Kalgoorlie College FC got their defence of the Metropolitan Cup to a perfect start with an emphatic 11-1 victory over the Perth Royals FC SDV2 on Saturday 5th April at the JA Lee Reserve.
As defending champions College went into the game high on confidence but also with a certain amount of trepidation as their opponent in the preliminary round of this year’s Metropolitan Cup were a bit of an unknown.
This was also a much changed squad from the one that won the Cup last year against Quinns FC. A number of changes to the playing squad had College wary of how their new look side and formation would gel in their first hit out for 2014.
College made a bright start to the game and quickly got into their rhythm creating the first clear cut scoring opportunity from the very first passage of play. Some good interchange between Jesse Malseed and Peter Rakic on the right wing saw the latter whipped in a cross into the danger area. Elliahs Kungache was at hand and tried to steer the ball into the top left hand corner but the burley strikers was unable to get on top of the ball and saw his effort sail over the bar.
This should have been a sign of thing to come for Perth Royals but they failed to heed the warning and within minutes College carved open the Royals defence with Kungache laying the ball for Rakic only for the latter to blaze over the bar.
With this the first game of the season for College it was perhaps expected that they would be a bit rusty in front of goals but any fears that these missed opportunities would eventually haunt College were quickly allayed when a defence splitting through ball from Tafadswa Ncube found Rakic in acres of space and the prolific striker slid the ball into the bottom right hand corner to open his account for the season and give College a 1-0 advantage within the first five minutes.
College could have doubled their lead five minutes later when a great through ball from Rakic allowed Daniel Tebble to cross to Kungache but again the striker conspired to hit the cross-bar when scoring would have been the easier option.
They were nearly made to pay from their profligacy when Royals won a free-kick just inside the College half. The ball was whipped to the College back post where the big Royals' defender tried to steer the ball into the top right hand corner. But the evergreen Andrew Reilly was equal to the task and got a finger to the ball to turn it over for a corner.
Five minutes later College doubled their lead after some great interchange play between Kungache and new recruit Iain Galbraith saw the latter waltz through the Royals ’defence and slot the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0. A defensive lapse allowed Perth back into the game with a goal against the run of play, a moment that was the only blight on the sides performance all day.
If Perth Royals were hoping that the goal would spur them forward that was quickly dispelled as four minutes later a great through ball from 15 year-old Brock Reilly found Kungache on the right wing, who beat his marker before crossing to Rakic who riffled his shot into the back of the net to make it 3-1.
College dominated the remainder of the half and with the introduction of 15 year old Brock Reilly being the telling difference. The small midfielder making his debut did not look out of place. His silky skills and ability to read the game was evident as he then had an assist in the next two goals to send College into half time up 5-1.
Half-time provided temporary relief for Perth Royals from the onslaught but within three minutes of the restart a cross from Rakic allowed Kungache to double his tally for the day and make it 6-1. Four minutes later it was 7-1 after great work from Tafadswa Ncube on the right, who whipped in a cross which Rakic met on the half-volley sending the ball crashing into the net past a hapless keeper.
Six minutes later it was 8-1 when the irrepressible Brock Reilly again played a defence splitting pass into the path of Tafadswa Ncube who took one touch and riffled an unstoppable shot past the Royals’ keeper into the bottom left hand corner. Reilly continued his golden day when he again assisted Rakic to take his tally to 5 for the day with another sublime through ball to make it 9-1 to the defending champions. Three minutes later a cheeky back-heel from Kungache played another College debutant Jamie Faulkner through who smashed the ball into the bottom left hand corner to make it double figures for College; 10-1.
It was perhaps fitting that the last goal was scored with the last kick of the game by Brock Reilly to make it 11-1. The young midfielder was impressive on his full debut for College. Together with Gerald Mutedzi and Tawanda Ncube, the trio represent a bright future for the club in the competition and on the local scene.
“It was a good result for us at this stage of the season. We were not quite sure what to expect of the opposition not how the team would gel giving the massive change in players we’ve had since last season,” Coach Andrew Reilly said after the game.
“It’s early in the season but I was very impressed by what I saw today. We had some very good passage of play but there are also areas we can improve on and I am sure we will do that as the season progress. Rakic was great today and his finishing was deadly, a reminder of what he is capable of when he is fit and in form."
"We had 3 debutants in the side today so its always a concern when you have had no match practice to how they will pick up our game plan. I was particularly impressed by how the three 16/15 year olds adapted themselves in the game. They have a lot of great qualities and I believe they will only get better. All three worked tirelessly and played for the team, at times sacrificing personal glory or accolades for the side, which is what we expect from our players."
"We will continue to promote these junior players in our side with our strong relationship with Souths City Soccer Club to give them exposure to the Perth Cup and other levels of competition.”
