Walter Pless on Football

Metro v Glenorchy Knights Match Report [Premier League, North Chigwell, Sunday, 27 April 2008]

By Walter Pless
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Metro 0
Glenorchy Knights 3 (Huigsloot 2, 58 pen, Igor 88)

HT: 0-1 Att: 100 Ref: K Barker

Metro (1-2-5-2): McKenna - Chaffey — Rahni, Curran - Lawler (McQueen 70), Hope (Robb 70), S Kent, Dawes, Marney - Farley, Guma [Substitutes not used: Land, Herring] [Coach: A Abdaltam]

Glenorchy Knights (4-4-2): Peter - Minnucci, Grundy, Dzelalija, Millington (Cairns 72) - Clay, Begovic, Fielding, Igor - Huigsloot, Gordon [Substitutes not used: Pringle, Frank, Burn] [Player-Coaches: Begovic, Fielding]
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Glenorchy Knights were without striker Nick Harrison, who has a hamstring injury, while Metro missed key midfielder, the experienced Terry Kent.

Knights took the lead after a mere two minutes when Jade Clay’s throw-in from the left was nodded inside the near post by Tom Huigsloot.

They had several more half-chances but were unable to break down the stubborn Metro defence.

Metro’s Aaron Marney (left) tries to prevent Jade Clay crossing

Michael McKenna did well to tip Igor’s fierce drive over the bar in the 8th minute.

Metro had a glorious chance in the 35th minute when Edward Guma gained possession after a mix-up between Tony Dzelalija and goalkeeper Ben Peter, but he drove his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Knights added their second from the penalty spot through Huigsloot in the 58th minute after Mohand Rahni handled the ball.

In the 65th minute, Janko Begovic headed tamely wide after Igor outfoxed Adrian Lawler twice on the left before crossing towards the far post.

Phil Curran beats Jacob Gordon to the ball

Guma had another excellent chance for Metro midway through the second half, but he delayed his shot long enough for Lindsay Millington to get in a decisive tackle.

With two minutes remaining, Begovic bamboozled the Metro defence before releasing Igor for an easy third goal.

Metro keeper Michael McKenna foils the Knights’ Igor
The win kept the Knights in fifth place and Metro in seventh.
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• Metro goalkeeper, Michael McKenna, said:

“I thought that 1-0 at half-time was a decent effort.

“With the breeze, we had a chance of running over them, but in fairness to Glenorchy, they played smarter, harder, and they wanted it more.

“They took their chances.”

• Glenorchy Knights joint-coach, Janko Begovic, said:

“It was hard yakka.

“We were a little bit rusty, I think. Maybe having the week off last week sort of broke our momentum a little bit.

“But, we were happier with the second half than the first half.

“We still have to play a little bit more as a team, I think.”
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STATISTICS

METRO KNIGHTS

7 Goal Attempts 26

2 Shots on Target 12

1 Corners 11

11 Fouls Committed 13

0 Off-Sides 1

2 (Dawes 84, Curran 91) Yellow Cards 0

0 Red Cards 0

Metro:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Marney 1 0
Guma 3 1
S Kent 2 1
Dawes 1 0

Glenorchy Knights:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Huigsloot 3 2
Fielding 7 4
Igor 8 5
Minnucci 1 0
Dzelalija 1 0
Begovic 3 0
Clay 2 1
Cairns 1 0

Tom Huigsloot (right) holds off the challenge of Mohand Rahni