Bulls Final's Charge Halted By Annerley
Annerley keeper David Goldsmith saves from the spot.
Ipswich City 1 (Speranza 72') Annerley 3 (Gorrie 45+3' pen, 47', 78') HT 0-1 Played at: Briggs Road
2017 Capital Leagues overall top goal scorer James Gorrie, grabbed a hat trick in his side's 3-1 knockout semi-final success over Ipswich City at Briggs Road Sporting Complex on Saturday afternoon. The game sprung to life in just the second minute when Justin Mosch upended Bull's striker Ryan Adekoya New, giving Referee Michael Bozhoff little option but to point to the spot, but Annerley reserve keeper David Goldsmith, in for the suspended Ben Smith, became an instant hero when palming away the resulting spot kick and setting the tone of the afternoon for the Bulls.
Ipswich City's Jay Kitching fires his shot straight to Annerley keeper David Goldsmith.
City enjoyed by far the greater number of chances throughout the half but were guilty of squandering them all. Adekoya New lobbed over from just inside the box with just Goldsmith to beat. Jay Kitching worked himself into a good position in the box but guided his effort straight to Goldsmith and just after the half hour, a good run to the goal line from the impassive Dane Grant saw his cross create a goal mouth scramble that Kitching almost capitalised upon before Goldsmith smothered. Annerley's chances were few and far between in the opening 45 minutes. A free kick to the back post saw Gorrie's effort blocked on the line as the Stars rarely threatened Brent Witney in the Bull's goal. Just as the half looked to end scoreless, a surging run into the box from Angus McLachlan was cut short by Witney's crude challenge. Witney could count him self a touch lucky that a team mate had worked back into the box otherwise the colour of Referee Bozhoff's card for the Bull's stopper may have been of a different hue. Gorrie stepped up and fired in the spot kick deep into first half added time with literally the last kick of the half. Things got worse for the Bulls almost immediately from the restart. Gorrie somehow getting some part of his body onto a cross from McLachlan's deep cross to the back post. The ball limping across the line with Witney stranded. Further chances went begging for City who were now chasing the game. Grant saw a shot cleared off the line and on the hour mark, Michael Ward nearly pulled one back when rounding Goldsmith, only to see his effort also cleared off the line. With pressure building, City did eventually pull one back with just under twenty minutes left on the clock. A good run to the goal line by Nathan Manttan saw him cut the ball back to Ward who calmly slotted the ball under Goldsmith to give hope of a revival for the Bulls. But just six minutes later, Gorrie netted his hat trick and Annerley had the game all but won. McLachlan was again the creator, skipping past a tackle following a good ball from Ismaila Singhateh before working his way to the edge of the box where he cut the ball across for Gorrie who was waiting unmarked on the penalty spot. The Annerley striking needing no second invitation, guiding his shot beyond Witney with ease to restore the two goal buffer. Adekoya New went close late on for the Bulls but it was Annerley who finished the game the better. Gorrie went close to getting his fourth when close to latching onto substitute Cameron Carney's cross at the near post and man of the match McLachlan, was desperately unlucky not to net himself a goal in injury time when his lob from the edge of the box drifted narrowly wide of the upright. For Ipswich City it was a heartbreaking defeat when they'd clearly dominated every stat except for the goals scored column. Annerley will move to next week's elimination semi-final against Virginia United with confidence and perhaps a little bit of luck on their side, and coach Anthony Costa will surely owe Angus McLachlan and David Goldsmith a few cold ones after their efforts, whislt Goldsmith may well have earned his spot between the sticks for the remainder of the finals.
Coaches Remarks:
Noerbert Duga - Ipsiwch City: "Yeah I think we dominated for long periods and created a lot more chances than they did, but when you don't score them, well. I think they had four chances and scored three and we probably gifted two of those. It's hard to take but it happens. Next year we'll come back and we'll be stronger." Anthony Costa - Annerley: "We know the Bulls are a good side and we knew we wouldn't be allowed to play our normal style of football so credit to them for doing that, but we had a game plan. There were patches when we played well and we scored during those times. It's good to see our quality at those times got us the win. Our keeper, who's our reserves keeper, was great. Credit to City though, I don't think 3-1 truly reflects the game but I'll take it. With all the injuries we've had this year, using over 35 players in the first team, I think we deserve to make it to the next round. The boys did superb."
FB Media Player of the Match: Angus McLachlan (Annerley).
The Annerley winger was involved in every one of his side's goals and was a real handful the whole game.
Team Line-ups
Ipswich City: Witney (gk), Adekoya New, Condie (Norris 78'), Dionysius, Geoghegan, Grant, Kitching (McDowell 78), Manttan, Rule, Speranza (Gee 88'), Ward. Subs: Cleaver (rgk), Gee, McDowell, Norris, Thomson. Annerley: Goldsmith (gk), Gorrie, Launchbury, MacNamara (Powell 69', McLachlan, Mosch, O'Brien (Carney 80'), Otigeah, Singhateh, Miles (Winkler-Maloney 59'), Xhemajlaj. Subs: Carney, Jones, Kelleher, Powell, Winkler-Maloney. REFEREE: Michael Bozhoff
