Murdoch University Soccer Club

In testing conditions Murdoch Reserves started on Sunday looking for their 3rd double of the season against a team looking for their 3rd win of the season. With the condition of the pitch requiring a late inspection by the ref both teams endeavoured to play some football. The early exchanges saw both teams trying to adjust to a pitch that was covered in puddles. A Murdoch through ball that was chased down by the striker saw a Kingsway defender pull the player back to concede a penalty with few complaints from all involved. The penalty was well put away by the inform Tim Brewer. Kingsway responded in positive fashion and began to have joy down the flanks particulary against the right back!! Despite this pressure the equalisiing goal came in freakish circumstances when a cross into the box fell short of the keeper and skidded through his legs. Despite this setback Murdoch started again and regained the lead when a speculative shot hit the crossbar and was well finished by Martin.

The scores stayed as they were up to halftime and Murdoch aftere a few changes came back out and asserted some control over the game. An outstanding save from the visiting custodian gave hope that Murdoch were going to increase their lead and turn possession into goals. This situation changed however when a Kingsway counter attack saw their forward cleanly tackled in the area. Unfortunately the referee saw the tackle as a foul and gave Kingsway the chance to draw the scores level. The penaly was cooly finished and the game became a scrap as both teams looked for the winner. With time running out a free kick on the edge of the box was awarded for obstruction. The free kick wa tapped to the young Kingsway sweeper who clamly steered the ball home. The excitement by the players was only equalled upon the final whistle as the visitors claimed all 3 points.

Murdoch completed an excellent second double of theseas on this weekend when they visited a buoyant Hamersley side. Boosted by the prescence of Andrew BarretT. Murdoch made all the early running and created chance after chance that our star forward spurned. BarretT made amends midway through the half when a fine through ball from Luis ‘ I no understand eengleesh’ Drummond was latched upon and a calm finish left the onrushing keeper with no chance.

As has become to common this season Murdoch back off their opponents after taking the lead and allowed the Hammers to dictate the game putting the defence under severe pressure. Shortly before halftime this pressure gained its reward when a dubious penalty was awarded against the outstanding player coach. The resulting spotkick gave John no chance and the halftime score stayed at 1-1.

The second half saw Murdoch take the game to their opponents. As Murdoch began to win more of the individual battles they also started to pass the ball around and open their opponents up with regularity. This improvement saw Dwaine break his goalscoring drought with a smart finish from a blocked clearance. As tempers began to get a little frayed on both sides a Murdoch freekick into the Hammers box resulted in a penalty after a foul on petrone. The resulting penalty was well taken by Petrone and gave Murdoch some breathing space in which to see out the remaining few minutes.

This was a great performance from Murdoch and ensures that the gap at the top has been reduced.
Well done lads

Murdoch completed their run of home games with a much needed 3 points as they looked to maintain their title challenge into the second half of the season. With a number of changes once again to the side Murdoch settled quickest and began to dominate possession and territory. the best chance of the half occured after 20 minutes when good work by Fernandes was undone by a careless pass that the player coach acrobatically tried to turn home!!! Despite this setback Murdoch continued to play the game camped on the azzuri box but would of been disappointed to come in at halftime level. The teams came out second and proceedings continued to be in favour of Murdoch. Finally the breakthrough goal came when the player coach found Luiz after some good hold up play. The shy retiring Brazilian after a spot of samba stroked the ball home at the far post. Murdoch continued to look for a second goal with Balz hiting both the crossbar and the post. Azzuirs best chance came in injury time when the referee who had been good throughout bizarrley awarded a backpass from a goal line clearance. The goal mouth scramble that followed saw the ball bounce around the area before being hoiked clear as the final whistle blew.

This was a good result against a dogged side and saw Murdoch complete their first double of the season.

Murdochs title aspirations received a setback when second placed UWA visited. A changed lineup and formation were up against a strong UWA side on the back of a rich vein form. Some indifferent defending gave the visitors a 1 nil lead which should have become 2 when their striker had his penalty well saved by Stewart. Despite having the majoirty of the possession the halftime score reained at 1 nil giving Murdoch a chance to regroup in the second half. Murdoch appeared more settled after the break and began to assert themeselves on the game. the pace of Andrew jennings causing the UWA defence problems. halfway through the half a corner from Petrone was bravely headed in by Jason Dixon and was the least that Murdoch deserved.

Some poor defending again allowed UWA to regain the lead as a long ball aloowed to bounce was clinically punished. To Murdoch’s credit they kept at UWA and a speculative cross/shot from Vincent brought the scores level. As the game began to head towards a draw and UWA ran out of ideas the long ball proved fruitful again. Murdochs defence not learning their lesson allowed a repeat goal. An injury time 4th put the game out of reach and extended UWAs lead over Murdoch in the league.

Murdoch reserves were keen to get over their cup exit the week before by gaining all 3 points from one of the leagues strongest clubs. Despite the position of Fremantles first team their reserves have not reached the same heights. Playing into a blustery wind Murdoch had the better of the play and began to assert themselves. A freekick about 30 metres to the left of the Fremantle area was expertly delivered by the player manager into the danger zone where Henriko bravely challenged the keeper and was rewarded with the rebound entering the net off his back. As in recent weeks Murdoch failed to buld on this lead and despite several promising attacks could not add to their tally. Fremantle began to look dangerous on the counter and from one of these attacks scored when the attacker lost his marker and manged to get a shot in that Stewart saved but the follow up was tapped in as Fremantle reacted quickest to the loose ball.

Buoyed by the goal Fremantle began to come into the game and misplaced pass in the centre of the Murdoch half was picked up and dispatched from distance for a fine finish. At half time changes were made with Jacob making his reserves debut in defence. The team were sent out with instructions to make sure that they gained something from the game and completetly dominated their opposition. The strike force of Henriko and Kudzi were excellent throughout despite the close and often illegal attentions of their markers. This attention seemingly obviously to all except the man with the whistle.
As time ticked away it looked as though Murdoch were going to fall short until a free kick awarded for a poor challenge on Kudzi was expertly placed beyond the keepers reach by the captain Blaz. This proved to be the last piece of action and was the least that Murdoch deserved.