2014 Waratah Cup Round Three Review
Round 3 of the 2014 Waratah Cup has concluded as the stage has been set for a huge round 4 with IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 teams joining in.
This round’s highlighted match took us to Christie Park where Gladesville Hornsby Association’s Hills Pumas took on State League one side Camden Tigers.
Following the match of the round is a review of all other results.
Match of the Round
Hills Pumas (GHFA) – Camden Tigers 0-0 (4-3 penalties)
The fairy tale Cup run continued for local side Hills Pumas when they accounted for State League One outfit, Camden Tigers in Round Three of the 2014 Waratah Cup last Wednesday evening.
The Gladesville Hornsby Football Association outfit played the best part of an hour of regular time, plus extra time, a man short, but still showed enough determination to overcome the Tigers 4-3 in a penalty shootout.
Christie Park in Marsfield provided a somewhat slippery surface after a little rain leading up to the match, with the crisp evening turning colder by the minute as the match dragged on late in to the night towards the dreaded shootout.
Matthew Fitzsimons was the first to pull the trigger on the night, the hard working Hills midfielder cracking a left footed grass cutter from the edge of the box in the third minute, only for Camden’s goalkeeper, Dean Bradley, to parry.
Fitzsimons was at it again just five minutes later, with Bradley again saving, this time from a vicious volley after a corner was cleared to the edge of the box.
It was all Hills in the opening quarter of an hour, with Jarrod Muggleton slicing wide from right in front with the goal at his mercy after an unselfish square pass from Sean Mitchell.
Camden weathered the early storm and responded after 16 minutes, Blake Armstrong controlling the ball on his chest just inside the penalty area, his volley on the turn just clearing the Hills cross bar.
Both sides the exchanged dipping volleys that almost found the mark, with Mitchell’s effort for Hills saved rather uncomfortably at the second attempt by Bradley in the Camden goal, whilst Sean Doherty’s screamer for Camden from Daniel Semaan’s cross whistled inches past the Hills upright.
An incident just on the half hour mark made the task at hand for Hills Pumas so much more difficult when they were reduced to ten men for the remainder of the night.
Having just received a yellow card for a foul, midfielder Jarrod Muggleton committed a second indiscretion within a minute on the edge of the Hills box. Despite initially only receiving a warning by experienced A League referee, Mr Kris Griffith-Jones, he continued his verbal spray and found himself cautioned a second time, leaving his team mates to face it alone whilst giving Camden a psychological and numerical advantage.
But Hills kept at it, and almost scored in the 34th minute. A big bustling run down the right flank by striker, Peter Ellis, ended with a cut back and first time shot by Joel Ramish, Dean Bradley ever alert in the Camden goal to keep his goal intact.
The final opportunity before the break again fell to Hills, with Fitzsimons slipping a neat pass in to the path of Ellis. The striker’s shot on the turn beat Bradley in the Camden goal, but ricocheted to safety off Camden defender, Tyler Bromham-Fuller, who was well placed near the goal line.
Camden came out after the break with renewed purpose, and a volley by Blake Szumski on 54 minutes was followed up four minutes later by an angled drive from Tyler Bromham-Fuller, both efforts kept out by Hills shot-stopper, Clayton Waters.
As the minutes ticked away, both teams raised the tempo in an attempt to avoid the additional half hour, with Blake Armstrong almost breaking the deadlock on 82 minutes, the Camden striker curling a peach of a shot inches wide of the left upright with Waters stranded.
An incredible passage of play in the 88th minute saw both sides come agonisingly close to snatching a last gasp win.
Hills attackers Peter Ellis and Sean Mitchell exchanged a series of passes in an assault on the Camden goal, with Ellis’ final layoff well inside the penalty area met with a fierce drive by Mitchell.
Camden’s goalkeeper, Dean Bradley, not only saved brilliantly down low to his right, but he then proceeded to distribute a quick ball which set the Tigers on their way upfield. The foray ended with Blake Armstrong running through on goal, but his low shot when faced in a one-on-one with Clayton Waters was well parried by the Hills keeper.
The additional 30 minute period brought a series of opportunities for both sides as players started to feel the pinch of a long, drawn out encounter in nippy conditions.
In the 11th minute of extra time, Hills had no less than three attempts on goal, back to back, in a frenzied and frustrating attack for the home fans.
Substitute Kristofer Rowe’s low drive when faced with Dean Bradley was parried by the Camden keeper, only for Matthew Fitzsimons’ follow up strike to rebound back off the cross bar. Sean Mitchell smacked it back towards goal once more, only for the effervescent Bradley to again deny the home side by tipping the ball over the cross bar.
Rowe in fact should’ve scored just three minutes later but blasted well over the bar when again only faced with Bradley in the Camden goal.
Hills had the best chance of this Round Three encounter in the 111th minute, with Fitzsimons brought down in the box for referee, Kris Griffiths-Jones, to award a penalty.
Sean Mitchell’s low shot was predictably saved by Dean Bradley in a night where the goal keepers would prove impregnable.
Camden’s Blake Armstrong had the final opportunity well into the extra time period, heading over from right in front whilst unmarked, just minutes before time was called.
So it went to the dreaded spot kicks, and Camden’s James Young was first cab off the rank, spooning his shot over the bar, whilst Rowe replied for Hills by cracking his shot high in to the corner.
Both sides traded three successful penalties thereafter, with Daniel Semaan, Thomas Finnochiaro, and Rhys Hastie all finding the net for Camden, whilst Luke Montgomery, Sean Mitchell, and Matthew Fitzsimons doing likewise for Hills.
When Clayton Waters parried Camden’s fifth penalty from Blake Armstrong, the local side had prevailed in a huge boost for grassroots football.
Camden were well served on a disappointing night by keeper extraordinaire, Dean Bradley, with a hatful of brilliant stops, including an extra time spot kick, and midfielder and skipper, Daniel Semaan, who worked tirelessly all night.
Hills Pumas have squeezed through in to Round Four to remarkably face another local Association side, Sans Souci from the St George Association, with the winner earning a mouth-watering clash against the victors of the Northern Tigers-Blacktown Spartans encounter.
The Pumas gave it everything in a stubborn performance, with their standouts being midfielder, Matthew Fitzsimons, who ran himself in to the ground and covered every blade of grass over the 120 minutes; striker Sean Mitchell, a crafty and intelligent player who was often the catalyst to the home side’s attacks; and of course, keeper Clayton Waters, supplementing his heroics during the 120 minutes with two saves in the penalty shootout.
Match Stats
Hills Pumas 0
Camden Tigers 0
After Extra Time, Hills Pumas won 4-3 on penalties
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Christie Park, Marsfield
Referee: Mr Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistant Referees: Mr Kearney Robinson and Mr Keith Yau
Hills Pumas: 29.Sean Mitchell, 25.Jarrod Muggleton, 5.Luke Montgomery(capt), 4.Matthew Oughtred (15.Aiden Dipen 98’), 8.Joel Ramish (33.Matthew Cribb 79’), 19.Chris Polkinhorne, 3.Charles Sawley, 1.Clayton Waters, 10.Peter Ellis (22.Kristofer Rowe 91’), 18.Matthew Fitzsimons, 17.Lachlan Gage.
Substitutes Not Used: 35.David Corne.
Yellow Cards: 25.Jarrod Muggleton 29’ and 30’,
Red Cards: 25.Jarrod Muggleton 30’.
Camden Tigers: 1.Dean Bradley, 8.Tyler Bromham-Fuller (15.Liam Hastie 75’, 13.Jesse Kennedy 102’), 2.Jake Watson, 5.Stephan Tomasich, 3.Blake Szumski, 9.James Young, 6.Sean Doherty, 7.Daniel Semaan(capt), 10.John McPhillips (14.Rhys Hastie 67’), 4.Jaydon Russell (12.Thomas Finnochiaro 85’), 11.Blake Armstrong.
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Mathew Johnson..
Yellow Cards: 14.Rhys Hastie 78’.
Red Cards: Nil
Round Three Review
In other Round Three clashes, fellow State League One aspirants, Hakoah Sydney City East, avoided Camden’s fate with a comfortable 2-0 triumph over Dunbar Rovers at Caringbah.
Macarthur Rams made easy work of Kogarah Waratahs with a 4-0 pasting at Peakhurst Park, whilst Spirit beat Rydalmere Lions by the same scoreline at Christie Park.
Bankstown City Lions knocked over Gladesville Ryde Magic 4-1 at Jensen Park, and were joined in the next round by fellow SUPA IGA NSW Mens 2 side, Mounties Wanderers, who beat Mt Druiit 3-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Dapto Dandaloo Fury accounted for Auburn FC 3-1, whilst Central Coast Academy (over Prospect United) and Waverley Old Boys (over Western Condors) won with identical scorelines to move into the next round.
Granville Rage beat Balmain Tigers for the second time in a fortnight, winning 3-2 to back up their 3-1 victory in the opening round of the league.
Fraser Park eliminated Inter Lions at Lambert Park by 3-1, joining Bankstown Berries and Northern Tigers in to Round Four after their respective 3-0 triumphs over State League One opposition, Stanmore Hawks and Western NSW Mariners.
In the remaining Round Three battles, Hurstville FC beat Southern Bulls 3-1, Parramatta scored late to overcome Hills Brumbies 1-0, Sydney University beat Arncliffe Aurora 2-1 at St George Stadium, Hawkesbury City smacked Nepean 5-2, and Doonside Hawks upset State League One high flyers, Northbridge FC, by the odd goal in seven.
To view Round 4 fixtures click here
