Hawks Trampled By Mustangs
Holland Park Hawks 0 Mitchelton 3 (McVey 21', 78' pen; OG 50') HT 0-1
Played at: Whites Hill Reserve
A sublime free kick late in the first half and a second half penalty from Josh McVey helped steer Mitchelton to a deserved 3-0 victory away at Holland Park Hawks on Sunday afternoon and propelled the Mustangs to the top of the Flight Centre Premier League ladder. The hosts welcomed the return of last season's marksman Manibu Ishimoto to the bench after a recent spell at PlayStation4 NPL side Redlands United but it didn't serve to inspire, with the hosts enduring a tough afternoon at the office against their title rivals. A fairly dreary opening to the game was punctuated midway through the half when Ben Njie was tripped just outside the box giving McVey the opportunity to test Hawk's keeper Duncan Short, and he left the tall stopper grasping at air as he guided his 20 yard free kick just inside the upright to put the visitors ahead. Hawk's best chance of the half came just a moment later when an unmarked Marek Madle swivelled and shot but the ball spooned just over the bar after the Mitchelton defence failed to deal with a cross in to the centre of the box. With both sides guilty of cheap turnovers, in general there was little fluidity to the game but it was the visitors who nearly extended their lead shortly before the break. Gary Stopforth's lay off for Nick Bernardi saw the Mustang's skipper deliver a teasing cross towards the back of the six yard box where Jeremy Griffin rose highest to guide his header back across goal only for it to strike the upright and away from goal. The woodwork came to the Hawks rescue again early in the second half. This time denying Kosi Yannakopoulos who's long range strike clipped the crossbar. There was however no denying the visitors just two minutes later. Donghyun Lee's pin point ball down the touchline set Griffin away on a run that took him into the box. His shot then guided in by a Hawks defender past Short to give Mitchelton a commanding lead on the balance of play. Close to the hour mark the home side were denied what appeared to be a certain penalty when Madle teased Lee into a challenge near the goal line that seemed to get more of Madle's ankle than any of the panels on the ball but Referee Tony Sarai waved away appeals on advice from his assistant.
Josh McVey slides his penalty under Hawks keeper Duncan Short.
The result was put beyond doubt when McVey's run towards goal was abruptly ended by Jake Kallis and this time Referee Sarai had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. McVey brushing himself off to take his own spot kick and managing to squeeze it under the diving Short who'll be disappointed he didn't get anything on it. McVey should have capped off a fine display with a hat trick towards the end, but when one on one with Short he managed to slice his effort wide when many would have backed him to have scored. With the three points and other results going their way, Mitchelton move to the top of the table whilst Holland Park will put this one behind them and focus on a tricky away trip to Lions FC who will be playing their first home game of the season after recent improvements to Lions Stadium and who are currently enduring their worst run of defeats for years. Mitchelton face Capalaba next weekend and will be banking on another three points against the Bulldogs although with top scorer Ben Njie limping off shortly before half time, they may need to reshuffle.
Coaches Remarks:
Anth Smith - Holland Park: "We just didn't turn up today. It was an off day from start to finish. Fair play to Mitchelton - they were organised and have done the job they came here to do. From our perspective it's disappointing. We're a better team that. Just a bad day at the office and we've got to write it off." Daniel Pennisi - Mitchelton: "This is a very tough place to come and get points. They're a tough side and play a tough style of football. We had a good idea of what we needed to do and thankfully the boys stuck to their task and played admirably."
FB Media Player of the Match: Josh McVey (Mitchelton)
A constant thorn is Holland Park's side in this game as well as popping up with the crucial goals to guide his side to victory.
Match Stats:
Overall Possession: 50% - 50%
Shots on target: 5 - 5
Shots off target: 8 - 3
Corners: 7 - 3
Free kicks: 22 - 8
Penalties: 0 - 1
Offsides: 1 - 7
Yellow cards: 0 - 2
Red cards: 0 - 0 Team line-ups
Holland Park Hawks: Short (gk), Aviles (Kane 66'), Brattan, Carr, Gore (Sherwood 55'), Kallis, MacAskill, Madle, McKenna, Shigeyuki, Smith. Subs: Kane, Sherwood, Ishimoto. Mitchelton: Walsh (gk), Bernardi, Foster, Griffin (Bevan 77'), Holden, Lee, McVey, Njie (Mirray 44'), Stewart, Stopforth, Yannakopoulos (Thompson 70'). Subs: Schibler (rgk), Bevan, Murray, Stubbins, Thompson. REFEREE: Tony Sarai
