Griffiths Sends Inglewood United Through In Soccer Pools Cup

as posted here

A goal just after the hour mark from Inglewood United midfielder Kevin Griffiths gave the Premier League side a 1-0 victory against first division side Gosnells City at the Clipsal Stadium, in round two of the Soccer Pools Cup.
Griffiths was on hand to fire home a Jason Colli cross, after the visitors didn’t clear their lines and the midfielder was happy to get the victory. “We knew it was going to be a battle today, and in the first half we were a bit under par. We made chances in the second half and I was happy to score and we’re happy to get into the next round,” Griffiths said.
It was a lively start to the game and the home side went close early, Rory Grant fed Colli in the box but Gosnells keeper Alan Dunlop was out quick to save.
The visitors settled and went close themselves on 11 minutes, midfielder Aaron Nadine’s long-range shot flashed wide of the target.
Both defences were well on top and chances were few and far between, but Dunlop had to be alert to punch clear from a dangerous cross from Ricky Smith on 25 minutes.
Moments later it was Gosnells who had the best opportunity of the game. Ian Maguire’s through ball sent Darren Francis clear, but Inglewood keeper Oliver Taseski was out to clear; although his clearance fell at the feet of Andrew McGettrick, who fired well over when well placed.
It was a tight contest, and the home side were struggling to break down the Gosnells defence with Mark Edwards excellent, but they did go close on the half hour. Colli’s corner from the right found James Duncan at the back post and his header crashed off the post, but referee Michael Tolme had whistled for a foul on the Gosnells keeper Dunlop.
The first division side was taking the game to their Premier League opponents, and on 36 minutes Francis’ shot from long-range went just over the bar. Moment’s later Gosnells midfielder Ian Maguire, who was having a great game, sent an inch perfect through ball into Sam Maguire, but his shot from the angle was wide.
Both sides had chances late in the half, first on 40 minutes Inglewood midfielder Jamie Mitsopoulos pass found Griffiths, whose shot from the edge of the box curled inches over the crossbar, with Dunlop at full stretch. Then on the stroke of half time Gosnells’ Luke Woodard found McGettrick, whose shot was blocked by Shayne Price, and Stuart Aitken’s follow up shot went wide.
Inglewood coach Alan Vest showed his intensions at half time, bringing on Dannie Richman and Louis Parkinson to bolster their attacking options and they began the half on top. On 50 minutes Colli was sent clear down the right, his cross into the box was met by Gosnells defender David Abbott whose attempted clearance went into the grateful arms of Gosnells keeper Dunlop.
It was all the home side and Parkinson’s header was well saved by Dunlop, and Mladen Kovacevic long-range shot was well over.
Then on 61 minutes the winning goal came. Colli’s low cross caused problems in the Gosnells defence and they failed to clear their lines and Grant’s shot was blocked but the ball fell to Griffiths who lashed it home from close-range.
It was nearly 2-0 moments later, a great run down the left by Daniel Kovacevic, ended with the defender cutting inside, but his shot was saved low by Dunlop.
The visitors began to throw men forward and second half substitute Adam Bremner fired wide from the edge of the box on 67 minutes, and moments later they went close to levelling. Again it was Ian Maguire who was the architect, his perfected weighted through ball sent Bremner clear and his shot from six-yards was well saved by Taseski.
With Shayne Price and James Duncan solid at the heart of the Inglewood defence, Gosnells were struggling to break them down, although Francis’ shot from 12-yards on 80 minutes was saved by Taseski.
Both sides cleared their benches late, and both had late chances. Ian Maguire’s free kick into the box was well held by Taseski on 86 minutes, while Dunlop saved well from Parkinson’s header moments later and he was out quick to save at the same player’s feet in stoppage time, but it was Inglewood who progressed to the next round of the cup.
Inglewood assistant Coach Kevin Brophy was happy to be in the hat for the next round of the cup. “They really didn’t cause us too many problems today in front of goal, but I thought Gosnells worked hard and frustrated us.
“We didn’t play that well in the first half but we made the change at the break and we got the goal in the second half and we’re happy to be in the next round,” Brophy said.
Gosnells City Coach Tony Maguire was happy with the performance of his side despite the loss. “It was a real good performance today, we had a game plan today and I think it worked.
“The boys worked hard for each other and we played some good football today, and if we play like that for the rest of the season I think we will be Ok,” Maguire said.
Inglewood United 1 (Griffiths61’)
Gosnells City 0
Clipsal Stadium, Saturday, May 30th, 2009
HT: 0-0
Att: 100 (Approx)
Referee - Michael Tolme
Assistants - Trent Fleskens and Stephen Knight
Inglewood United - GK Oliver TASESKI, 2 Shane PRYCE, 3 Daniel KOVACEVIC, 9 Rory GRANT, 11 James MITSOPOULOS (12 Dannie RICHMAN 46’), 18 Jason COLLI, 19 Ricky SMITH, 20 Albert OSEI-TUTU (10 Lewis PARKINSON 46’), 26 James DUNCAN, 27 Mladen KOVACEVIC, 34 Kevin GRIFFITHS (6 Matt WARDLE 83) - Subs not used - Lewis ITALIANO
Yellow Cards - Nil
Gosnells City - GK Alan DUNLOP, 2 Mark EDWARDS, 3 Sam MAGUIRE (12 Chris HOLLAND 72’), 4 David ABBOTT, 5 Raymond McDONALD, 6 Luke WOODARD, 7 Ian MAGUIRE, 8 Aaron NADINE (14 Allan CLAXTON 66’), 9 Darren FRANCIS, 10 Stuart AITKEN, 11 Andrew McGETTRICK (15 Adam BREMNER 59’) - Subs not used - RGK Maikol TASESKI, 13 DaronTWYMAN
Yellow Cards - McDonald 64’


as posted here