the match.
The Spartans currently lie in fifth spot on the NSW Super League ladder with two matches in hand but had a 1-0 loss in their round 15 clash against St George FC over the weekend.
Spartans keeper Carlos Saliadarre, former White Eagles striker Mario Ghobrial, tough striker Glenn McPherson and skipper Thomas Spencer will be pushing the tough Spartans cause for a place in the 2011 Final.
The Mounties Wanderers meanwhile have had a perfect year to date having been the only club to record no losses with an incredible thirteen wins from fourteen matches and currently sit on 40 points, fifteen points clear of second place side UNSW.
The Mounties came from behind to defeat Fairfield City Lions at Norford Park 3-1 in their round 14 clash will be pumped up especially after their victory over NSW Premier League leaders Sydney Olympic.
Ex-Bonnyrigg White Eagles goalkeeper Ali Akbal, tough defender Mark D?Alessandro, inspirational skipper Daniel McCann and key attackers Mark Symington, Eli Squillacioti and Friday Jeremiah will certainly look to be a menace for the Spartans as the Mounties hope to continue their fairytale run in the Cup.
The 2011 Waratah Cup Final will be played on Sunday 10th July with venue to be confirmed shortly.
Road to the Waratah Cup Semi Finals
Mounties Wanderers
R2 ? 7-0 win v Como West Janali
R3 ? 2-0 win v FC Gazy Lansvale
R4 ? 3-1 win v West Sydney Berries
QF ? 3-2 win v Sydney Olympic
Blacktown Spartans
R2 ? 3-0 win v Balmain SC
R3 ? 3-1 win v Port Kembla
R4 ? 3-1 win v Northbridge FC
QF ? 2-0 win v APIA Leichhardt Tigers
South Coast Wolves
R3 ? 4-1 win v Hawkesbury City FC
R4 ? 3-2 win v Bankstown City FC
QF ? 3-1 win over Parramatta FC
Manly United
R3 ? 3-2 win v Dandaloo FC
R4 ? 3-0 win v Fraser Park
QF ? 2-1 win over Hills Brumbies
? Full Facebook live updates will be available on the evening so stay tuned for that
-Football NSW Media Release
