Dunbar dig deep…and find gold

Dunbar Rovers 2-2 Hurstville FC (aet)
Valentine Sports Park (Field 2)
Glenwood
Dunbar won 4-1 on penalties

The major semi-final of the 2015 State League 2 season was upon Dunbar. In their maiden season in the comp, Dunbar had won the League title and the Club Championship and now had an opportunity to get to the Grand Final, to achieve an historic treble.

Dunbar had finished the regular season with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Western Condors. Although annoyed by the defeat, the monkey was finally off their back and Dunbar now felt they could go back to their free flowing football without such intense pressure.

In the semi-final Dunbar faced their formidable foes, Hurstville FC. Both teams played against each other twice this year and both ended in a 0-0 draw. Dunbar knew that they had to come up with something different if they were to make it to the Grand Final.

After a slight delay to move the game to Field 2, spectators could watch from the comfort of the covered grandstand. This was just as well, as the rained teamed down from the first minute to the very end, not letting up once.

The game started at a frantic pace and Dunbar struggled to adjust to the slippery conditions. The first goal of the game came from a Dunbar midfield error and Hurstville’s Michael Karagiannis unleashed a stunning shot from outside the box to make it 0-1.

Not a great start for Dunbar but the goal ignited the Rovers back to their old self. After a lengthy layoff with injury and some games in the Under 20s Jonathan Smith was back in the team and his experience started to dictate the game from his holding midfield role.

Within ten minutes of conceding Dunbar scored a very good team goal that saw Rene Mrva finish off Sean Burke’s sublime cross to make it 1-1. From then on it was one-way traffic. Dunbar passed it well, moved it well and Hurstville were trying to contain them without much success. The break came at the wrong time for us but the first half half ended 1-1.

The second half began with Hurstville gaining the upper hand and almost scored from distance when Cutura attempted an audacious lob over the advanced Dunbar keeper Deasy but it bounced just wide. Seconds later Dunbar almost scored after an expansive move. This was what the large crowd had come to see – some spectacular football.

Dunbar scored their second when captain Ali Simpson’s delightful through ball/shot found Mrva again who dinked it over the oncoming keeper from the left of the goalmouth.

At this point Dunbar were cruising. Hurstville weren’t creating much. Unfortunately though, what happened next changed the complexion of the evening completely. First, Ali Simpson was dismissed for his second yellow card. Then, from the ensuing free-kick, and to everyone’s surprise, the main striker for Hurstville FC Denis Cutura was dismissed for an innocuous push on a defender. Soon after, striker Rene Mrva became the third player to be dismissed in as many minutes for a normal looking challenge on the ball that hardly even warranted a free-kick. Incredible. Dunbar were now 9 v 10 but still had the better of the game. In fact, we had two guilt edged chances to extend our lead to 3-1 but didn’t take them.

In the dying seconds of the game, Dunbar with only 8 outfield players, a long throw-in came into the Dunbar box and our tired minds didn’t deal with and Tom O’Neil slotted it away unmarked at the back post. Extra time was going to be required and surely Hurstville would have the upper hand with a man extra on the park.

Hurstville had their second man sent off (this time a harsh straight red) towards the end of the first period of extra time so that meant 9 v 9 battled it out to the end. Dunbar still controlled the game and still continued to the pass the ball well. Man of the Match Mike Sealy dominated all over the park. After missing numerous of chances in extra time the game came to the dreaded penalty shootout.

Stevie Deasy stepped up to coolly slot home our first.
Hurstville blasted over the bar.
Adam Smith scored.
Stevie saves one.
Sean Burke makes no mistake.
Pressure now on Hurstville. They have to score to stay alive…..and they do.
John Niyonsaba has the chance to take us where we have never been before… a State League Grand Final…and he makes no mistake !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done to Hurstville, who contributed to a great advertisement for State League 2 football. They are a quality side who can execute their game plan very well. We are expecting to see them in 2 weeks in the Grand Final. Bizarre to think that there were four red cards shown in a game which was played in a very sporting manner by both sides.

Thanks once again to the Dunbar supporters who travelled all the way to Glenwood and got behind the team when they needed it, wildly cheering us on until the last penalty was despatched.

And a massive congrats to the whole squad, starting team, the guys who came on, guys who supported and drove us on as a group. Well done.

DUNBAR STARTING LINE-UP:
S.Deasy – A.Smith, Simpson (Capt), Clayton – Smith – Burke, Miller, Euripidou, Liu, Sealy – Mrva
Subs: Niyonsaba (for Smith), Camilo (for Miller), Jackson (for Sealy), Deep-Jones, Glasheen

Red cards: Simpson, Mrva.

Man of the Match: Mike Sealy

Match Report: Will Cullen & Peter Hennessy