Bulls Have a Picnic in the Park
New Farm Utd 0 Ipswich City 4 (Ward 42’; Grant 55’, 63’; Kitching 67’) HT: 0-1 Played at New Farm Park
A beautiful afternoon at New Farm Park brought out the multitudes which made car parking scarce as picnickers enjoyed their day out. The score line of this match might suggest it was a walk in the park for the Bulls, but that was not really a true reflection of the game. Chances came a plenty in the first quarter of the half as both teams were intent on attack as each had plenty riding on a result. City had the first real opportunity in the 3rd minute when a long throw from the right was headed on to Michael Ward, whose shot was well saved by New Farm keeper Luigi Cordova down to his left. One minute later it seemed New Farm would score as Corey Window put Matthew Gow through but Bulls’ keeper Brent Witney was out quickly to block the shot. The ball was sent back to the left and Samuel Innes sent a cross in which Witney was able to palm away. At the other end a minute later, Dane Grant chased a through ball on the left and was held back by a New Farm defender who can consider himself lucky his name was not recorded in Referee David Snape’s book. The resultant free kick landed safely in Cordova’s arms. The best chance of this period feel to City when Zygan Condie beat his man on the right and sent a low ball in along the six yard box where Ryan Adekoya New somehow contrived to scoop the ball over the bar with goal gaping. The next opportunity came on 26 minutes when indecision in the New Farm defence allowed Adekoya New to nip in and head the ball over Cordova but agonisingly just wide of the post. The opening goal eventually arrived just before half time. The ball was played into the New Farm area and bounced around between players before coming free some 25 yards out where Ward hit a low drive, beating Cordova to put the visitors ahead. The start of the second half almost began with a bang for City as, two minutes in, Ronan Geoghan headed the ball against the bar following a corner from the left. The ball bounced down in front of the line and Adekoya New leapt to head home but was a little under the ball which also hit the bar and came back out before it was cleared by the defence. On 55 minutes, Grant received the ball on the left and beat his man before cutting across goal just outside the 18 yard box. He then cut back onto his left foot and sent the ball wide of Cordova for a two goal lead to the Bulls. New Farm began to press forward as they knew a win was required to keep them in the finals’ hunt. But in doing so their defence was left exposed close to the hour mark, Grant had a chance to increase the lead but steered his shot wide with only the keeper to beat. Grant made amends six minutes later though when he again was put through one on one and this time made no mistake.
It wasn’t long before Ipswich City added another goal when a speculative cross from the right evaded the New Farm defence and Jay Kitching was at the back post to head home. With around 20 minutes remaining Adekoya New should have added another when through but, after rounding the keeper, he shot while off balance and sent the ball high and wide of the goal. The Bulls seemed content to play out the match and were happy to play possession football when possible. The only chance of any significance in the remainder of the half was from a New Farm corner which was met at the front post by Jarred Humphrey with his header whizzing past the near post. The result may have been a lot different if either side had made the most of their early opportunities. In the end, Ipswich City took enough of them in the second half to help them consolidate 3rd position on the ladder. While for New Farm Utd, defeat has realistically ended any chance of them participating in the finals series.
Coaches Reactions:
Fabio Zullo (New Farm Utd): “We had a couple of chances early on but we really weren’t at the races today. I’m proud of the effort the boys put in but City were a bit too sharp up top. It was our “Grand Final” today and we had to really go at them in the second half. We have few games to go and we’ll give them our best shot.” Norbert Duga (Ipswich City): “It’s always a battle here at New Farm and you have to get on top early. They out-enthused us for the first fifteen minutes, probably being used to the conditions a bit more. We’ve got plenty of goals in us this year so I was always confident that if we got one, we could get two and run away with it. I’m really happy with result and we gave some of our other boys a run towards the end.”
Team line-ups
New Farm Utd: Cordova (GK), G. O’Connor, Window (67’), Gow, Stamatis, Hannah, Panebianco (61’), Innes, Reece, Humphrey, Morgan Subs: Dalton (61’), Nunn (67’) Ipswich City: Witney (GK), Grant (73’), Geoghegan, Rule, Condie (83’), McDowell (78’), Mantann, Kitching, Ward, Adekoya New, Dionysius Subs: Heider (73’), Gayle (78’), Ryder (83’) REFEREE: David Snape
