Match Reports – 2014 BASL Knockout Cup Finals (Sunday 13 April)

 

Mens Division 1

Golden City 2 (C Hayden, G Basha) Def Eaglehawk 0

Best: Golden City: C Hayden, J Leonard-Shannon, D Roberston, Eaglehawk: S Eleveld, S Christmas, D Kelly

 

Golden City claimed its first bit of silverware in the Mens Division 1 competition for well over a decade when it defeated Eaglehawk 2-nil.

 

In what was a very skilful match, Golden City always looked more dangerous with many of their younger players looking slightly too quick for the Borough boys.

 

And it was one of their younger players, in 16 year old Goodwill Basha who opened the scoring for the Rams in the 20^th minute after a great run from Josh Claney which started almost back at the half way mark before making his way into the 18 yard box, before sending in a great cross to Basha, who made no mistake.

 

Oliver Leonard-Shannon was another young player for the Rams, who relished the opportunity to play senior football. The 14 year old played mainly down the left side, and with his pace and skill continually troubled the opposition.

 

Eaglehawk looked to regroup after the half time break and created a couple of early chances, which were well saved by Jayden Abbott. After Abbott made an amazing save from a bullet from Simon Doherty, it always looked like it was going to be Golden City’s day.

 

Eaglehawk made a few substitutes and threw the side around, but they could not get any real control through the midfield, and when Golden City’s newest recruit, Englishmen Chris Hayden scored late in the second half, it sealed the victory for the Rams, who were deserving winners after years sitting at the lower end of the BASL Championship standings.

 

Mens Division 2

Spring Gully 2 (L Tempest, M Goss) Def Colts United 0

Best: Spring Gully: B Hamilton, G Lane, E Hunter, Colts United: P Berry, R Howell, M Jones

 

The Mens Division 2 match was probably the closest match of the day with both teams controlling possession in the first half. The majority of the first 45 minutes the match was played between the two 18 yards boxes, with both team struggling to create clear chances inside the box.  It wasn’t until an opportunist goal from Matt Goss just before half time that got the home team crowd excited.

 

Colts United’s Phil Berry tried to lift his team after the half time break and took control of the midfield, but similar to the first half his side struggled with its touches and class they needed to finish off the work of Berry.

 

It what was a tense second half with neither team really getting on top of too long, Luke Tempest scored at the 75^th minute mark which handed Spring Guly a 2-nil lead, that they would hang on to for the reminder of the match.

 

 

Women’s Division

Spring Gully 5 (J De Machi 2, G Young, A Shiels, M Killick) Def Epsom 3 (J Steel 2, M Williamson)

Best: Spring Gully: A van Dalen, C Lenghan, J Smith, Epsom: B Trimboli, A Pahina, C Green

 

In what was high scoring contest, Spring Gully prevailed 5-3 after being 2-1 at half time.

 Both teams created numerous chances in the first half, but it was Epsom who took the most of the chances through two goals from Jacinta Steel. Spring Gully on the other hand failed to put the ball in the back of the net and with a couple of one on one opportunities with the Epsom goal keeper, who had to make a couple of great saves to keep her team in front at the break.

 

Second half started much the same with both attacks looking dangerous, but unable to capitalize. It wasn’t until a goal moth scramble and an eventual goal from Spring Gully’s Jade De Marchi that the momentum of the match changed. With scores now level, Spring Gully grew in confidence, and had the match played in the their attacking half. The Epsom defence stood tall, but the pressure finally came to much with the Reds scoring another two goals to take a 5-2 lead. Epsom continued to play the match out, and added to the teamsheet with a late goal wrom Megan Williams who scored after a great through ball from keeper turned midfielder Angelina Pahina.

 

Youth Division

Strathdale 5 (K Tramm 2, B Dreschler, B Jacobs, B Rothmeier) Def Swan Hill 4 (T Fox, J Kargar, N Alizada, S Rain)

Best: Strathdale: B Dreschler, K Tramm, J Pitson, Swan Hill: J Dickson, S Rain, S Mohamad

 

Swan Hill started the better of the two teams, and looked more like the team with all the experience playing in Knockout Cup Finals. In what was a free flowing match, both teams created numerous chances, and the result at the half time interval was 2-all. Swan Hill took their game to the next level after half time, and had one hand on the Cup when they lead 4-2 at the 65minute mark. However, the 2012 and 2013 Champions fought back and made it 4-all with 10minutes remaining. The Champions had all the momentum and it wasn’t longer before the scored the winner, with Captain Ben Dreschler being instrumental in the fight back.