Challenge Cup Semi Final Write Up

[Ossie]

Match of the Day

ELIZABETH Downs have kept their League and Cup double hopes alive after a convincing 3-1 win over ten men Ingle Farm in their Challenge Cup Semi Final at the Parks Football Centre.

The Downs came into the game on a high having won the League Championship on the final day of the season at the expense of a Farm side who were looking to bounce back after finishing 3rd in the league having led all season.

The Maroons dominated early possession and on 11 minutes a Scott Lindsay ball played in Tommy Blackett but his shot was well saved.

Farm created an opening on 16 minutes when Toby Dodd whipped in a cross but Ala Mobedi’s effort went straight to Downs keeper Ben Aldridge.

An even contest was turned on its head on 22 minutes when Musti Ipekdal was given a red card leaving Farm with 70 minutes to play with ten men.

The League Champions started to press with Lindsay having an effort charged down on 32 minutes while Mat Watson had a goal chalked off for offside on 43 minutes.

Farm were on the back foot but they still created the best chance of the half when a Mobedi cross found Liam Mulvaney but his close range header went straight to Aldridge.

Five minutes after the break Mulvaney had a shot saved and then the Downs countered with a long ball finding Billy Allotey who cut inside before firing home from a tight angle.

On 61 minutes the lead was doubled when some good build up play finished with Brayden Gundlach who fired against the post but when the rebound fell to captain Lindsay he made no mistake.

The game was sealed on 77 minutes when Blackett fired home from 18 yards before Farm grabbed a consolation goal on 85 minutes when a James Quinn cross was headed home by Oathman Fazilahead.

Downs coach Steve Hughes “The 1st half was a little scrappy but credit to Farm who made things difficult for us. Given we hadn’t beaten them this season we are obviously happy to have won and move into a final which should be a great game, we are looking forward to it.”

THE Downs will meet the League Runners Up Brahma Lodge in the final after Brahma brushed aside 3rd Division opponent Macedonia 9-0 in their Semi Final clash at the Parks Football Centre.

Lodge set the win up in the 1st half when they opened up a 3-0 lead through two goals from Chad Bugeja and a goal from Robbie McDonald.

Brahma coach Fred Agius “We knew we were up against a side who were a couple of divisions below us but they have had a great cup run so we had to be at our best. We look forward to the cup final next week.”

The Cup final will see the 2017 Cup winners Elizabeth Downs vs 2016 Cup Winners Brahma Lodge in what should be the game of the season.
The Downs will be trying to keep a streak alive that has seen the last 8 League Champion winners go on to clinch the League and Cup double.

The final will be Elizabeth Downs 7th Cup final having won five and lost one. The Maroons will be looking to repeat their double winning seasons of 2017, 2014 and 2012. For Brahma this will be their 2nd Cup Final having beaten Salisbury Inter 5-1 in 2016.

The sides met twice in 2018.
Round 4 finished 3-3 with a Michael Mullen double giving Lodge a 3-1 lead before Billy Allotey struck twice in the last 15 minutes to salvage a point.
Round 13 saw the Downs run out 3-1 winners at Argana Park after grabbing a 2-0 1st half lead. Robbie Williams got Lodge back in the game before Allotey sealed the win 20 minutes from time.

Should be a ripper of a game at Hindmarsh Stadium next Sunday!

[Bomber]

Enjoyable afternoon out. Still not liking (as many others were saying) playing games alongside each other. Decent crowd size though and the two best sides in the final. Hard one to pick but reckon Brahma might just squeeze it.