Murdoch Uni played host to reigning premier league champions Fremantle Utd at Len Shearer Reserve on a cold Tuesday evining at Len Shearer Reserve. The Murdoch lads were coming off a 2 all draw with Stirling Panthers and Fremantle Utd suffered a shock 6 - 1 loss to Lynwood Colts. 3 points was a must for both teams.

 1st Half

The game started at a very intense pace as both teams tried to exert dominance in the opening exchanges. But it was Murdoch who replicated its start against Stirling Panthers and looked the more dangerous of the two sides. Murdoch looked to play the ball through the middle of the park whereas Fremantle were content to knock long balls to their speedy strikers.

The Murdoch strike duo of Meo Nintendo and Jamie Nugent caused headaches for the Fremantle defence and they resorted to more physical challenges to try and neutralise the pair. A disgusting studs-up tackle on Meo saw one of the Fremantle defenders lucky to stay on the park.

It was Fremantle’s ill discipline that lead to Murdoch’s first goal on about 10 minutes. A foul on Jacob King just inside the Fremantle half saw Murdoch rewarded with a set piece. Jason Dixon stepped up and his flat curving cross was met by Sasa Gojic whose header was lofted into the top right hand corner of the Fremantle goal.

Murdoch continued to press and were rewarded with a second goal on about the 20 minute mark. A free kick that was knocked into the box should have been claimed by the Fremantle keeper but instead he fumbled it and Jacob King was quick to react and slotted the ball low to the keeper’s left hand post. 2 nil to Murdoch.

Despite the early lead to Murdoch, Fremantle were not prepared to give up and started to play the ball around to feet. Fremantle were particularly dangerous from inswinging crosses from the Fremantle right winger. Fremantle were unlucky not to find the back of the net when some lose marking gave the Fremantle striker an opportunity to latch onto an inswinging cross; however, the Fremantle striker was unable to convert. Fremantle also tried their luck at some shots outside the 18 yard box but Andy Barrett was up to the task. Other than that, Fremantle never really threatened the Murdoch goal.

Despite being on the back foot for the later part of the first half, Murdoch had several chances to further extend their lead. Some good build up work saw the ball knocked across the face of the Fremantle goal to a waiting Nugent, but his shot from 6 yards out was well saved by the Fremantle keeper. Nugent was also not far off scoring a cracker, when a cross to the back post was picked up by Romper who laid the ball back to Nugent and his powerful shot from outside the 18 yard box had the Fremantle keeper scrambling, but it just sailed over the cross bar. Other opportunities fell to Romper who had a free header at the back post after a Dixon free kick, which was sent over the bar: and to Sasa S whose shot from distance had too much dip on it and was collected by the Fremantle keeper. The half ended 2 nil to Murdoch.

2nd Half

Murdoch who were weary of what happened against Stirling Panthers started the half as they did in the first and were quick to build the pressure. Time and again, Murdoch had the Fremantle defence scrambling back to thier own goals but their pressure went unrewarded.

It was against the run of play that Fremantle controversially pulled one back. Fremantle generated some run from the midfield and despite a lot of pressure, a through ball pierced the Murdoch defence and the Fremantle striker placed the ball low and to the left of the advancing Barrett. The strike itself was not overly powerful and it allowed King to slide in and clear the ball of the line. The referee however thought differently and despite receiving no indication from the linesman, ruled that ball had gone over the goal line and awarded a goal to Fremantle. 2 - 1 to Murdoch.

Despite the controversy, and the knowledge that history was looking to repeat itself, Murdoch hit back with arguably the goal of the season to date. After a cross from a Murdoch corner was not cleared properly by the Fremantle defence, Sasa S picked up the ball outstide the 18 yard box and under pressure played a square ball to Nugent who struck the ball first time and his powerful dipping shot caught all, especially the Fremantle keeper, off guard and sailed into the Fremantle goal. 3 - 1 Murdoch and a celebration to remember.

Murdoch continued to defend strongly with Romper and a sick Dixon defending solidly and Clay picking up the odd ball that happened to trickle through. In the middle, Dave D, Matt W and Sasa S worked hard to retain possession and bring Sasa G and King into the game as often as possible.

Murdoch had a couple of opportunities to exploit Fremantle at set pieces and some well placed corners by Dave D were not being put away by Clay. Cue Andy Jennings. Murdoch took the opportunity to give Meo a rest and bring on another potent striker in Andy Jennings. The substitution almost instantly paid dividends when AJ’s first touch put him in a shooting opportunity just inside the Fremantle 18 yard box; however, it was well blocked by the advancing defender. Moments later, AJ had a terrific opportinuty when some great play through the middle and out wide carved the Fremantle defence and the final ball to AJ put him through to goal, but AJ’s first touch was too strong and the keeper was able to clear.

Murdoch were again rewarded for their pressure and dominance at set pieces with about 15 minutes to go. With Fremantle’s defence paying particular attention to AJ, Dave D again knocked in a sublime cross and Clay, who held off his defender, headed the ball into the Fremantle goal. 4 - 1 Murdoch and AJ really enjoyed sticking it to the Fremantle defence.

As Murdoch looked to see out the game, Fremantle were rewarded with a consolation goal when the Fremantle striker recovered a lose ball in midfield and after a short run played a throughball to the other Fremantle striker and his well taken strike was lofted over the diving Barrett to give Fremantle a small glimmer of hope.

But tonight it was Murdoch and they saw out the game 4 - 2 to inflict another defeat to the Fremantle boys.

Squad

Players - Andy Barrett, Clayton Kendall, Mark Kendall (Romper), Jason Dixon, Sasa Gojic, Dave Drummond, Matt Wilson, Sasa Slav, Jacob King, Meo Nintendo, Jamie Nugent

Subs used - Andy Jennings, Vedran Kitic

Scorers - Sasa Gojic, Jacob King, Jamie Nugent, Clayton Kendall