Blockhouse Bay v. Central United, 22/6/97

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Goals Galore, And Controversy Too

by Jeremy Ruane

There are some cup ties you wish could never end. That wish almost became reality at Whitney Street on June 22, where a remarkable Chatham Cup sixth round tie ensued between Blockhouse Bay and Central United.

From go to woe there was action aplenty, with Central getting up to win a true thriller, 5-4. But they did so in controversial circumstances which, sadly, will be recalled more than the ninety minutes of cut-and-thrust cup-tie action which preceded them.

In the second minute of stoppage time - there were another nine to come, from where I, nor referee Craig Borland, know not - Paul Urlovic gathered the ball some twenty-five yards from goal and began to dribble towards the target. His progress was partially impeded by Kane Lynch inside the penalty area, but not enough to prevent Urlovic from continuing his run.

However, when the striker saw that the fast-advancing Triss Clark was going to snuff out his opportunity by smothering the loose ball at his feet, he turned to the referee to plead his case.

Unbeknown to the masses present, Borland had been playing an advantage to Central upon Lynch's obstruction of Urlovic. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot, from where Mathew Ulrovic slotted home his hat-trick goal, and what proved to be the winner.

Prior to this controversial incident, there had been action aplenty, and goals galore. Indeed, Bay were in front after just 61 seconds! James Stewart left David Spedding for dead on Bay's left before whipping in a delicious cross to which Andrew Dixon applied the due amount of relish by finishing stylishly.

Lynch and Stewart went close before, in the eleventh minute, Central's first raid saw Paul Urlovic find the net, only to be adjudged offside. Dixon tested Peter Evans, Central's goalkeeper, soon after, with Spedding forced to clear the loose ball to safety. Then it was Martyn Miller's turn to avert the danger posed by Jeff Keskic's twentieth minute run, as he strode onto a Paul Urlovic pass.

A little against the run of play, Central levelled the scores in the 26th minute. Billy Harris burst through onto a Michael Loftus pass, and his shot struck the advancing Clark before richocheting into the net.

Haste made waste for Hamish Carmody two minutes later, when firing a tame shot at Evans following a Spedding mistake which left the youngster clean through with just the 'keeper to beat.

But his miss paled in comparison to that of Mathew Urlovic on the half-hour. He, too, was one-on-one with Clark, and duly rounded him. That he failed to fire the ball into the empty net says much for the efforts of the ever-reliable Miller, who ensured parity with a timely clearance. He was to foil both Urlovic brothers soon after, but couldn't prevent the events which came to pass four minutes before the break.

Terry Torrens sent a lovely ball to the far post, where Mathew Urlovic headed back across the face of goal. Harris nipped in to tuck home and give Central a 2-1 lead, which they should have held to the break.

That they didn't is something for which Bay can thank Carmody. Lynch's long throw-in, from Bay's right, arced to the near post, where a congregation of red-and-white-chequered shirts contested possession with, among others, Stewart. The ball looped to the far post where Carmody roared in to power home a headed equaliser right on the whistle.

Attacks aplenty dominated the early stages of the second spell. Paul Urlovic, twice, and Harris, on a hat-trick, went close for Central, as did Thomas White - a peach of a free-kick - and Carmody for Bay, who took the lead for the second time in the 67th minute, as Carmody pounced on an Evans error to net his second, Bay's third.

Clark turned a teasing Torrens shot to safety before two goals in as many minutes saw the lead change hands yet again. Mathew Urlovic got them both, the first an exquisitely struck 76th minute free-kick which careered in off the post. The second was better still, an unchallenged downward header after Keskic had picked him out with a perfectly flighted free-kick into the danger zone.

Bay weren't done with yet, however, and in the 82nd minute, Carmody turned provider with a cross from the right which picked out Lynch. He waltzed through the gaps to level things up yet again - 4-4. Unbelievable!!

Moments later, Jason Root struck the first of five straight corners, all of which Central somehow scrambled clear. But was there a handball on the line as Stewart dived through the ruck to head goalwards? The jury's still out on this issue, but if there was such an offence, it wasn't seen by the officials.

A minute from time, Harris burst through with the carrot of a rare hat-trick dangling before his eyes. But Clark hurtled off his line to head clear at knee height! Bay countered with Stewart, who pursued a crossfield ball from Root, got to the right wing byline and crossed, only to see the numerous team-mates he had up in support over-run his pull-back.

Forward surged Central again. The ball found its way to Paul Urlovic, and the goal that put United through to the Chatham Cup quarter-finals for the first time in their history began to take shape.

Carmody had a chance to level things up yet again before referee Borland eventually called time, but Evans was off his line quickly to deny him his hat-trick, and the game extra-time, as well as ensure Central's progress. 5-4 - gripping stuff!!

Chatham Cup