The final two Round 6 (Final 12) fixtures were completed throughout the last fortnight. Complete match reports are below:
Game 5: Ballarat Red Devils (State 2) 1-2 Hume City (VPL) at Morshead Park
The Red Devils produced a gallant display against a high flying Hume City outfit, however the team from Ballarat merely fell short, conceding a late goal, courtesy of a wonder strike from Ross Thompson.
Ballarat were not stranger to facing VPL opposition, amid their triumph in the previous round against recently relegated St Albans Saints. On that occasion, the Red Devils orchestrated a potent force, overpowering their higher ranked opposition with a 3-1 win.
Hume City’s campaign has been tremendous thus far, occupying top position on the VPL table and seemingly an ominous threat heading into the distinguished finals series. Hence, this fixture would always be a difficult assignment for a team plying their trade two divisions below the pinnacle division in Victoria.
Hume started off proceeding in buoyant fashion, pressuring the Ballarat defensive line in search of an early goal. Although coming close on a couple of occasions, the scores remained deadlocked.
The tie was turned on its head in the 22nd minute. The Ballarat faithful were sent into ecstasy when a beautifully taken free-kick flew into the back of the net. Adam Newbold steeped up to the charge from 30 yards out and hit his shot crisply, giving the Red Devils an unexpected advantage.
The goal provided Ballarat with a surge of confidence, taking up the contest to its highly credential opposition.
At the half-time interval, Ballarat unpredictably lead 1-0 against the prominent Hume City.
With the commencement of the second period, it didn’t take long for Hume to regain its composure, scoring an equaliser merely a minute into the half. A wonderful strike from Zoran Petrevski outside the box gave little hope for Ballarat keeper Darryl Newby.
Controversy struck in the 68th minute when Ballarat’s Frank Labakohler was through on goal with only the keeper to beat. Attempting to round the keeper, Labakohler was brought down, however the referee ignored Ballarat’s pleas for a penalty and waved play on.
The Red Devils continued to press for the winner. However, they were unstuck in the 80th minute when Hume scored the goal which would ultimately send them through to the last six.
Ballarat failed to close down a penetrating run from Thompson in the midfield, with time at his disposal Thompson tried his luck with an audacious 30-yard drive that hit the woodwork and fortunately rolled over the line.
Hume City ventured on to win the tie 2-1 and cement their position in the next round. Ballarat illustrated their aptitude to compete with the best and will evidently be proud of their efforts throughout their Mirabella Cup campaign.
Game 6: Melbourne Knights (VPL) 2-1 Cobram Victory (Regional) at Knights Stadium
Cobram Victory’s courageous cup reverie was brought an end, courtesy of 2-1 triumph to the Melbourne Knights. Given the Knights’ status within the Victorian football community, their slender victory was closer than many expected.
A brace from Kayne Vincent was merely enough to cement the Knights into the last six of the competition.
Cobram Victory has received an enormous amount of media awareness throughout Victoria, and notably around Australia. Their inspirational cup run allowed their hallucination to be brought into fruition. They had the privilege of facing prominent force Melbourne Knights, a former NSL participant who has boasted former Socceroos in the vein of Mark Viduka. Victories against Whittlesea Zebras (State 1) and FC Clifton Hill (State 2) allowed this affair to come about.
Meanwhile, the Melbourne Knights have had a tenuous campaign in the VPL thus far, surviving relegation, conversely not challenging for a finals position. When playing against an underdog who has won over the publics support, the situation isn’t always the easiest assignment to accomplish.
In typical fashion, the darkhorse, in Cobram commenced proceedings in a buoyant manner, eager to make their presence felt on the big stage. The Victory players attempted to apply early pressure on the Knights, not letting their opposition time on the ball.
The Knights continued to pressure Cobram’s goal and were once again scathingly close when Jacob Colosimo’s pulsating shot whispered past the right hand post from 25 yards out.
However, it wasn’t much longer before the Knights’ faithful could sing their praises. Joseph Franjic collected the ball on the left wing and delivered a lovely flighted cross towards the far post. The subsequent ball found the unmarked Vincent who had no troubles in heading the ball into the back of the net.
Cobram defended robustly and denied the Knights a further advantage leading into the half time interval. As Cobram withstood the Knight’s onslaught, they went into the main break trailing 1-0.
The second half commenced in similar fashion to how the opening period ended, with the Knights applying vigorous pressure on the Cobram defence. The heroics of Victory’s keeper Kile Kennedy saved Cobram’s blushes. A stinging strike from Vincent brought about and acrobatic save at the near post to keep the tie at only a one goal margin.
The Knights were given some breathing space in the 70 minute, doubling their advantage with a nicely worked goal. Substitute Yusuf found space on the right wing and worked his way towards the edge of the box, he cut the ball back in to find Vincent free at the near post to tuck the ball into the goal.
However, the game was turned on its head in the 83rd minute when Matthew Gray sprinkled some Cobram magic into the Knights’ heartland. A free kick on the left side of the box was beautifully curled into the far post. The goal sent the vocal travelling fans into raptures. The fairytale ventured onwards.
The final minutes of the game exemplified an enormous amount of tension for all involved within the vicinity. Cobram tried desperately to get the equaliser they wholly desired, planting numerous balls into the Knights’ defensive box. Although the Knights withstood Cobram’s charges in the closing minutes and ultimately triumphed 2-1.
Melbourne Knights will now move into the Quarter-Finals Series, where a modified fixture will see a round-robin sequence take place. The Knights have been placed in Pool B where they will face VPL affiliates Green Gully Cavaliers and Hume City. The top two teams will consequently progress to the Semi-Finals stage.
Mirabella Cup quarter finals draw:
Following the commencement of the inaugural Mirabella Cup competition on March 19, the quarter-final stage has ultimately arrived, however with some alterations. With Melbourne based A-League outfits – Victory and Heart – initially in the plan to participate from the quarter finals stage, the FFA unfortunately stood in its way and prohibited the franchises from participating whilst the competition was set in motion.
Due to the unforseen circumstances, Football Federation Victoria had no choice but to alter the current round. With Victory and Heart set to make up the additional two teams (six qualified teams plus two A-League teams), a unique scenario will come into fruition.
The six remaining clubs will be split into two groups, comprising of three teams equally. Each team will be assigned to one home fixture and one away fixture, whereby the top two teams in each group will progress to the Semi-Finals stage.
Pool A will encompass Northcote City, Oakleigh Cannons and Springvale White Eagles. Meanwhile, Pool B will comprise of Green Gully Cavaliers, Hume City and Melbourne Knights.
Given the remaining six outfits are all affiliated in VPL competition, the allocation of both groups are fairly even.
All fixtures throughout the quarter finals series will take place between July 30 and August 25, with relative dates for individual games to be determined in the coming days and weeks.
Pool A:
Northcote City, Oakleigh Cannons, Springvale White Eagles.
Match 1: Northcote City vs Oakleigh Cannons.
Match 2: Oakleigh Cannons vs Springvale White Eagles.
Match 3: Springvale White Eagles vs Northcote City.
Pool B:
Green Gully Cavaliers, Hume City, Melbourne Knights.
Match 1: Green Gully Cavaliers vs Hume City.
Match 2: Hume City vs Melbourne Knights.
Match 3: Melbourne Knights vs Green Gully Cavaliers.
Follow Robert on Twitter @RobertDiFabio. Courtesy of Goal Weekly.
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