Last night the NSFA Men’s Select took on the MWFA Men’s Select at Cromer Park in the fifth edition of the annual inter-association pre-season fixture.
With the MWFA representatives boasting a 100% win record across the previous encounters, the NSFA Select were keen to start balancing the ledger and made a positive start with some quick passing between the midfield and the forward line.
Matt Ventura (Lindfield FC) enjoyed the best chance of the first half for the visitors after breaking the offside trap, but the striker could not find a way past the advancing goalkeeper.
The MWFA Select looked to reassert themselves through dead-ball situations, causing their opposition plenty of problems through corners and free-kicks and forcing a goal-line clearance in the final minutes of the half.
The second half saw clear chances few and far between for the NSFA Select as the home side looked for a breakthrough, but goalkeeper Chris Allen (Chatswood Rangers) proved up to the task of preserving a clean sheet.
With the teams unable to be separated in 90 minutes it was down to a penalty shootout, with the MWFA converting all five of their attempts to secure the victory.
Despite the result, NSFA Select coach Paul Orgad remained positive about the match.
“I was really happy with the performance and in particular the way in which the players accepted and executed the game plan,” he said.
“Unfortunately our ability to convert chances let us down.
“I thought both keepers were probably best on ground which tells you the story as to why the game ended 0-0.
Paul Orgad
“Penalty shootouts are always a lottery but congratulations to MWFA who without a full complement of players made it difficult for us to break them down.”
Having gone the closest to achieving a first win over the MWFA Select, Orgad believes that a breakthrough victory is not far away.
“Unfortunately we couldn’t create history last night but I hope the annual clash remains part of the community football calendar and we look forward to hosting MWFA in the future,” he said.
“Maybe that will swing things into our favour!”
2019 Men’s Select Squad: Rob Tall (West Pymble), Luke Tyson (Northbridge), David Guthrie (Knox United), Alex Drake (Chatswood Rangers), Michael Cole (Northbridge), Jason Conroy (Northbridge), Gohto Saikawa (Old Barker), Chris Allen (Chatswood Rangers), Andrew Zoratto (Chatswood Rangers), Alex Partridge (Northbridge), Curtis Schumann (Chatswood Rangers), Chad Cowley (Willoughby Dalleys), Marcus Flottman (Kissing Point), Matt Ventura (Lindfield), Alex Moth (North Sydney United), Joel Carter (West Pymble).