An intriguing clash in the 1st Round of the Waratah Cup took place at Benson's Lane in Richmond on Wednesday night when hosts, Hawkesbury City from the NSW Division 2 took on a slick Canberra Olympic outfit from the ACT Premier League. Right from the start both sides attacked each other and it was obvious that a pulsating cup-tie was on hand at the foot of the nearby Blue Mountains.

It was the visitors who almost got on the scoresheet first as Nathan Megic attempted an overhead bicycle kick which was cleared off the line by Hawks defender Rhys Alchin. 10 minutes later Olympic were on the attack again and Hawks keeper Aaron Kanaley did well to parry Robbie Shroder's solid strike and then put his body on the line to deny Robbie Deeley's follow-up thunderbolt who had pounced on the loose ball menacingly.

Somewhat against the run of play, Hawkesbury took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal that was worthy of the Premier League - the EPL that is! In a weaving run reminiscent of Maradona at his best, Zac Watters took the ball on the right at the halfway line, dribbled around a number of bemused Olympic defenders and crossed to Paul Cooper who struck a fantastic dipping shot from the left edge of the penalty area into the upper right corner of the net. Unfortunately for the home side the jubilation was short-lived as Shroder toe-poked the equaliser from close range 30 seconds later after receiving the ball from a quick break down the left from the restart.

In the 25th minute Olympic went ahead as Kanaley failed to keep possession of the ball and Liam Carey picked up the crumbs to slot the ball into the back of the net. 3 minutes from halftime Olympic increased their lead as Carey again popped up to head in a cross from a free-kick that was given away 10 metres outside the Hawkesbury box and went into the break with a crucial 3-1 lead.

After a number of substitutions in the early second half, Hawkesbury came back into the game and as tempers started to flare, referee Kris Giffith-Jones certainly earned his match fee quite well with his control of the game. Finally for the home side, a speculator from outside the box from Grant Hartge found the net in the 60th minute and the Hawks were back in with a chance. Seven minutes later that chance duly arrived as a penalty was awarded to to them but even though MIck McCrory struck the ball sweetly, Olympic's Angelo Konstantinou guessed correctly and parried the ball away to his left before being mobbed wildly by his relieved team-mates.

In the final 20 minutes both sides had further half-chances but it was Canberra Olympic that finally prevailed and by virtue of the magic of the cup will go into the draw of the 2nd Round and will certainly be tough opposition for a NSW Super League side if the draw pans out that way.

MATCH STATS:

Crowd: tba

Hawkesbury City FC (NSW Div 2) :
Player listing:
1. Aaron Kanaley, 4. A. Stevenson. (off 53min), 18. Ethan Simone, 14. Rhys Alchin, 16. Hassan Armaout. (off 53min), 32. Josh Chircop. (off 60min), 38. Gavin Hartge, 28. Evan Daglis, 34. Zac Watters, 17. Mick McCrory, 13. Paul Cooper,

Substitutes: 30. Ben Charles. (on 53min), 11. John McCrae. (on 60min), 8. Shannon Wilson. (on 53min)

Coach: Dean Berenshaw

Yellow Cards: 4. A. Stevenson 42'
Red Cards: Nil

Canberra Olympic FC (ACT PL) :
Player listing:
22. Angelo Konstantinou, 2. H. Mousia, 4. Joel Valtonen, 3. Nathan Megic, 7. Robbie Deeley, 11. James Field, 6. J. Semirac, 10. Liam Carey. (off 60min), 13. Robbie Schroder, 9. Nick Mihailakis. (off 86min)

Substitutes: 8. J. Verinvic. (on 86min), 5. John Karapanagos (on 60min)

Coach: Dean Ugrinic

Yellow Cards: 10. Liam Carey 21', 6. J. Semirac 35', 7. Robbie Deeley 39', 8. J. Verinvic 90''
Red Cards: Nil

Referee: Kris Griffith-Jones
Assistants: Graham McKenzie, Mark Memorin

Pitch rating: 9/10

Game rating: 8/10

Players to note: Zac Watters, Rhys Alchin (Hawkesbury), Robbie Deeley, Nathan Megic (Canberra Olympic).

Match report and photos by Mark Taylor

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