Picton Rangers’ FFA Cup run has ended with a 1-0 loss to Hakoah Sydney City East FC at Hume Oval on Wednesday night.

In a tight and dour affair, it took until the 81st minute for the NPL 1 top tier club to break the deadlock in the tension-charged affair.

Picton coach Brett Morley was proud of his team’s efforts regardless of the result.

“It was a really tough game and it was always going to come down to one bit of brilliance or a half-chance, and unfortunately it was them,” Morley said.

“They got us on the counter, we turned it over and it was a good strike, and good strikes win matches.”

The fixture began with Picton Rangers holding their own against Hakoah, who fielded a number of inexperienced players in their starting squad.

In the 10th minute, a loose challenge by Picton’s Chris Sheerin allowed a dangerous free kick opportunity for Hakoah metres outside the penalty box. Hakoah’s Paul Orgad squandered the opportunity by thundering the ball into the wall.

The opening 20 minutes of the fixture saw Picton Rangers sitting deep in their half, playing on the counter although both teams rarely got any genuine opportunities to really threaten the opposition goals.

In the 25th minute, it was Picton’s opportunity for an ominous free kick, this time taken by Aidan Matthews. Matthews sent the strike low and left, with the ball dangerously bouncing off the post to deny an opportunity for Picton to take an early lead.

Hakoah threatened with a number of aerial raids into the penalty box, with a goal scoring opportunity created through Connor Shaddock sending in a cross for a Hakoah striker at the near post who was unable to finish the movement.

The half-time score remained Picton Rangers 0 Hakoah Sydney City East FC 0.

Both teams re-entered the pitch with a boost in energy, with Picton the first team to trouble the goals with Mitchell Hall in the 52nd minute finessing the ball across the goals, with no Ranger around to knock it into the unguarded netting.

Tensions continued to rise throughout the fixture with extra time looking more and more inevitable, as both teams were finding it difficult troubling the opposition goalkeeper.

Hakoah was winning the battle of the midfield and territory, continuing to mount pressure on the resolute Picton Rangers defence.

The pressure was telling in the number of corners defended by Picton, with goalkeeper Bradley Jones punching out two corners in succession in the 80th minute to keep Picton in the clash in front of a willing home crowd.

In the 81st minute, former IPL player, Domenic Cutri sealed the win for Hakoah with a powerful strike allowing their entire squad to breathe a sigh of relief. Cutri jumped on the ball on the counter, and granted a fraction of space and time was able to power the ball into the netting wide of the outstretched Picton goalkeeper.

Picton continued to challenge for the final minutes of the fixture, playing extra men forward and pushing for every opportunity but the class of Hakoah shone through who remained poised as they closed out the match with class.

A 1-0 scoreline to Hakoah was a fair reflection of the clash.

Morley saw plenty of positives out of the FFA Cup campaign for the Rangers.

“I think the boys have enjoyed it. They like it much better than a training session.” Morley said.

“I think tonight, collectively we were good, I think we were very solid all over the park. Can’t fault any of their efforts tonight.”

Picton Rangers return home to Hume Oval on Saturday afternoon aiming to return to their winning ways against table-toppers Bulli F.C.

 

Picton Rangers - 0

Hakoah Sydney City East F.C - 1 (Cutri81’)

 

Wednesday 20 April 2016

Hume Oval, Picton

 

Referee: Adam Naylor

Assistant Referees: Stephen Ellsmore & Vishal Prasad

 

Picton Rangers: Jones, Nicol, Goodhew, Durrant, Mugridge, Hall, Matthews, D. Morley, Sheerin, Miranda, Roberts SUBS: Howard, Dymond

 

Hakoah Sydney City East F.C: Abbott, Bandur, Brumberg, Bowden-Haase, Lopes, McKenzie, Orgad, Paikin, Shaddock, Thomas, Jones SUBS: Cutri, Rae, Swibel

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

Photo – Pedro Garcia (FSC photo library)