2013 State Cup

[ace22]

A lot of credit has to be given to Muswellbrook and Bero for their performances. I only saw about 15 minutes of Beresfield vs. Warners Bay, but Bero looked absolutely class. Very energetic in closing Bay down, fighting in every challenge and when they were in possession Iooked a real threat. Congratulations to them and they will without a doubt be pushing very hard for top spot in ZL3.

Credit is also due to Mussy for our performance against Cooks Hill. They were a very quality outfit, which we expected and if only a couple of there strikes were a few inches lower they would have had two more goals. At the end of the day but, we had a game plan to beat them and we executed it. Know one can doubt Cooks Hill class and the only way we could win was by out enthusing them and doing our best not to let the settle in possession. Not the prettiest style of football but its the Cup and you do what's needed to win.

Right from the outset Cookers looked to control the game and knock the ball around well. Mussy worked very hard defensively, especially in the middle of the of the press and getting a toe in wherever possible and trying to frustrate Cooks Hill however possible. I was thinking it was going to be a long night for us but the plan worked and after a fair speed of pressure we won the ball in the got them on the counter, our young striker slotting a tidy finish. Obviously this was about of a wake up call for Cookers and they pushed even harder and were rewarded with a super strike from outside the box after a couple of Mussy player were left for dead and failed to pressure the shot. They had a good opportunity take the lead but hit the crossbar off a corner. Mussy also had a chance to take the lead but our when our right wing beat there left back and got to the line, cutting the ball back to the spot, but our striker sliced it wide when he probably should have got his second. Half time was 1-1. Second half was much the same, Cooks Hill pressing, Mussy battling. We took the lead again on the counter with 7 mins to go. Really late on Cooks Hill leveled off a corner after some slack marking at the back stick. To be honest if these games went to extra time Cooks Hill would have one as we barely had anything left in the tank. But the shoot out ended 4-3 in our favour and although Cooks Hills are a very quality team, I don't think anyone can begrudge us going through. We went there to play a certain way in the hope of progressing and executed it. Not much more can be asked.

Cooks Hill said they had only met some of the team that night but personally I doubt that, they were a really tight unit and looked as though they had been playing together for a while. Also they didn't expect us to come out firing as we did, I think they might have thought it would be a walk in the park when I heard a few of them early on express surprise at how persistent we were with closing them down. Was a good match but, and they were a good bunch blokes, both teams fought really hard and were physical but there was no malice and was played in a good competitive spirit.

Great win for us and also Bero. Credit for the underdogs where credit is due!

cooks hill zpl had only met part of the team that night.? turn it up! would of bin the biggest lie you'll here all year. . about early Febuary they had a trial game against my mates team. cooks hill even then showed up with 3 full fit squads who looked like they were full in the swing of training fit and played great.

also i hope the beresfield club in zl1 and zl3 are not the same club. If they are they have some serious selection issues. IF they have a zl3 team of that standard and a zl1 team. Should just be a super team in the zpl with better selection surely?


i cant help but think the like clubs uni. cooks hill etc. should have a huge advantage in the leagues this year ( well there number 1 squad) having 6 teams of players to pick there best 3 from has got to make things easy?

i know for a fact at least 4 zpl teams were complete walk ins this year. Taking anybody that wanted to play. I sometimes wonder how they can compete against a team with alot more people to chose from and actual trials etc.?

Does anyone know if the teams with 2 i.d clubs can feed players from there bottom team up when short? For example can cooks hills lower i.ds squad send players up to there zpl one mid season if they notice some quality down there?