Waratah Cup Round 1 Review

The thrills and spills of Cup football are back again as the 2014 Waratah Cup kicked off on the weekend of March 15th/16th, with clubs across NSW doing battle on the path to potential Cup glory.

The scalp of a big name club is always on the agenda for a lower division or local association club, but this season there is an additional prize at the back end of a high flying Cup run, and that is the carrot of entering the national FFA Cup, with a potential match up against an A League club a distinct but very real possibility.
VIEW ALL THE RESULTS FROM THE WARATAH CUP
This season’s Waratah Cup kicked off in earnest at 11:30am on Saturday, March 15, with Loftus Yarrawarrah Rovers FC meeting Revesby Workers Football Club at football headquarters, Valentine Sports Park.
In true nail biting Cup action, extra time was required after a scoreless draw before the Sutherland Association-based Loftus Rovers prevailed 1-0.
There were a combination of some lop sided results as well as penalty shoot outs amongst the other 31 matches in Round One, including thumping wins for Southern Bulls and Glebe Wanderers, beating Rooty Hill RSL FC (9-1) and Glebe Wanderers (8-1) respectively.
Southern Branch FC made the trek to Kinch Reserve, Condell Park, before coming unstuck 5-2 against the local Bankstown Association side, Padstow United Sports Club.
Marayong Sports Soccer Club eliminated Oatley RSL at Harvey Park, Marayong, by the odd goal in three, whilst Locomotiv Cove FC did it easier against The Ponds Football Club, netting seven goals without reply.
Ararat FC squeezed past East Gosford FC by 2-1 at Christie Park, whilst a solitary goal was all that was needed by Glenmore Park Football Club as they accounted for the Chullora Wolves in a tight contest.
There was an absolute thriller at Cromer Park on the night of Tuesday, March 18th, where the match between Mosman FC and the Wollongong-based Cringila Lions went to penalties before a winner was announced. 
The match itself produced eight goals for a 4-4 draw, and with no further strikes in extra time, it was Mosman that went through to the second round courtesy of a 4-3 triumph from the dreaded spot kicks.
There was another eight goal thriller at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday, March 16th, but this time Doonside Hawks Soccer Club prevailed 5-3 against Emu Plains FC, whilst Western Condors FC beat Balmain Wanderers 4-1 to progress to Round Two.
A giant killer in previous seasons, the Wollongong based Dapto Dandaloo Fury took their place in Round Two following a 3-0 victory over St Marys Band Club, and the St George Association based San Souci FC joined them after edging past Yagoona Lions Soccer Club 2-1.
Wollongong United, boasting a number of high profile ex-NSW PL players, racked up the biggest score of the opening round, annihilating the Glebe Gorillas 12-0 at Macedonia Park, Berkeley to take their spot in the second round.
 It was a lot closer in the State League Two ‘derby’ of sorts, with Enfield Rovers getting past Hurstville City Minotaurs 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after 90 and 120 minutes respectively.
There were comfortable victories for Auburn Football Club (5-1 over Bringelly FC) and Dunbar Rovers (3-0 against UNSW Football Club), and likewise for Hills Pumas who overcame Bateau Bay’s The Entrance by 4 goals to 1.
Canterbury Assocaition’s Inter Lions progressed without kicking a football, given the forfeit of Granville Kewpies Ariana FC, and Parramatta City did likewise by overcoming Pagewood Botany 4-0 at Eric Primrose Reserve.
There were close 2-1 wins for Bonnet Bay and Gladesville Ravens, edging past Pendle Hill and Rydalmere FC respectively, but no such nerves for Manly Vale FC, who managed 11 goals without reply against the Bankstown RSL Dragons.
Hurstville FC served up half a dozen goals to a hapless Dobroyd FC, joining Prospect United in to Round Two after their 3-1 win against Knox United.
Waverley Old Boys accounted for Revesby Rovers by 2-0, as did Arncliffe Aurora over Berkeley Vale (2-1) and St Clair United against Panania RSL (3-1).
There were lop sided victories for Coogee United (8-0 against Villawood United) and Rydalmere Lions FC (5-1 against Kincumber Roos), whilst the battle of the ‘Rovers’ ended in a 3-1 advantage to Revesby against West Ryde.
In the final match of the Round at Quakers Hill Park, the local Quakers Hill Junior Soccer Club and the visiting Kogarah Waratahs shared six goals in a thrilling 90 minute stalemate. The locals then ran out of puff as the aptly named Waratahs scored four goals in extra time to win 7-3 and take their place in the second round.
The 32 winners will now do battle against each other in yet another knockout phase, Round Two, with the 16 victors of these matches then moving on to Round Three, where the State League One and SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 teams anxiously await.