University FC and Oak Flats Falcons played out a Nil all draw in their Round 3 Fraternity Club Cup match up on Sunday 6th of March. Neither team was able to break the dead lock after both traded blow for blow in a strong midfield battle that lasted the entire match. Early on it seemed Oak Flats looked to be the favourites as their striker Joshua De Gouveia found himself in two 1 v 1 situations with University Goal Keeper Callum McGoldrick in under 10 minutes of kick off, however he was unable to find the net.

Both teams participated in patient build ups through midfield searching for the opportune moment to play forward balls, with Oak Flats utilising the skill and strength of midfielders Daniel Petrolo and Matthew Cesta, while University looked to its wide players such as Michael Pitt for their goal scoring inroads. The best chance in the first half for Oak Flats came in the 29th minute with Dominic Giustiniani linking with with De Gouveia on the half way line to beat his defender and deliver a ground cross, into a crowded penalty area only to be cleared narrowly over the bar by a University defender. University were not without chances either as Luke Vandenburgh latched onto a deep cross in the 21st minute narrowly missing the target.

One can only speculate what the half time team talk entailed as both teams began the second half with exuberant energy. It was only 3 minutes in when Oak Flats Keeper Ben Levai was forced to make a smother save just shy of the penalty spot at the feet of Vandenburgh as they entered into a 50/50 following a through ball. A further 2 minutes later Luke Foscarini was found on the edge of the area in open space which lead to a shot over the bar for the Uni. Oak Flats responded quickly after Leeroy Roota pressured a back pass forcing a 1 v 1 with McGoldrick as the ball sailed narrowly over the bar by the striker.

The best chances for both teams came midway through the second half. University's arose from a corner following Foscarini’s free kick that was tipped over the bar, the low corner was drilled across the face of the goal with no out stretched legs to seal the deal. The Falcons looked certain to score in the 50th minute when a lapse in concentration from the University defence left Roota running into the box on the left hand side unmarked and unchallenged as he struck the ball to the right hand side far post, with McGoldrick using superb reflexes to tip the ball around the post. 10 minutes later Oak Flats looked to have broken the dead lock after Tom Brown challenged for a high ball with McGoldrick in midair as both players hit the ground and the ball fell towards the net, however McGoldrick was deemed to have been fouled to the disappointment of Falcons fans.

“Our boys played reasonably well as a whole, the defensive structure was pretty good, we created a lot of chances to score but we were just unlucky this afternoon”- University Coach Brendon Fotheringham.

Oak Flats Falcons Coach Martin Madden commended his entire team for the chances they were able to create and believes this is a promising quality for the long season ahead.

 

University FC - 0

Oak Flats Falcons - 0

 

Sunday 6th March 2016

Elizabeth Park - Bellambi

 

University: Callum McGoldrick, Grant Newman, Anthony Gigliotti, Craig Hood, Scott Mawbey, Tom Shannon, Michael Pitt, Dane Hamilton, Luke Vandenbergh, Luke Foscarini, Tom Brown

Substitutions: Andrew Christie, Alex Coetzer, Matthew Dunstan, Tim Cole, Kieren Laws

 

Oak Flats Falcons: Ben Levia, Ben Hardcastle, Garry Newall, Stephen Jovanovski, Brenton Burke, Christian Cappetta, Daniel Petrolo, Jamie Stevenson, Dominic Giustiniani, Joshua De Gouveia, Chris Murdzevski

Substitutions: Mattew Cesta, Jason Murdzevski, Sam Bosowiel, Leeroy Roota, Ben Wunsch

 

Story and Photograph by Samantha Jordan