1st X1 Match Report

DUFF ROSE BOWL QUARTER FINAL

FDMC CENTRAL FINANCE (3) v Woodleigh (2)

FDMC SURVIVE A FRIGHT AS THEY EDGE A DOUR ENCOUNTER!!

FDMC won their quarter final match against a spirited Woodleigh who battled hard to frustrate the home team and when they scored a late headed goal to make it 3-2 they had everyone on their edge of their seat.

FDMC looked flat from the start, unable to display their normal high level of energy or fast flowing tempo to their game. Throughout a poor quality game on a very bumpy pitch, Woodleigh offered nothing really from open play that looked like threatening the home team's defence, but FDMC struggled to gain any fluidity to their game with a lack of movement, poor passing and option taking.

In a dour, scrathcy game that seemed to fuel the enthusiasm of the visitors, it was a moment of real magic that opened the scoring when Morgan HALL scooped up a poor clearance from a corner kick and drilled a superb shot from the edge of the penalty box into the top corner of the net leaving the Woodleigh goalkeeper with no chance.

The home team went in at half time 1-0 up and searching for some inspiration that might inject some life into the performance but the second half continued to drift along with neither side taking a grip on the game. Woodleigh levelled the score from a corner kick, mid way through the second half with a thunderbolt header, from an unmarked player and this seemed to be the jolt that FDMC needed. A sweeping move down the right, resulted in a superb cross to the far post and Andrew CROWE nipped in front of his marker to guide a header home and restore the lead.

Domenico SQUATRITI latched on to another good cross from the right to steer home the third and at last FDMC enjoyed some breathing space in a very scratchy game. With nothing to lose and about 10 minutes left on the clock, Woodleigh threw a number of players forward in an attempt to salvage the game and forced a number of set pieces and corner kicks that put the home side under pressure and they were rewarded for their efforts when they scored another header that took a wicked bounce of the bumpy ground into the roof of the net.

The last five minutes of the game proved to be very edgy as Woodleigh gambled even further in pursuit of an equaliser looking to take the game into extra time but FDMC held their nerve to see out a game that will certainly not go down as a classic.

FDMC can now look forward to the Semi Final next Saturday as the team seek to extend their dream run this season and earn a unique place in the Duff Rose Bowl Final to be played at Yarrows Stadium on Sunday September 14th.