By David Manuca

Sunshine George Cross has come from behind to record a 2-1 home win over Murray United at Chaplin Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

Despite going down early to a Ben Chaffey strike, Sunshine fought back to seal victory thanks to goals from Daniel Hutchinson and Ayodeji Omoboye. 

Murray United came out the blocks firing and opened the scoring after just four minutes. 

Chaffey controlled a long-ball, shaped to shoot and his strike was deflected into the net. 

The away side came close to making it a second shortly after, but Zac Walker was denied by Robert Santilli after being played in against the Sunshine goalkeeper.

Sunshine had to wait until 21 minutes for its first chance of goal, but Hutchinson’s curling effort went centimetres past the far post. 

But on 34 minutes Hutchinson found the equaliser for the George Cross, tapping home from close range from Omoboye’s pass across the face of the goal.

Murray United almost re-took the lead into the break, but Darcy Pawlik’s curling effort went wide of the goal for the last play of the half. 

The side was made to pay for that missed opportunity, with Sunshine scoring just six minutes into the second-half to turn the game around.

Hutchinson cut it back into the box for Chris Oghanna, but despite having his shot blocked, the ball bounced up for Omoboye to head over Murray goalkeeper Nathan Brown and into the net.

James Covas came close to equalising for Murray with a placed shot, but unfortunately for the away side it went just wide of the post.

Omoboye almost had a second after a well-taken shot on the turn, but Brown got down low to deny the George Cross striker. 

Despite being down 2-1, Murray United failed to show any real threat in the latter stages of the game and Sunshine managed to hold on for a hard-fought but well-deserved victory at home. 

Match Details:
Sunshine George Cross 2 (Hutchinson 34’, Omoboye 51’) defeated Murray United 1 (Chaffey 4’) at Chaplin Reserve. [HT: 1-1]

Sunshine George Cross XI: 1. Robert SANTILLI, 2. Eddie CETKIN (17. Samuel McCALL 75’), 3. Martin MASON, 5. Christopher DIB, 13. Liam O’CONNELL, 18. Denis DASOUL, 11. Anthony CASSAR (7. Brandon ZAFFINA 84’), 12. Chris OGHANNA, 8. Daniel HUTCHINSON, 19. Ayodeji OMOBOYE, 14. Muhamad CHAWK (16. Nathan LIBERTO 82’).

Un-used substitutes: 21. James KAPURANOVSKI, 15. Amara KROMAH.

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

Murray United XI: 1. Nathan BROWN, 17. Melkie WOLDE MICHAEL, 16. Sean PYE, 12. Michael JESSUP, 5. Ashley DUNN, 15. Ryan GILES, 23. Ben CHAFFEY, 14. Adam WATERS (11. Jayson FERGUSON 63’), 29. Darcy PAWLIK (37. Alex EGGLESTON 70’), 8. James COVAS, 7. Zac WALKER (78. 19. Tom MORRISON).

Un-used substitutes: 21. Ben RUSSELL, 33. Alex WEST.

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil