Wrultizers 3 – Malakoff 2

The game quickly settled into a pattern of Wrultizers having the upper hand in possession and territory but Malakoff looking dangerous on the break with James Manson and Derek Moar looking dangerous. Good work on the left side by Brydon Mowat and Adam Manson resulted in a corner for the Tizers which Manson took himself. He swung the ball in with Michael Manson winning the header but seeing his header cleared of the line by Ross Herculson. Unfortunately for Malakoff, Mark Davies pounced on the loose ball like a Lion on the Serengeti pounces on it’s prey to stroke the ball into the net from close range. The Wrultizers almost increased their lead when David McShane shot narrowly wide from a free kick. Wrultizers continued to create chances but a combination of poor finishing and great goalkeeping denied them.
Malakoff however were looking dangerous on the break with Derek Moar beating the offside trap to shot narrowly wide. The Wrultizers failed to learn their lesson as moments later Ross Herculson swept in an inch perfect cross which found James Manson after he had made an intelligent run. The Malakoff striker took one touch before lashing home an unstoppable shot into the far corner to equalise.
The Wrultizers fought back and retook the lead just before half time Ryan Jozwik tricked his way past the opposing fullback before sending on a low fast cross from the right which left David McShane with an easy goal.
The second half started with the Oranje looking to kill the game off with Michael Manson having a second header cleared of the line and Adam Manson being denied by Malakoff keeper Derek Duncan.
The Wrultizers play was scintillating at times with Mouat, Boyd and Michael and Adam Manson combining excellently on the Tizer left with Adam Manson inches away from steering in the a low driven Mouat cross. Manson made no mistake moments later when his powerful shot was deflected into the net past the wrong footed Duncan. The Wrultizers introduced John Carr who whose excellent link up play created more chances but the Oranje could not increase their lead. In the final minute of extra time Malakoff grabbed a consolation when a high ball was only half cleared and Allan Baptie thundered the ball into the bottom corner.
Best on the night for Malakoff were James Manson and Derek Duncan, For the Tizers however Brydon Mouat, Michael and Adam Manson impressed but the stand out performer was Jimmy Cunningham who was imperious at centreback. As news filtered through of Titans loss to Cosmos leaving the league battle a two horse race and sending it into time period that Alex Ferguson referred to as “squeaky bum time”.