Match Details

Match Report -murphy
Week one of the Raul Briones League Cup brought a potential plum tie, as visiting Alliance Select came down to the Valley on a sweltering November afternoon. City, playing with Lill and Richardson back from injury, looked like they suffered from not playing the previous week as the team started slowly. After a quiet first twenty minutes the game came to life as Richardson slotted a ball home at the near post only to see it burst through the netting at the back of the goal. As the City players were making their way to the center circle, the referee ordered a goal kick instead. Unbelievably he had denied the home side a perfectly good goal. City appeared to score again as Murphy got on the end of a Morita ball after he ran the length of the field but he was adjudged to be offside. Brown brought a fine save from the keeper late in the half when he cracked a shot from his favored right foot. The same foot that was cause for concern before the game.

On almost the stroke of halftime, a peach of a ball from DeFriend, who is growing more comfortable with his left foot, from the left evaded the keeper and Richardson launched himself into the six yard box to knock it home. Gary Liniker would have been proud!!

With about 10 minutes left Alliance's pressure paid off as they scored a timid equalizer. Some poor play from City allowed their striker to receive the ball in the box unmarked. A deflected shot found the net and we were back to square one. Murphy could of had the winner right on full time, but his weak effort was saved by the sprawling keeper.

Steve Ross made a few fantastic saves but it was the marking that eventually let him down. Observers actually were hear to say that the best marking was when the ground staff went over the Orange lines with white paint. Bill Dow played with composure at the back and Mike McKindley was involved all over the field sometimes showing up at center forward!!! While not quite of the caliber of Mason Dixon, Lill Dixon midfield partnership worked well but suffered a little from Lill not being 100%. The full backs played very well, Morita with another defensive gem and with Valenzuela clocking up yet another solid performance. He has hardly put a foot wrong all season. I am not saying he is on the 'roids, but it is clear that he has enhanced his performance and has made that left back spot his own. Douglas slotted in at all 4 positions at the back for a while and performed admirably in all of them. Smith was a man possessed and was the only City player to show any conviction in the early stages and Briscoe who started on the opposite flank was an asset wherever he appeared as he was shuffled across the midfield.

A pear of Richardson goals gave City a 1-1 draw. So it was 4 points won but although it feels like 5 thrown away. The visitors were value for the draw and both sides can now concentrate on the 1st Division teams in their group. While there were no sour grapes after the game appeared to be taken from the home side, there was certainly an air of disappointment that followed the full time whistle.

City can now prepare for a potential banana skin against HB Strikers from the first division at West Grove Park. This is a game the City cannot afford to slip up in or they will not progress in the cup, at a venue where City have not scored this season.