Challenge Cup Review

Salisbury Inter 0 v Para Hills East 3

There was plenty of feeling in Sunday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final between Salisbury Inter and Para Hills East, with tensions evident from the very first tackle – both sides were desperate for a chance at silverware.

Inter had chances sporadically throughout the game, but ultimately, they had no answer for the way Easties played. Sustained periods of possession from the away side caused the pressure to mount but Inter were resolute and held on until half-time.

Shortly after the break Easties cashed in on their dominance. After some delicate close control inside the box from Mason Norwood, the ball found its way to Lachie Barr. From the byline, Barr cut the ball back hard and forced the Inter defender to intercept, his efforts were in vain as the ball found its way into the back of the net rather unfortunately for an own goal, 1-0.

Easties had their tales up and were creating triangles, moving off the ball and causing ample headaches for the Inter defense. The intricacy of their passing was impressive, and it eventually manifested into another chance in the 54^th minute. Norwood, ever-dangerous, found the ball again - intelligently putting Barr through who was subsequently fouled in the box by the goalkeeper. Norwood stepped up and put the penalty away with conviction, 2-0.

Norwood wasn’t done just yet. In the 87^th minute he used his sheer pace and power to get on the end of a lofted through ball, calmly taking the ball around the keeper and putting the game to bed.

Para Hills East will take on Tea Tree Gully in the next round.

Parafield Gardens 2 v Elizabeth Downs 4

This rivalry continues to produce classics, as Elizabeth Downs were once again triumphant away from home in their 4-2 win over Parafield Gardens.

It was the home side who started on the front-foot, scoring early through a Joshua Coyne header. Gardens’ advantage was short-lived, as Braiden Gundlach showcased his trademark dribbling – and fizzed in a low cross which fortuitously found its way to Sean McGreevy, who made no mistake with his finish.

From here the game began to open up, both sides were testing the keeper and the game looked destined to break open at any time. Gundlach had an effort saved by an inspired piece of last-ditch defending by Gardens defender Kale Wicker, who cleared the ball off the line and crashed into the post in the process. The deadlock was then broken by Elizabeth Downs’ Josh Farrell, who capitalized on a failed clearance and put his side a goal up.

His brother then had to show him up just eight minutes later, as he gathered the ball in midfield and produced a long-range effort with the perfect amount of dip, 3-1 Downs.

The next flurry of chances belonged to Gardens, but Downs would not budge. Some excellent saves combined with a goal line clearance of their own, denied Gardens the opportunity to get back into the game. Tommy Blackett found himself on the edge of the box in the 90^th minute, and as the ball popped up – he channeled his inner Robin Van Persie and sent a volley into the top right corner, amazing technique and enough to send his side to the semis at ServiceFM Stadium.

Mitchell Coull managed to score a consolation goal in the 96^th.

Elizabeth Downs will face Ghan Kilburn in their upcoming semi-final.

Tea Tree Gully 2 v Old Ignatians 2 (TTG on penalties)

Tea Tree Gully hosted Old Ignatians in a pulsating clash that showcased one of Saturday’s very best versus one of Sunday’s very best. Two sides with different styles, both with a shared desire to win – which was evident form the first whistle.

Gully were evidently a threat in the air, their physicality and willingness to attack the ball was proving to be a challenge for Iggies. The challenge became too much in the 16^th minute, as Billy Alottey rose above everyone and absolutely smashed it into the back of the net off a corner, a great start for the home side.

Conceding seemed to wake Iggies up so to speak, they started finding each other well with the ball and were pushing it through the midfield with pace and precision. Their patience paid off in the 32^nd minute, after a through ball caused some confusion for Gully’s keeper and defender – leaving Fabbio Timpano with an empty net, 1-1.

Chances were in full flow for both teams, Gully were ever threatening off the set piece and Iggies were also creating.

Julian Titaro ran rings around his defender before sweating it to his strike partner, Timpano. Unfortunately for him the ball took a lamentable bobble, and it seemed as if the chance was gone. Timpano’s shank found its way to Jarrad Moffa, who in the 57^th minute – banged his volley into the top left corner, sending the Iggies faithful into raptures and his team 2-1 to the good.

Gully stayed firm, coming back to equalize just nine minutes later. It was another set-piece, with Miller’s cross creeping to the back post where it was subsequently cut back to Mathew Evans – who just had to tap it into the empty net, 2-2.

The game witnessed various ebbs and flows until the final whistle, and then until the end of extra time. It ultimately came down to football’s cruelest format, penalties. It was the home side who took advantage of the crowd and held their nerve, with Tea Tree gully winning the shootout and earning themselves a place in the semis.

Ghan Kilburn 3 v Sturt Marion 0

Ghan and their talisman Asad Abassi were too strong for Sturt Marion in another Sunday v Saturday showdown. A hat-trick from Abassi cemented Ghan’s place in the semi and cemented himself as one of the most prolific goal scorers across all competitions.

Ghan’s cup run has seen them overcome Pitbulls 2-1 in the fourth round, as well as a hard-fought 4-3 win over West Beach in the Round of 16.

They’ll have their toughest task yet in the next fixture as they take on Sunday Premier Division champions Elizabeth Downs. Ghan have had mixed luck this year against The Downs, with a 1-1 draw at the start of the season and a 3-0 loss in Round Ten.

This competition is Ghan’s chance to win some silverware this season, and they’ll be desperate to deprive Downs of the chance to complete the double. They face off at 12.00pm at ServiceFM stadium.