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Canning City v Mandurah City Newly promoted Canning City kicked-off their 2009 campaign in Western Australia’s top soccer division at Willetton Sports Club last Saturday. The fixture was the first round of the Soccer Pools State Cup. Their opponents Mandurah City – “the Dolphins” were missing a few key players including their captain Andy |
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| Brown. Canning themselves were also missing Rory Mouttete and Roberto Lutjan. Canning have recruited during the off-season to strengthen their squad with among others Roberto Lutjan from Perth S.C., Jon Mathers from Western Knights, and Michael Roger and Charlie Partridge from the U.K. In the pre-season Night Series Canning indicated through their recent results of 2 losses, 2 wins and a draw that they were not going to be easy push-over for some very well credentialed clubs. As for last Saturday’s match, historically many of the matches between Canning and the Dolphins have been tight and even affairs and Canning’s coach Frank Longstaff expected this match to be no exception. For the first five minutes the Dolphins had Canning pressed into their own half and it looked like the home side was going to have a tough 90 minutes. However, Canning began to settle and gradually work their way into the match and it was they that opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Michael Roger was brought down by Dolphins keeper Phil Straker in the visitor’s penalty area. Canning’s Paul Oliver stepped up to score from the penalty spot by sending Straker the wrong way. Although ball possession between the two teams seemed fairly even Canning seemed to be creating clearer scoring chances and Michael Roger came close to adding Canning’s second goal when he headed the ball from a Kyle Mitsopoulos corner kick over the Dolphins crossbar. The Dolphin’s best chance to score came just before the half time break when Canning managed to clear a goal bound shot from the Dolphin’s Steve Payne off their goal line. The last action of the half came on the stroke of half time when Phil Straker saved a shot from Canning’s Simon Versaico at his near post. The most memorable moment of the match came only two minutes into the second half when Canning were awarded a direct free kick about 35 metres out from, and in front of the Dolphin’s goal. Paul Oliver stepped up to take the free kick. Because of the free kick’s distance out from their goal the Dolphins didn’t set a wall of players to block a shot from Oliver. While everyone was expecting Oliver to lob in a high free kick into the penalty area he ran up and thumped a very powerful and low drive into the top right hand corner of the visitor’s goal surprising both the Dolphin’s keeper Straker and everyone else. This dead ball strike will long be remembered. Seven minutes later Canning effectively put the match beyond the reach of the Dolphins when Duanne Hepburn headed on a long throw from Luke Doyle and Charlie Partridge volleyed the ball past Straker from short range. Canning missed a further scoring chance midway through the second half when Duanne Hepburn outpaced the Dolphins defense but Straker was quickly off his goal line to block Hepburn’s shot. After this point Canning put more of their tactical effort into defense but the Dolpin’s Ryan Townsend got a late consolation goal for the visitor’s five minutes from full time. In summary the Dolphins seemed bereft of ideas as to how to break down a very resolute and organized Canning defense. Canning in contrast had several attacking options and always looked the more likely to score. Next Saturday Canning City starts their regular league fixtures at Willetton Sports Club with the opportunity to gauge itself against Perth Soccer Club who is one of WA’s premier clubs. Perth has won the State Premier League eight times in the last twenty years and has just won the Night Series pre-season competition for the fourth year running. |
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