Waratah Cup Preliminary Round Review
On Monday evening at Hensley Athletic Field Eastern Suburbs Association?s Dunbar Rovers caused a major stir defeating State League Two side Belmore United 2-1.
On Tuesday three matches took place with Sutherland Association?s Miranda Magpies defeating State League Two side Hurstville City Minotaurs 2-1 at Seymour Shaw while Eastern Suburbs Association?s Coogee United smashed Nepean Association?s Polonia Rams 6-0 and finally Nepean Association?s Glenmore Park defeated St George Association?s Arncliffe Aurora 1-0.
A cluster of matches took place on Wednesday evening with Sutherland Association?s Lilli Pilli FC spanking State League Two side Luddenham United 5-1.
Lilli Pilli FC, who only a few years ago were part of the State League Two, hit the early lead via James Gardner.
Steven Byrne converted from the spot on sixteen minutes after Gardner had been brought down in the box by Luddenham?s keeper, Richard Connors.
A third just before the half hour by Byrne put Lilli Pilli firmly in the box seat. Gardner made it four midway through the second half before Pat Dibley made it 5-0 inside the final ten. A last minute goal to Luddenham?s Grant Odei was scant consolation in what was a monumental evening for Lilli Pilli FC.
While in a hugely entertaining match at Pluim Park, the Central Coast Mariners Under 18s side defeated Loftus Rovers 7-2 with the match ending 2-2 at full time, the young guns rifled in five goals in extra time for a monumental victory.
Illawarra Premier League outfit Picton Rangers outclassed St George Association?s Forest Rangers 4-0 while Bankstown Association?s Bass Hill RSL defeated State League Two high flyers Bathurst 75 5-2.
On Thursday evening Eastern Suburbs Association?s Waverley Old Boys Football Club started its 2012 campaign with its first match of the Waratah Cup at the new Blacktown Sports Park against Ponds FC.
The Old Boys scored with their first attack after a great ball from midfield was picked up by Ricky Gallagher to finish of the chance with the aid of a deflection.
Ponds FC to their credit were able to make it 1-1 within a minute of the restart but the Old Boys scored two more to take a 3-1 lead into the half time break.
The second half a flurry of more goals with the Old Boys scoring 4 while Ponds getting a really late consolation goal to finish the match 7-2.
While State League Two heavyweights Hakoah sneaked past a gallant Sutherland Association?s Barden Ridgebacks 2-1 to advance to round 1 of the Waratah Cup.
Match of the Round
Carey double eases Olympic past Helensburgh Thistle
Helensburgh Thistle 0 Canberra Olympic 3 (Liam Carey 36?, 60?, John Karapanagos 87?)
Canberra Olympic eased past Helensburgh Thistle in the Waratah Cup Preliminary Round thanks to a double from Liam Carey and a late strike from substitute John Karapanagos in difficult conditions at Thistle Park in Wollongong. Carey struck in either half to give Olympic control of a tie they never really looked in danger of losing with Karapanagos? late effort the icing on the cake as the LOOP Premier League team cruised to a 3-0 win.
With a number of first team squad members missing due to unavailability, Olympic Head Coach Dean Ugrinic once more placed his faith in youth naming a young side for the club?s first foray into the interstate competition. It was evident early on however that the visitors would be too strong for their plucky opponents from the Illawarra District League with a number of chances spurned in the opening ten minutes.
James Field fired the first shot in anger early on, sending a long-range strike over the crossbar before Oliver Wiederkehr wasted a glorious opportunity to give Olympic the perfect start. The speedy winger got in behind a flat Thistle back four but dinked his effort over the advancing Massimo Luppulo and wide of the goal. Central midfield lynchpin Robbie Deeley then saw a 25 metre snap-shot crash back off the base of the post as the ACT team dominated possession. The New Zealander then tested the reflexes of Loppulo minutes later with a curling free-kick that the home goalkeeper did well to parry round the post for a corner.
It was fully half an hour before Helensburgh threatened the Olympic goal with Chris Russell sending a half-chance flashing just wide of James Bradbury?s right-hand post, but it was a sporadic break and very much against the run of play.
Olympic finally made the breakthrough they had been threatening in the 36th minute with a goal of sheer simplicity. Wiederkehr made amends for his earlier miss by creating the goal with a sublime chip over the static Thistle defence. Carey read his intentions and latched onto the pass to help the bouncing ball over the head of Loppulo and into the back of the net.
Having fallen behind Thistle suddenly found some attacking impetus and nearly equalised just three minutes later. A cheap turn over in the centre of the park resulted in David Gallacher freeing lively striker Simon Micevski but Bradbury was alert to the danger scrambling sharply from his line to block the shot and preserve the slender lead at half-time.
It was more of the same after the break with Carey collecting a long clearance and rounding his marker before blazing his shot well over the bar in the 47th minute and fizzing a cross across goal seconds later that Wiederkehr was inches away from converting.
With only a slender one goal lead Olympic could not afford to become complacent and they almost paid the penalty for their profligacy when Jason Wellings connected with a low cross from the right and seemed certain to score only for Bradbury to deny the forward with a brave save low at his feet. Sensing that there was an unlikely way back into the match Thistle was caught with a classic sucker punch on the hour.
Bradbury hoisted a clearance high into the night sky where Robbie Shroder, a calming presence throughout, flicked on. Carey ran onto the header and took a touch before curling a delightful finish past Loppulo and high into the top corner of the net.
With nothing to lose Thistle sent on Daniel Manganaro for the tireless Wellings and the substitute went close twice, firstly heading over a free-kick from close range before lifting an effort high and wide when closing in on goal from the angle. In truth though it would have been harsh on Olympic who was the dominant team throughout. The highly effective performance, away from home, in midweek and against a team they knew nothing about, got the reward it deserved three minutes from time.
Awarded an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area as the Thistle custodian breached the six second rule, Field touched the ball to second half substitute Karapanagos and his precise shot flew past the wall and into the corner to seal Olympic?s passage into the First Round proper.
MATCH STATS
Helensburgh Thistle: 1. Massimo Loppulo, 2. Richard Simons (12. Branislav Tesanovic 80?), 3. Ryan Kendrigan, 4. Gareth Brownlee, 5. David Gallacher, 6. Chris Russell, 7. Gary Cassidy, 8. Matthew Radnidge, 9. Jason Wellings (14. Daniel Manganaro 67?), 10. Simon Micevski (15. Luke Van Zyl 87?), 11. Nathan Mucci (13. Mitchell Buchan 76?)
Substitutes not used: 16. Matt Wardle
Canberra Olympic: 1. James Bradbury, 2. Hristjan Tanoski, 3. Nathan Megic, 4. Joel Voltonen, 5. Nick Mihailakis (5. John Karapanagos 67?), 7. Robbie Deeley, 8. Jason Ugrinic, 9. James Field, 10. Liam Carey (12. Billy Illeris 87?), 13. Robbie Schroder, 14. Oliver Wiederkehr
Substitutes not used: 11. Leo Exarhos, 20. Angelo Konstantinou
YELLOW CARDS: 3. Ryan Kendrigan, 4. Gareth Brownlee, 6. Chris Russell (all Helensburgh Thistle), 5. Nick Mihailakis, 7. Robbie Deeley (both Canberra Olympic)
-Match Report courtesy of Russ Gibbs
Preliminary Round Fixtures
Monday 26th March
Dunbar Rovers (ESFA) 2 v Belmore United (SL2) 1
Tuesday 27th March
Miranda Magpies (SSFA) 2 v Hurstville City Minotaurs (SL2) 1
Polonia Rams (NDSFA) 0 v Coogee United (ESFA) 6
Glenmore Park (NDSFA) 1 v Arncliffe Auroa (SSFA*) 0
Wednesday 28th March
Belmore Eagles (CDSFA) 4 v Gymea United (SSFA) 6
FC Gasy Lansvale (SL2) 2 v Hills Pumas (GHFA) 2 (Match postponed after lights went out)
Lilli Pilli FC (SSFA) 5 v Luddenham United (SL2) 1
Central Coast Mariners Academy (U/18s) 7 v Loftus (SSFA) 2 (2-2 after full time)
Western Condors (SL2) 2 v West City FC (SL2) 3
Auburn FC (GDSFA) 4 v Bangor FC (SSFA) 1
Picton Rangers (IPL) 4 v Forrest Rangers (SSFA*) 0
Helensburgh Thistle 0 (IPL) v Canberra Olympic (ACT) 3
All Saints Oatley (SSFA) 2 v Rydalmere FC (GDSFA) 3
Bass Hill RSL 5 (BDAF) v Bathurst 75 (SL2) 2
Thursday 29th March
White City (SL2) 1 v Bondi FC 2 (ESFA)
Ponds FC (BDSFA) 2 v Waverly Old Boys 7
Hakoah (SL2) 2 v Barden Ridgebacks (SSFA) 1
Byes
Canberra FC (ACT)
Inter Lions (SL2)
Dee Why (MWFA)
Dapto Dandaloo (IPL)
Mountains United (SL2)
Liverpool Sports Club (SDSFA)
Hawkesbury City (SL2)
Sans Souci (SSFA)
Bulli (IPL)
Nepean FC (SL2)
Tarrawanna (IPL)
Doonside Hawks (BDSFA)
Enfield Rovers (CDSFA)
Prospect United (SL2)
Chullora Wolves (BDAF)
(Brackets indicate which associations and leagues these clubs come from)
